Santa Barbara Independent 1/8/26

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Santa Barbara

Welcome to

Isla Vista Introducing Our New Podcast on I.V., Then and Now

by Christina McDermott

+

Deadly Storm Shuts Down Highways, Airport

by Ella Heydenfeldt In Memoriam: Grant Castleberg Buzzard in Court After Pleading Not Guilty to Daughter’s Murder

by Christina McDermott C’mon, Get Happy with Ali’s List

by Meaghan Clark Tiernan

JAN. 8-15, 2026 VOL. 40 NO. 2042

Sustainable Sustainable Heart Heart Sustainable Heart Sustainable Heart ~ Transformational Life ~ Transformational Life Counseling Counseling ~ ~

Transformational Life Life Counseling ~~~~Transformational Life Counseling Counseling~~~~ Transformational Transformational Life Counseling Relationships • Occupation and Career • Meditation Relationships Relationships ••• Occupation Occupation and and Career Career ••• Meditation Meditation Relationships Occupation and Career Relationships • Occupation and Career • Meditation Meditation Relationships Occupation and Career Grief and Loss • Major Life Transitions ••Meditation Anxiety Grief and Loss •• Major Life Transitions Grief and Loss Major Life Transitions •• Anxiety Anxiety Grief and Loss • Major Life Transitions Anxiety Major Life Transitions Anxiety Grief and Loss Grief and Loss • Major Life Transitions • Anxiety Spiritual Issues •• Communication •• Conflict Spiritual Issues Communication Conflict Spiritual Issues • Communication • Conflict Spiritual IssuesIssues • Communication Dream Work Conflict Spiritual • Conflict Spiritual Issues • Communication • Conflict Communication

Michael H Kreitsek, MA

2 THE INDEPENDENT

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

JANUARY 8, 2026 INDEPENDENT.COM

“[Michael V. Drake] has used his decades of experience to advocate for better access to higher education for all Californians and has always fought for academic excellence.”

– Governor Gavin Newsom

One of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of 2024

UC President Emeritus

An Evening with

An Evening with

Miranda July

Dr. Michael V. Drake

Tue, Jan 20 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall “By tangling explicitly with reality across mediums, July pushes autofiction to new limits.” The Guardian (U.K.)

In Conversation with Dr. Susannah Scott Thu, Jan 22 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

“In Compagnie Hervé KOUBI’s Sol Invictus, the dancers’ extraordinary moves are integrated into a poetic vision.”

The New York Times

A Next Generation Jazz Legacy California Premiere Dazzling Hip Hop Choreography From France

Compagnie Hervé KOUBI Sol Invictus

Sun, Jan 25 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre

Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane

Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial Tue, Jan 27 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre

(805) 893-3535 | www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu Granada event tickets can also be purchased at: (805) 899-2222 | www.GranadaSB.org INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

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Spotlight on a Cottage Primary Care Physician Cottage Primary Care - Goleta

Casey Whipple, MD SPECIALIZING IN:

Primary care for newborns, children and adults MEDICAL DEGREE:

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine RESIDENCY:

University of Colorado–Swedish Medical Center BOARD CERTIFICATION:

Family Medicine EXPERIENCE:

Community Health Centers of the Central Coast in Lompoc, Ventura County Healthcare Agency, Flight Surgeon in the California Army National Guard

4

THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

CONDITIONS TREATED:

• Allergies • Asthma • Cold and flu • Diabetes • High blood pressure • High cholesterol • Infections • Mental health concerns, such as anxiety and depression • Skin conditions • Sprains and strains

Now Accepting New Patients FOR MORE INFORMATION,

call 805-681-6424 or visit cottagehealth.org/gpc

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 2025 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: 1715 State Street, 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 #2042, Jan. 8-15, 2026

23

COVER STORY Welcome to Isla Vista

CHRISTINA’S CRACK AT THE INDY PODCAST COURTESY

Editor in Chief Marianne Partridge Publisher Brandi Rivera Executive Editor Nick Welsh Senior Editor Tyler Hayden Senior Writer Matt Kettmann Associate Editor Jackson Friedman Opinions Editor Jean Yamamura Arts, Culture, and Community Editor Leslie Dinaberg Calendar Editor Terry Ortega Calendar Assistant Isabella Venegas News Reporters Ryan P. Cruz, Callie Fausey, Ella Heydenfeldt Senior Arts Writer Josef Woodard Mickey Flacks Fund Fellow Christina McDermott Assistant Editor Tiana Molony Copy Chief Tessa Reeg Copy Editor Nathan Vived Sports Editor Victor Bryant Web Content Manager Don Brubaker Social Media Coordinator 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 Columnists Dennis Allen, Gail Arnold, Sara Caputo, Christine S. Cowles, Laura Gransberry, Betsy J. Green, Shannon Kelley, Austin Lampson, Melinda Palacio, Cheri Rae, Hugh Ranson, Amy Ramos, Starshine Roshell Contributors Ingrid Bostrom, Rob Brezsny, Cynthia Carbone Ward, Ben Ciccati, Cheryl Crabtree, John Dickson, Roger Durling, Camille Garcia, Chuck Graham, Keith Hamm, Rebecca Horrigan, Gareth Kelly, Kevin McKiernan, Zoë Schiffer, David Starkey, Ethan Stewart, Brian Tanguay, Tom Tomorrow, Kevin Tran, Jatila Van der Veen, Isabelle Walker, Maggie Yates, John Zant Director of Advertising Sarah Sinclair Marketing and Promotions Administrator 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 Alice Dehghanzadeh, Nataschia Hadley, Izadora Hamm, Emily Vesper 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

Welcome Isla Vista to

Introducing Our New Podcast on All Things I.V., Then and Now

by Christina McDermott

NEWS..................................................... 7 OPINIONS..........................................13 Angry Poodle Barbecue . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

OBITUARIES.....................................15 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

THE WEEK....................................... 30 ARTS LIFE .........................................33 LIVING .................................................36 FOOD & DRINK............................ 38 Restaurant Guy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

ASTROLOGY .................................. 42 CLASSIFIEDS................................. 43 ON THE COVER: Isla Vista in 2006. Credit: UC Santa Barbara Library Geospatial Collection.

Design by Xavier Pereyra.

Christina McDermott As you’ll learn in this week’s cover story, our Mickey Flacks Fellow, Christina McDermott—now in the second year of her fellowship—has taken on a new challenge: breathing life back into the Indy Podcast. This week, she dives into the nitty-gritty behind the podcast and what inspired her to bring the newest series to life. Head to independent.com/abouttheindy to read McDermott’s full interview and learn some fun facts about the podcast.

INSTAGRAM | @SBINDEPENDENT • FACEBOOK | SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT • NEWSLETTER | INDEPENDENT.COM/NEWSLETTERS • SUBSCRIBE | INDEPENDENT.COM/SUBSCRIBE

2025/2026 Presenting the world’s finest classical artists since 1919

A Season of Legacy

107TH CONCERT SEASON

INTERNATIONAL SERIES AT THE GRANADA THEATRE SEASON SPONSOR: SAGE PUBLISHING

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Riccardo Muti,

© Todd Rosenberg Photography

Music Director Emeritus for Life

7:30 PM · The Granada Theatre BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98 STRAVINSKY: Divertimento, arranged from Le Baiser de la Fée (The Fairy’s Kiss) RAVEL: Boléro

Tickets at The Granada Theatre Box Office ⫽ (805) 899-2222 ⫽ granadasb.org COMMUNITY ARTS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF SANTA BARBARA • camasb.org INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

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Chaucer's Books

January 2026

pening a p a h h s ’ ’ t th t a h e w

Your Local Independent Bookseller Since 1974

Highlighted Events:

ADULTS Open Mic Night & Art Gallery Friday, January 30, 2026 | 6:00-7:00 pm | Central Library, Fireplace Room ADULTS Romance Book Club Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | 5:30-6:30 pm | Central Library, Tech Lab TEENS SBPL x SBMA Teen Art pARTy | Friday, January 16, 2026 | 3:45-5:30 pm | Meet at Central Library and we’ll walk to SBMA together!

Over 150,000 Titles for Every Age & Interest!

ADULTS & SENIORS Yoga en Silla Friday, January 20, 2026 | 9:30-10:30 am | Eastside Library, MLK Jr. Room | This special chair yoga class is designed to be accessible for all bodies and abilities.

Open 9:00am-8:00pm Daily 3321 State Street, Loreto Plaza 805-682-6787 • www.chaucersbooks.com

ALL AGES Chat with a Firefighter Thursday, January 22, 2026 | 10:00 - 11:00 am | Eastside Library, Patio SCHOOL AGED KIDS Story Creators Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | 4:00 - 5:00 pm | Central Library, Island Room in the Children’s Area EARLY CHILDHOOD Stay & Play Thursdays | 9:00 - 10:30 am | Eastside Library All SBPL locations will be closed Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Scan to view our calendar of events.

The Librarians

January 29 | 7:00 pm | Riviera Theater

Visit the Library on the Go from 5-7pm and then stay for a special screening of The Librarians, followed by a conversation with the Director, Kim A. Snyder. Film tickets available at sbifftheatres.com.

County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Environmental Justice Element On January 27, 2026, the Board of Supervisors (Board) will conduct a public hearing to consider the adoption of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Element. The Board will consider the following: The EJ Element is a new state-mandated general plan element that focuses on addressing the needs of EJ Communities (EJCs). The EJCs in the County include Casmalia, Cuyama, New Cuyama, Ventucopa, Garey, Sisquoc, Los Alamos, and Isla Vista. The proposed EJ Element includes numerous policies, objectives, and actions designed to address the EJ-related needs of EJCs. In accordance with state law, the proposed EJ Element (22GPA-00000-00003) is designed to:    

Reduce unique or compounded health risks in EJCs through the reduction of pollution exposure and improvement of air quality; Promote access to public facilities, healthy foods, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity; Promote civic engagement in the public decision-making process; and, Prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of EJCs.

The EJ Element is exempt from CEQA per State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3).

The Draft EJ Element as well as additional information is on the project webpage: https://www.countyofsb.org/794/Environmental-Justice-Element. Please contact the project manager, Zoë Carlson at carlsonz@countyofsb.org or 805-568-3532 with any questions about the project.

The hearing will take place at 9:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at: Board of Supervisors Hearing Room Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building, 511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, CA 93454 For current methods of public participation for the hearing, please see page two (2) of the posted agenda. 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.

The board letter, including attachments, and the posted agenda will be available on the Thursday prior to the hearing at https://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current under the hearing date, or contact the Clerk of the Board at (805) 568-2240 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 Clerk of the Board by 4:00 pm on the Friday before the Board meeting. For information about these services, please contact the Clerk of the Board at (805) 568-2240 or at sbcob@countyofsb.org.

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 Board of Supervisors at, or prior to, the public hearing.

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THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

DEC. 31, 2025-JAN. 8, 2026

NEWS of the WEEK

by RYAN P. CRUZ, CALLIE FAUSEY, JACKSON FRIEDMAN, TYLER HAYDEN, ELLA HEYDENFELDT, CHRISTINA McDERMOTT, NICK WELSH, and JEAN YAMAMURA

COURTS & CRIME

NEWS BRIEFS

Buzzard in Court for Daughter’s Murder INGRID BOSTROM

J O H N C H I LCOT T

A

shlee Buzzard (pictured) appeared in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Lompoc on January 7 to set the date for her preliminary hearing. Buzzard is charged with the murder of her daughter, 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who went missing on October 7. Following a months-long search, Melodee’s body was recovered in Wayne County, Utah, on December 6 with bullet wounds to the head. Buzzard’s murder charge includes two enhancement charges: use of a firearm during a felony and murder while lying in wait.

Buzzard was arrested on December 23 and arranged on December 26. That day, the S.B. County District Attorney announced he has elected to seek a sentence of life imprisonment without parole rather than the death penalty. Buzzard has pleaded not guilty to her charges and is being held without bail in county jail. On Wednesday, her preliminary hearing was tentatively scheduled for January 21 in Lompoc.

COMMUNITY

People charged into the chilly Pacific 1/1 to ring in the New Year as part of Santa Barbara’s Polar Dip. Event organizer Hugh Margerum said he estimates that more than 400 people attended this year’s dip, which was the first at Leadbetter Beach after nine years of dipping at East Beach. In 2025, Margerum worked to get the event officially recognized and insured. This year’s event had all its required permits, lifeguards, and waivers for official dippers at a cost of about $3,700, Margerum estimated, which was covered by an anonymous benefactor.

CO U R T E S Y

—Christina McDermott

Read more at independent.com/courts-crime.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Storm Closes Highway 101 and Airport, Takes Life events can pose ground, tree, and infrastrucThe road crosses directly through the creek ture stability problems when soils are already at that location, Safechuck said, and the group waterlogged. “It looks like we’ll have some had been attempting to reach a property on possibly moderate Santa Ana [winds] Friday the opposite side.

The death occurred within roughly half into the weekend, so that could cause issues.”

The storm claimed a life Saturday after- a mile of the site of a similar storm-related noon when an adult man was swept into fatality last winter, when an elderly man was Maria Ygnacio Creek near North San Marcos swept away while attempting to cross Maria Road in Goleta. According to the Sheriff ’s Ygnacio Creek during heavy rain.

Office, family members called 9-1-1 at approx“Turn around—don’t drown,” the Sheriff’s imately 11:58 a.m. to report that the man had Office urged in its statement. “Water levels been swept into the creek amid rapidly rising can rise rapidly, and currents may be stronger water. Fire personnel and law enforcement than they appear.” As this weekend’s storm immediately responded, including County made clear, the warning is not rhetorical.

Fire, Sheriff ’s Search and Rescue, County Air —Ella Heydenfeldt Support, and Ventura County Air Support.

“Despite an extensive and coordinated For more photos of the storm, see search effort under hazardous conditions, independent.com/multimedia. the man was located at approximately 1:50 p.m.,” the Sheriff ’s Office said in a media release. “He was found deceased in the creek near the intersection of San Marcos Road and Via Parva.”

County Fire spokesperson Scott Safechuck said the man—later identified as 61-year-old Downey resident Rosauro Vasquez — had been traveling in a full-size pickup truck with two other occupants when the vehicle attempted to cross the creek. “The vehicle had mechanical issues—maybe because of the depth of the water,” Safechuck said. “At some point, they got out of the vehicle, and Flooding outside Santa Barbara Airport on Saturday, January 3 the driver was washed downstream.”

For the latest news and longer versions of many of these stories, visit independent.com/news.

INGRID BOSTROM

B

y Monday morning, the rain that soaked Santa Barbara County through the weekend had begun to ease, revealing the scope of a storm that flooded roadways, temporarily shut down the Santa Barbara Airport, closed stretches of Highway 101 and other roadways, and claimed the life of a man swept into a swollen Goleta Valley creek—all as unusually high king tides pushed water onto the coastline.

The system capped one of the wettest starts to a water year in recent memory, adding inches of rain to already saturated ground and prompting repeated flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service.

According to the National Weather Service, the heaviest rainfall fell along the Gaviota Coast and in the foothills and mountains.

“Three-day rain totals — this is through 12 a.m. Monday morning—at the top rainfall now is Refugio Pass, 5.19 inches; Gaviota Coast, 5.04 inches; Pecho Lote Canyon, 4.97; Santa Barbara Marcos Pass, 4.7; and Refugio Hills, 4.51,” said Devin Black, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Lower elevations generally saw between one and three inches, while mountainous areas received closer to three to five inches, Black said.

The latest storm pushed Santa Barbara County past its average rainfall for both this point in the year and the water year. The effects of such a wet start to the season could linger even after the rain has ended “The saturated ground enhances the risk,” Black said, noting that even modest wind

Hugs, kisses, and hangovers were how many people rang in the New Year on 1/1. But new parents Jessica and Laurence (above) were at S.B. Cottage Hospital when the clock struck midnight. And at 4:41 a.m., they welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Isla, into the world. Weighing 8 pounds and 16 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches, Isla marked Cottage’s first baby of 2026. Two hours prior, the Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria welcomed its first baby of the New Year. At 2:35 a.m., Jorge Damian Toribio Santos, a baby boy, entered the world weighing 6 pounds and 2 ounces.

Three of the biggest names in the awards season conversation — Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro — are coming to SBIFF on 2/9.

Honored with the prestigious Hammond Cinema Vanguard Award, their memorable roles in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another helped catapult the film to the forefront of the awards season as the most nominated Golden Globes contender with nine nominations and 14 Critics Choice Awards nominations. “This is by far the most exciting tribute in SBIFF history,” said SBIFF’s Executive Director Roger Durling. “It’s three giants of cinema sharing the stage at the Arlington. We’re very proud of this one.”

CONT’D ON PAGE 8

INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

7

DEC. 31, 2025-JAN. 8, 2026

Emergency Rent Freeze Goes Before Council Next Week

Warm up to a higher rate.

W

18-Month Certificate

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kinecta.org/SBcerts *APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Offer available 12/16/2025 to 1/20/2026. Membership requirements apply. The minimum balance to open share certificate and obtain APY is $100. This is a fixed rate, fixed term account and the stated APY applies to the initial term. The APY assumes all dividends remain in the certificate until maturity. APY may change without notice until the account is opened. Dividends are compounded monthly; a penalty is imposed for early withdrawal and fees may reduce earnings. At maturity, promotional certificates will automatically renew into the next lower term share certificate unless directed otherwise. ©2026 Kinecta Federal Credit Union | All Rights Reserved | Federally Insured by NCUA

03295-12/25

BRIEFS Frinj Coffee, the Goleta-based pioneer of growing coffee in California, is taking part in the Dubai Coffee Auction on 1/18-1/19, just one of 17 producers from around the world invited to the showcase and sell their beans. This will be the first time that California-grown coffee has ever competed at an international auction. “This is a watershed moment for California agriculture and for specialty coffee,” said Frinj founder Jay Ruskey. The auction marks a resurrection of sorts for Frinj, which declared bankruptcy amid lawsuits from a former employee and investors in 2024.

S.B. County and City firefighters responded early 1/6 to a second-story apartment fire in Goleta that displaced one resident and a dog. According to County Fire, crews were dispatched shortly after midnight to the 160 block of North Kellogg Avenue, where they encountered a two-bedroom apartment fire. “Firefighters made an aggressive interior attack and were able to confine the fire to the unit of origin,” County Fire spokesperson Scott Safechuck said, and the fire was knocked down before 1 a.m.

Firefighters remained on scene for overhaul and mop-up of hot spots. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

An AT&T wireless outage caused by a fiber cut disrupted the ability to place 9-1-1 calls from AT&T devices in S.B. on 1/6, prompting city police to issue an alert advising residents to use alternate methods to reach emergency services, including texting 9-1-1, calling from a landline or a cell phone served by another carrier, or using the department’s non-emergency number at (805) 882-8900. SBPD spokesperson Sgt. Bryan Kerr said the department first received notice of the issue at approximately 6:38 a.m. An AT&T rep said the disruption was caused by physical damage in the fiber optic cables belonging to an outside telecommunications provider.

THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

measure is likely to generate, the council is holding a special evening hearing for deliberations. Doors open at 5 p.m.

—Nick Welsh

CONT’D FROM P.7

COMMUNITY

PUBLIC SAFETY

8

On Tuesday, January 13, the Santa Barbara City Council will tackle a proposed emergency measure to freeze rents at the levels they were at last October.

S . B. CO U N T Y F I R E

15-Month Certificate

ith protracted deliberations about a rent stabilization proposal poised to loom out into the near and distant future, there’s growing concern at City Hall that some landlords — fearing their sky is about to fall — will raise rents now while they feel they still can.

Accordingly, next Tuesday, January 13, the Santa Barbara City Council will tackle a proposed emergency measure to freeze rents at the levels they were at last October. Likewise for evictions for anything other than just cause. The fine print is still being drafted.

If the measure passes as a special urgency measure, it will go into effect immediately. For that to happen, it would need a five-vote super majority.

If the measure gets a four-vote majority instead, it would go into effect in 30 days. Based on the intense interest the

INGRID BOSTROM

CITY

An excavator working to clear debris along stormdamaged railroad tracks on the Gaviota Coast near Highway 101 fell approximately 10 feet on the morning of 1/6 after erosion undermined the area beneath it, injuring the operator and forcing a closure of the rail line. The incident occurred as cleanup and repair work continues along the Gaviota Coast following heavy weekend storms that saturated the ground and triggered erosion in multiple locations. While officials did not explicitly link the incident to storm conditions, fire authorities described the area as having been washed out by floodwaters. A Union Pacific spokesperson on Tuesday said that crews were actively working to repair the damage “as safely and as quickly as possible.”

Three people were injured the morning of 1/3 after a Tesla hydroplaned off Highway 101 north of Highway 154 and struck a tree, catching fire amid heavy rain, according to authorities. The driver of the car managed to extricate himself, who then helped the other two passengers out of the car, CHP Sgt. Ken Antonetti said. All three were transported

by AMR ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center, with one patient in critical condition and the other two “with mild/moderate injuries,” according to County Fire. Antonetti said that “it appeared that the battery compartment was compromised” during the crash and caught fire. The crash remains under investigation.

CONT’D ON PAGE 11

SPACE

NEWS of the WEEK CONT’D

Is Vandenberg Angling for Mars?

I

CO U R T E S Y

n a surprise notice issued over the holiday break, Vandenberg Space Force Base announced plans for a new launch site that would host “heavy” or “superheavy” rockets capable of delivering massive payloads into orbit. With the proposal still in its early stages, Vandenberg is soliciting interest from private launch providers to lease and develop the site on the base’s southern edge.

Because SpaceX is by far Vandenberg’s most active commercial tenant, the news has generated significant speculation that Elon Musk could bring the crown jewel of his company — Starship, which falls in the “super-heavy” category—to the West Coast. Standing more than 400 feet tall, the world’s largest space vehicle is being developed SpaceX's Starship rocket and tested for NASA’s upcoming manned moon missions, as well as and develop the new site include United potentially the first crewed voyages to Mars. Launch Alliance, which is finishing work Starship’s booster generates more than on another Vandenberg launch pad for its 16 million pounds of liftoff thrust. For com- Vulcan Centaur, a “heavy” lift rocket, and parison, the Falcon 9 rockets that SpaceX Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos. now routinely launches from Vandenberg The “Request for Information” calls for generate approximately 1.7 million pounds responses within 45 days. Any decision to of thrust. Its Falcon Heavy, which will start award a lease would be contingent on a lifting off from the base over the coming launch safety analysis and completion of an years, generates five million pounds. environmental impact statement, VandenOther companies with the means to lease berg said.

—Tyler Hayden

CITY

I N G R I D B O S T R O N , A L M A E R I K A P H OTO G R A PY

Four-Way Race for S.B. Mayor?

From left: Eric Friedman, Randy Rowse, Kristin Sneddon, Wendy Sims-Moten

W

ith Santa Barbara city elections 11 months away, there appears to be a four-way race for mayor brewing.

Incumbent mayor Randy Rowse is running for reelection, though some of his stauncher supporters fear he’s not running hard enough. Accordingly, they paid for a private poll in hopes the results would light a fire under Rowse’s mayoral tuchus; the results, it turns out, were more mixed than expected, showing Rowse to be stronger than feared but also more challenged than hoped.

Facing off against Rowse — a business-minded moderate with no party affiliation — is Councilmember Kristen Sneddon, a staunch supporter of rent control, who has one foot in the progressive camp and another in the more old-school historic preservation universe.

Also joining the fray is councilmember Eric Friedman — a wonky moderate among the Democratic party faithful — who has been existentially enlivened by his near-death heart attack last summer.

Former S.B. Unified school boardmember Wendy Sims-Moten — with strong progressive credentials — has indicated a strong interest in running as well.

With the election not until November, the second story of City Hall could get both awkward and frisky in the intervening months, as councilmembers struggle to come to terms with such high-octane issues as rent stabilization, the housing development proposed for Paseo Nuevo, and the future of State Street and whether cars should be allowed back. —Nick Welsh

The Trump-Newsom Wars Newsom’s Oil “flip-flop” Local Housing Mandates The Governor’s Race The Democratic Party’s “Generational Rift”, and more!

SPOTLIGHT SANTA BARBARA PRESENTS

DAN WALTERS talks

CA POLITICS: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE A lively discussion with one of California’s most influential political voices, moderated

by Brian Goebel of Spotlight Santa Barbara, and Bill Macfadyen, publisher of Noozhawk, our event sponsor

FEB. 5, 2026 Lobero Theatre • Santa Barbara Cocktails at 6 pm, Talk at 7pm

Tickets on sale now at lobero.org

This is the first event of our new speaker series which aims to strengthen our community by provoking thought & inspiring change. More at spotlightsb.com INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

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DEC. 31, 2025-JAN. 8, 2026

COUNTY

Supes Don’t Sue to Stop Sable Restart

I N G R I D B O S T R O M F I L E P H OTO

No Reportable Action Following Supervisors' Closed-Door Hearing

Claude Monet, The Water Lily Pond (Clouds), 1903 Claude Monet spent more than 30 years painting light and atmosphere.

Water Lily Pond (Clouds) is part of a body of over 250 works inspired by the water garden at his home in Giverny, France. He actively curated the garden, much like a living art studio, to reflect his aesthetic taste and penchant for experimentation with reflection and light. This work particularly stands out for its radical sense of visual inversion: delicate lily blooms appear to drift across a vast, mirrored sky, while clouds seem closer to the viewer than the water itself. Monet’s water lilies works collectively and individually invite viewers into a dreamlike meditation on perception, light, and the endless transformation of nature. This work is now on view as part of The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse from the PURCHASE TICKETS Dallas Museum of Art.

ON VIEW THROUGH JANUARY 25, 2026

This exhibition is organized by the Dallas Museum of Art

ALSO ON VIEW

Mario Giacomelli: La Gente, La Terra Through February 15, 2026

Encore: 19th-Century French Art from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Through January 25, 2026

For more exhibitions and events, visit www.sbma.net.

1130 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA Tuesday–Sunday 11 am–5 pm 1st Thursdays 11 am–8 pm Top: Claude Monet, The Water Lily Pond (Clouds) (detail), 1903. Oil on canvas. Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., bequest of Mrs.Eugene McDermott in honor of Nancy Hamon, 2019.67.13.McD Bottom: Mario Giacomelli, Awareness of nature, no. 171 from the portfolio “Paesaggio,” 1980, printed 1981. Gelatin silver print.

SBMA, Gift of Carol Vernon and Robert Turbin in Memory of Marjorie and Leonard Vernon, 2025.10.15.

Alfred Sisley, Saint-Mammès, Banks of the Seine, 1885. Oil on canvas. SBMA, Bequest of Katharine Dexter McCormickin memory of her husband, Stanley McCormick,1968.20.6

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THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

Protesters gathered outside the County Administrative Building ahead of the supervisors' Sable hearing on November 4, 2025.

by Nick Welsh apping the last meeting of Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps’s tenure as board chair, the Board of Supervisors held a closed-door special hearing Monday to discuss possible legal actions to stop or slow down Sable Offshore from restarting production at the Santa Ynez Unit located up the Gaviota Coast and transporting any oil pumped from the company’s three offshore platforms via the 120 miles of repaired pipeline that have been under such intense contention. No reportable action reportedly took place as the supervisors reportedly found themselves deadlocked 2-2.

Although there are five members of the board, Supervisor Joan Hartmann had been recused at the instigation of Sable Offshore because her Buellton home is located close enough to Sable’s pipeline to constitute a conflict of interest, according to the state’s Fair Political Practice Committee.

Giving the deliberations a sense of suspense and urgency, the federal agency that only recently asserted jurisdictional authority over the pipeline on safety and inspections had issued a special emergency restart permit to the company just two days before Christmas. Efforts by Sable’s environmental opponents — the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) and the Center for Biological Diversity — sued that agency, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and sought to obtain an emergency restraining order blocking that permit.

This motion was denied by a two-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, but they scheduled an expedited non-emergency hearing on January 26 to hash out the underlying legal issues over which the litigating parties differ.

Environmental advocates had urged the supervisors to take legal actions to stop Sable from restarting in light of the board’s December 16 vote to deny Sable’s

C

request for a transfer of title and permits from ExxonMobil, from which Sable purchased the Santa Ynez Unit in February 2024. In denying the transfer, the supervisors — even the vociferously pro-oil supervisor Steve Lavagnino — cited Sable’s short but storied history of noncompliance with regulations and agencies that Sable insists have no jurisdiction.

But there were not three votes to take the oil company to court over this while there was much concern expressed over the financial risk the county — already looking at multimillion-dollar budget shortfalls — might face should it lose the multimillion-dollar takings claim Sable has filed.

Ever since the emergency restart permits were issued, there’s been considerable hubbub and uncertainty whether Sable has, in fact, restarted production at its Santa Ynez Unit, shut down since May 2015 when 142,000 gallons of crude oil spilled out of a ruptured pipeline near Refugio Beach.

County Fire Chief Garrett Huff reportedly told Supervisor Capps that Sable has agreed to give his department 24-hour advance notice before restarting production.

EDC attorney Linda Krop has filed papers demanding that Superior Court Judge Donna Geck remember that she had ordered — in a separate but related legal action — the oil company to provide 10 days’ notice before restarting production.

On Tuesday morning, criminal arraignment proceedings against the Houstonbased oil company for alleged violations of state environmental law — unearthing pipelines that cross creeks and streams to make repairs without permits — brought by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office were again postponed.

Typically, arraignment proceedings involve little more than a simple declaration of guilty or not guilty. Given that the defendant involved — Sable Offshore — is a corporation, bail is not an option or consideration. The next arraignment is scheduled for February 24. n

COMMUNITY

IMMIGRATION

ICE Arrests 150

Blind Golfers to Tee off in Goleta

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805 U N D O C U F U N D

by Ryan P. Cruz uring the last week of the year, Santa Barbara County and Santa Maria became the epicenter of federal immigration sweeps in California, with nearly 150 people arrested December 27-30, according to data collected by the 805 Immigrant Rapid Response Network.

The sudden increase in federal immigration enforcement — carried out by groups of masked agents in unmarked vehicles — resulted in community members being arrested outside their homes, pulled out of their vehicles on public streets, or apprehended in other public areas such as parking lots Santa Maria Councilmember Gloria Soto held a press conference with local leaders and representatives from community defense and alleyways.

Witnesses and legal observers groups outside the Santa Maria ICE facility on January 2. with community defense groups such as 805 UndocuFund, SBResiste, and Eder Gaona-Macedo, executive director Carp Sin Fronteras were on the ground docu- of the Fund for Santa Barbara and cofounder menting the roving sweeps, and on Friday, a of 805 UndocuFund, said the recent activity group gathered outside the ICE processing was a “nightmare” for community members. facility in Santa Maria to call on local leaders “The anxiety, fear, it has all been paralyzto do more to protect community members ing,” Gaona-Macedo said. “This is happenfrom what immigrant rights advocates are ing here in our own backyard, in one of the calling “indiscriminate” enforcement tactics. wealthiest counties in our nation.”

He said he hoped that the community Santa Maria Councilmember Gloria Soto was among the dozens who gathered in the and local leadership could look at the recent parking lot outside the ICE facility, following escalation in immigration sweeps as a a week of what she says was “unimaginable” moment to step up and protect vulnerable residents. trauma for the community.

“Families are being torn apart at a time “This is no longer about politics. This is that should be centered on togetherness,” Soto no longer about red or blue,” he said. “This said. “These actions create fear, instability, and is about who we want to be as a community. lasting harm in our community. Our immi- This is about what world we want to give our grant neighbors and families are essential to children. Do we want to stay silent and see Santa Maria and deserve dignity, transpar- families violently torn apart? Or do we want ency, and due process.” to help our neighbors? I choose the latter.”

Firsthand accounts and videos posted Soto said the recent wave of federal immigration enforcement was destabilizing entire to social media revealed federal immigraneighborhoods and cities in the county, espe- tion enforcement disobeying traffic laws, cially Santa Maria and Lompoc, which were refusing to identify themselves, and threatening to arrest legal volunteers attempting hit the hardest over the four days.

She credited the community watchdogs to document the events. According to one and volunteers working to document the legal observer, local law enforcement with incidents for the public. Soto asked the com- California Highway Patrol stopped at least munity to support the nonprofit organiza- three vehicles that were reportedly working tions that are struggling to keep up with the to document ICE activity. increase in federal funding for immigration ICE and DHS did not provide any details regarding the arrests made during the last operations.

California Senate President pro Tempore week of December 2025. The federal governMonique Limón was also in attendance at the ment estimates that about 600,000 people gathering outside the ICE facility on January were arrested and deported in 2025, and the 2. Limón, who was born and raised in Santa Trump administration has promised that Barbara, said the impact of the federal immi- deportations will not slow down in 2026.

“People — not just undocumented resigration sweeps goes far beyond the number of community members arrested or deported. dents, but also those with green cards — are “They are our relatives. They are our living in fear, afraid to go to doctor’s appointschoolmates, our colleagues,” Senator Limón ments, send their kids to school, go to work, said. “They are people who are part of our even go for a walk,” said Lee Heller, a voluncommunity. We cannot let their humanity teer with SBResiste. “And it’s not just immibe lost in what is happening …. We all have grants who are affected; local businesses are a role to keep our communities safe. We can’t seeing fewer customers, which has an ecolet what’s happening be something that we nomic impact on the entire community.” n normalize. We cannot live in terror.”

olf is difficult even with full vision. On Monday, January 12, blind and low-vision athletes will take the challenge head-on at a specialized adaptive golf clinic in Goleta.

The Blind Fitness Golf Clinic will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Sandpiper Golf Club, where blind and low-vision participants will receive hands-on instruction designed specifically for nonvisual play. The clinic is hosted by Blind Fitness in partnership with Olde School Golf School.

“For a sport that’s already hard with vision, this clinic shows what’s possible when instruction is adapted intentionally,” said Tania IsaacDutton, executive director of Blind Fitness.

The clinic will be led by Robert Adelaide Ortega, long-time member of Blind Fitness, tees up to putt Kotowski, a longtime PGA profes- alongside Robert Kotowski, PGA. sional who specializes in coaching blind, disabled, and adaptive golfers.

Isaac-Dutton said she recently observed According to Isaac-Dutton, the program fol- the method in action, watching a blind parlows a structured, tactile, and verbal sequence ticipant sink multiple putts—even in high that allows participants to line up, feel the wind. ball’s position, understand the terrain, and “It was really windy that day,” she said. select the appropriate swing.

“With careful instruction—‘There’s a breeze Kotowski has been a golf professional since coming this way’ or ‘The ground slopes 1981 and has coached more than 15,000 stu- slightly’—the participant can learn how to dents over the course of his career, including adjust their swing and stance.” blind and disabled athletes competing at the The clinic is designed to prepare athletes national level. He is the longtime director of and sighted guides for the upcoming 2026 the California Blind and Disabled Golf Asso- Howard Shaw Memorial California Blind, ciation and the author of a blind and disabled Adaptive & Disabled Winter Golf Classic, golf manual, and he has hosted the Califor- which will be held later this month at Zaca nia Blind and Disabled Golf Classic for more Creek Golf Course in Buellton.

Beyond competition, Isaac-Dutton than 25 years. Isaac-Dutton said he is donating his time, equipment, and instruction for said the clinic emphasizes trust and empowerment. the clinic.

“It’s about being outside, in community, “There are guide sticks so the participants can feel where the ball is, and Bob has very and being met halfway with where somedistinct swings—one for putting, one to get one is at in their vision and ability,” she said. a little farther, and another to really knock “That being embraced as it is.” it across the grass,” Isaac-Dutton said. “By The clinic is free to participants and voldescribing the terrain and giving cues about unteers.

—Ella Heydenfeldt the environment, participants can make real Visit blindfitness.org. adjustments.”

CO U R T E S Y

Central Coast Leaders Speak Out After Immigration Sweeps

D

NEWS of the WEEK CONT’D

BRIEFS

CONT’D FROM P.8

PUBLIC SAFETY

POLITICS

A woman was rescued from a crash off Highway 154 the evening of 12/30 after her car veered roughly 150 feet down a steep embankment just east of Windy Gap. County Fire, S.B. City Fire, CHP, AMR, and the Sheriff’s Air Support Unit were dispatched to the scene shortly after 5 p.m. The single-vehicle crash halted traffic in both directions on the San Marcos Pass as crews assessed the scene and initiated a rope rescue. The solo occupant — a female driver — did not require extrication from the sedan but was assisted from the vehicle, secured in a rescue stretcher, hauled topside using rope equipment, and transported by ground ambulance to S.B. Cottage Hospital with minor to moderate injuries, said County Fire spokesperson Captain Scott Safechuck. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

S.B.’s congressional representative Salud Carbajal issued a statement denouncing President Trump’s 1/3 attack on and arrest of Venezuelan strong man Nicolás Maduro, calling it “reckless and deeply destabilizing.”

Carbajal, a Democrat, termed Maduro “an illegitimate leader,” referring to the recent presidential election that international observers contend Maduro stole.

But, he added, Trump’s unilateral deployment of military force weakens the “international rules-based order our country helped build decades ago.” By seizing Maduro, Carbajal charged, “these actions risk putting our nation into yet another open-ended conflict at a time when the American people are demanding an end to forever wars abroad.” Without any clear plan, he added, Trump “risks creating a dangerous power vacuum — one that could plunge the entire region into chaos and endanger countless lives.” n

INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

11

2026 CHANNEL ISLANDS SURF BOARDS

JAN 17 - FEB 22 DETAILS AND WEBCAST

RINCONCLASSIC.COM

PRESENTED BY MERRICK LAGER 12 THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026 INDEPENDENT.COM

Opinions

ANGRY POODLE BARBECUE

It’s a Dog-Eat-Dog World CRYING OVER SPILLED OIL: For 25

points, how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? For 250 points more, what’s the difference between an “interstate” pipeline and one that’s merely “intrastate”?

Give up? I’ve got a clue. Consider the difference between sexual “intercourse” and sexual “intra-course.” Admittedly, that second word doesn’t exist yet, not even in the universe of AI. If it did, it would refer to having a party by oneself. By contrast, to qualify as “intercourse,” a bare minimum of two is required.

With oil pipelines, it’s the same thing.

An interstate pipeline, by definition, has to penetrate the boundaries of at least two states. An intrastate pipeline, by contrast, is content to stay within the borders of just one.

If I’m beating a dead horse here, my apologies. But confusion over these two (inter- versus intra-) has been expertly engineered and exploited in Santa Barbara by outside powers focused on the county’s vast oil wealth. This confusion explains how and why so much oil needlessly spilled along our coast back in May 2015. That same confusion — again deliberately and expertly engineered — also explains how Sable Offshore is now poised to restart the same corrosion-prone pipeline.

Naturally, none of this would have been possible were it not for the “Oil-über-alles” interventions of the Trump administration, whose true collective genius is to understand that reality is what they say it is, not the other way around. In a naked

power grab, the federal agency charged with pipeline safety enforcement just proclaimed that the two pipelines implicated in the 2015 rupture were in fact “interstate pipelines” and not “intrastate,” which for the past 10 years had been the very clear understanding.

This proclamation gave that agency — the Pipeline and Hazard-

ous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA for short — the legal pretext needed to snatch ultimate regulatory control over the pipeline away from regulators with the State of California’s Office of

the State Fire Marshal.

Two days before Christmas, PHMSA exerted that newly seized authority to grant Sable its long-sought-after “restart permit.” This would allow the company

to start pumping at the three platforms in federal waters it bought two years ago from Exxon and fire up the Santa Ynez Unit located onshore. Then it could begin shipping oil through the 124 miles of pipe that got so corroded during the criminally neglectful tenure of the prior owner

that no fewer than 200 patch jobs were required.

Home run! Touchdown! A hole in one!

One day later, PHMSA issued Sable a restart permit. And one day after that, PHMSA granted the company an “emergency” restart permit, reflecting Trump’s the-sky-is-falling hallucination that the

United States is in the throes of some imaginary emergency energy shortage.

One of Trump’s first moves upon being sworn in a year ago was to issue an executive order declaring such an emergency.

As a matter of objective fact, California does have serious issues with its refinery capacity, but the United States as a nation has been shattering historic oil production numbers on a yearly basis.

For Sable, Christmas came early. If not a godsend, PHMSA’s action qualified as a bailout. A lifeline. Up ’til then, Sable needed the approval of the Office of the State Fire Marshal to restart the pipeline and reactivate the massive industrial operation it purchased. But on October 22, the Fire Marshal put Sable on notice that the company had not met key corrosion control terms and conditions for the company’s extensive — if unpermitted — corrosion repair work. Until that work got done, Sable was told, a restart was out of the picture.

“

keep their mouths shut. It was a major

cover-up. The company would plead no contest to three misdemeanor charges.

Twenty million gallons? That ain’t nothing. Trust but verify? With the feds having just seized oversight over our pipeline safety, trust is hard to come by and verification is all but impossible.

Many of the new people now calling the shots at PHMSA come straight from the executive ranks of the private pipeline industry. To a certain degree, that’s always

been the case, but now — with eight longtime leaders walking the plank — the institutional culture is changing with whiplash rapidity.

ProPublica did a deep dive into what’s happened to PHMSA during the first year of Trump’s second term. What they found offers zero reassurance. In that time, the number of new enforcement actions initiated by PHMSA has plummeted, as have the number of cases seen to completion.

This past March, for example, marked the

Trust but verify?

With the feds having just seized oversight over our pipeline safety, trust is hard to come by and verification is all but impossible.

Sable cried foul. Late hit. Political sabotage. And for all I know, Sable is right. But where oil pipelines are concerned, a beltsand-suspenders, raincoats-and-umbrellas approach is still not enough. In Santa Barbara, we’ve lived through too many pipeline leaks sprung because too many corners got cut. Our spill of 1969 blew up only because federal regulators granted Union Oil a waiver on how many feet of protective drill casings the company had to install. FYI, the whole point of such casing is to prevent catastrophic blowouts

just like the one we got.

Back in the 1990s, no less than 400,000 gallons of oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline squirted out of an underground pipeline in Avila Beach. The contamination was so widespread the entire town had to be totally razed and totally rebuilt.

That ain’t nothing.

Up by the Guadalupe Dunes — between 1949 and 1990— leaky underground pipe-

lines operated by Union Oil spilled no less than 20 million gallons of crude. Evidence

culled by investigators determined that company employees were instructed to

”

first time in the agency’s 20-year history that it initiated not one new case.

Zero.

In the first three months of the year, only five cases were launched. In the past, there could be as many as 61 in just one month.

Over its history, the federal pipeline agency collected on average $475,000 a month in fines and penalties. Since Trump took over, that number has crashed by 98 percent. It’s now $8,000 a month.

In the past, the agency would promulgate a couple of new rules a year; under Trump, the new leaders have introduced 23 new rules, all of which were designed to cut costs, time constraints, and red tape. In the past, such rule changes were

the subject of public notice and public hearings. Not anymore.

What you don’t see, you can’t count; what you don’t count, you can’t fix.

And that’s just the point.

Even now, we still don’t know how many PHMSA pipeline inspectors lost their jobs during Elon Musk’s federal workforce purge. But we do know that

when Trump was sworn in last year, PHMSA had 666 employees. By May 2, that number was down to 570. Now it’s closer to 500.

To state the obvious, many of these changes were advocated for in the preTrump era by the very pipeline executives who are now running the show. As Bill Caram, a longtime watchdog with the Pipeline Safety Trust, put it, the prover-

bial fox has gone from guarding the henhouse to designing the henhouse. Or as U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, a militantly moderate, suffer-no-fools Democrat from Washington State, put it when calling out the chief architect of these changes, “By all accounts, you are letting industry rewrite the rule books, while simultaneously choosing not to enforce the rules that remain.”

You want to sleep soundly at night?

Better up your dose of cannabis gummies.

PHMSA’s assumption of regulatory power over Sable’s pipeline is legally pos-

sible only because the agency decreed the pipeline is, in fact, interstate. State

agencies— like the Office of the State Fire Marshal— are not legally allowed to regulate pipelines that meander from state to state. That’s a federal prerogative.

But this finding rests on some really shaky ground. For starters, in 2016, PHMSA issued a document asserting

the pipeline in question was intrastate

and that the Fire Marshal was empowered to call the shots. And in 2020, Plains All American Pipeline — the company criminally responsible for the 2015 spill— signed a legal contract that explicitly empowered the Fire Marshal with the ultimate authority of granting any restart permits to any future operator.

Here’s the kicker. In its 40-year his-

tory, the two pipelines in question have never — not once — been operated as an interstate pipeline. No oil that’s ever

traveled in the pipeline ever went out of state. When it was first installed, the plan was to connect it to refineries in Texas.

But that never happened.

Sable and PHMSA argue that because

oil from federal waters five miles off the coast will be shipped by pipelines to the

Santa Ynez Unit, that qualifies as “interstate.” It’s certainly a novel and creative argument. But the California Coastal Commission, for one, ain’t buying it. In a letter written December 23, Commission Executive Kate Huckelbridge stated the pipelines in question do not, in fact, start five miles off the coast but instead at Sable’s plant in Los Flores Canyon, located squarely on the mountain side of the freeway.

Who knows what will happen next? By the time you read this, everything will be different. But the battle over what kind of pipeline it is will go on. To steal a line from the song, “You say intrastate, I say interstate.” But me, I say, “Let’s call the whole thing off.”

—Nick Welsh

INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

13

OPINIONS CONT’D “ELEPHANT PULLS ACA SUBSIDIES FROM UNDER NEEDY” BY MONTE WOLVERTON, BATTLE GROUND, WA

Letters

Welcome Isla Vista to

Calm Down

T

Welcome to Del Playa Drive, Ep. 1 Introducing Our New Podcast on All Things I.V., Then and Now. Join our Mickey Flacks Fellow Christina McDermott as she dives into I.V.’s history, from oak forests to oil schemes to student housing.

Listen at independent.com/welcome-to-iv

or wherever you get your podcasts!

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THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

ake a breath. This town is 15 minutes wide.

Driving the speed limit here is apparently an insult. Do 25 in a 25 or 35 on Foothill and someone in a luxury sedan will be glued to your bumper, furious that physics exists. You will not save meaningful time driving like this. You might save 30 seconds. You might also destroy a family.

Last month, my son — helmeted, lawful, riding an e-bike — was hit by exactly that kind of driver.

His femur broke in three places. Without the helmet, he might not be alive. He was thrown 20 feet.

The bike went under the truck. The driver didn’t see him — because he was looking away, trying to thread a gap.

My son will carry the trauma forever. So will the driver. Fault does not cancel consequence.

So the next time you floor it for a yellow light, picture a child’s body leaving your hood. Then slow down. Your hurry is not worth a life.

—Thomas Paine, S.B.

Help SBResiste

A

s the Trump administration launched its aggressive assault on immigrants, community members formed SBResiste. We aim to prevent kidnappings, monitor ICE activities, document violations, notify the community of their rights, and provide mutual aid to families devastated by detentions and disappearances.

The terror of this mass enforcement is real. Since the Supreme Court green-lit racial profiling, anyone who looks like they might be an immigrant (read: Latino) is at risk. Most detainees have no criminal record — only three judicial warrants have been issued in the tri-counties, while more than a thousand people have been kidnapped. ICE’s indifference to due process means that anyone who is taken may be housed in horrible conditions for months, unable to communicate with family or lawyers, and even deported to a third country far away. This is a reign of terror on brown people.

SBResiste is ordinary people who care about families and neighbors and who will not stand by as masked hoodlums smash car windows, yank people off their bicycles, and grab people at bus stops, outside their homes, even at their jobs. We patrol at-risk neighborhoods, respond to possible ICE sightings, hand out know-your-rights “red cards,” and connect affected families to resources.

To help protect your neighbors, please join a volunteer training hosted by 805 UndocuFund, Associated Students of UCSB, and SBResiste on January 12 at UCSB. Register here: 805undocufund .org/trainings. —Lee Heller, SBResiste Volunteer

Feelings over Facts

O

u r city is on the verge of adopting rent control — not because evidence supports it, but because it feels right to some elected leaders. One councilmember dismissed extensive data on rent control’s failures in favor of personal memories of growing up in a rent-controlled apartment. That sentiment may be sincere, but it is a dangerous foundation for public policy.

The evidence on rent control is clear and consistent: While it sounds compassionate, it repeatedly harms the very people it claims to protect by shrinking housing supply and distorting the market.

If we genuinely care about affordability, proven solutions already exist: Build more housing, provide targeted rental assistance, expand vouchers and emergency support, encourage ADUs and gentle density, partner with nonprofits to create true below-market units. These approaches may lack the symbolism of rent control, but they actually lower rents and help families.

Good intentions are not a substitute for sound policy. Compassion and competence are not opposites. The most compassionate choice is to insist on facts over feelings — and policies that truly work.

—Peter Trent, S.B.

Picture Stable Rents

A

s a renter, I want a stable, sustainable city. A policy meant to protect renters shouldn’t end up hurting future ones. We need to ask hard questions: If we protect current renters, but market rents for new apartments increase to compensate, are we closing the door on the next generation? Will we have “empty nesters” stuck in three-bedrooms and young families crammed into studios because neither can afford to move?

If utility and insurance costs rise, how will the city ensure landlords don’t neglect properties or sell? As landlords cut costs, will the trades, from plumbers to cleaners, lose jobs?

Will fees for registries, boards, and enforcement be passed to renters?

Will the city pair this with new housing, the only proven way to lower rents?

We shouldn’t have to choose between displacement today and decay tomorrow. We deserve a balanced, data-driven policy that protects more than those lucky enough to have a lease today.—Maxine Levinson, 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, 1715 State St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101; or fax: 9655518; or email: letters@independent.com. Unabridged versions and more letters appear at independent.com/opinions.

In Memoriam

Grant Castleberg 1936–2025

COURTESY

Landscape Architect ANNE-MARIE CASTLEBERG, PAU L C A S T L E B E R G , K AT I E S T O R M

BY

S

anta Barbara’s landscape — and its com-

munity — are forever enriched by the life and vision of Grant Castleberg, landscape architect, who passed away peacefully at home on November 29, 2025, at the age of 89, surrounded by his beloved family.

Santa Barbara is richer for Grant Castleberg’s vision, generosity, and artistry. His spirit lingers in every tree, path, and pond he designed, and in the hearts of all who find delight in the spaces he created.

As the sun sets over the gardens he nurtured, Grant’s legacy endures — an inspiration for generations to come.

Born in rural Wisconsin, Grant’s journey westward with his family led him to California’s sunlit groves, where his passion for plants and design first blossomed. His formative years in Pomona and Santa Barbara, coupled with studies at USC and Cal Poly Pomona, provided the foundation for his work.

At the heart of Grant’s legacy lies a design philosophy that seamlessly blended artistry and environmental stewardship. Grant believed that landscapes should not only be beautiful but also accessible, sustainable, and nurturing to the spirit. His approach was rooted in a profound knowledge of horticulture and design. Grant was renowned for his ability to identify plants by both their Latin and common names, and for his playful curiosity — often experimenting with unique species to test their adaptability in Santa Barbara’s climate. He saw gardens as living classrooms, places where people could learn about nature, ecology, and themselves.

Grant’s signature project, Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, exemplifies his philosophy. His vision transformed a former hotel site into a botanical sanctuary, featuring more than 75 species of trees and plants, a vibrant pond, sensory gardens, and spaces designed for community, reflection, and joy.

He created a botanical collection that showcased a wide range of environments, from wetlands to arid landscapes, and designed features such as butterfly habitats and drought-tolerant demonstration beds.

Every element was chosen to delight the senses and foster a sense of serenity, connection, and wonder.

Accessibility was paramount — winding paths, shaded seating, Braille signage, and fragrant plantings ensured that everyone could enjoy the space.

Grant’s son Paul, who was 11 when the park was completed, recalls that while the park was under construction, he asked his dad, “Will there be ducks in the pond?” Dad answered, “The city’s environmental report projected a pond that size could support 1.5 ducks.” On the day he passed away, Paul noted that in fact, 20 (not 1.5) ducks graced the water.

Grant’s design ethos extended to private residences and public spaces alike. He believed that gardens should offer both openness and seclusion, creating sanctuaries for reflection, play, and community. His wife, Anne-Marie, remembers him explaining that “designing a landscape is like painting with plants and nature.”

His legacy is not just in the landscapes he shaped, but in the values he instilled: respect for nature, attention to detail, and the belief that thoughtfully designed spaces can enrich lives and bring people together.

18th Annual Santa Barbara Community

Grant Castleberg at Alice Keck Park

Grant’s dedication to Santa Barbara extended beyond his professional achievements. He served on the Landmarks Commission, led Santa Barbara Beautiful, and earned numerous awards for his outstanding service and contributions. His influence is felt in the city’s parks, playgrounds (Shoreline Park playground), schools, and private residences, as well as in the careers of those he mentored, and his collaborations on furniture design with his daughter Katie.

Family was the heart of Grant’s life. He and AnneMarie shared nearly six decades of love, adventure, and partnership — sailing the Channel Islands, exploring gardens around the world, and nurturing traditions that brought joy to their children and grandchildren. Grant’s gentle spirit, tireless work ethic, and zest for life inspired those around him. He delighted in music, playing piano daily, and found solace in nature, whether skiing in the mountains or tending to his own gardens.

Paul and his family have enjoyed Grant’s design features for their own garden, including a minisunken garden with a privacy wall that elegantly balances openness and seclusion. Grant’s enthusiasm for unusual plants was infectious; a spontaneous purchase of Pleroma urvilleanum — Glory Bush — became an experiment in adaptation, thriving in the filtered sun of Paul’s back patio for a quarter-century.

Katie reflected, “My dad was far ahead of his times: He was nurturing, kindhearted, caring, creative, and fun. As a young child, he would often read to me from a stack of seed and bulb catalogs, and we would pick out all our favorites. Later in life, as I traveled in Asia for my work, I texted photos of plants I admired to my dad. From these grainy photos, he would reply back with the botanical name. If the plant was a good candidate for my garden, I’d return to find the plant waiting in my garden with instructions as to how to plant, where, and how to care for it.”

A funeral mass will be held at the Santa Barbara Mission, January 9, 11 a.m. Friends and family are invited to gather and share memories at the Castleberg home. Address will be provided at the mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden will support the ongoing care of Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens — a fitting tribute to Grant’s enduring legacy. n

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15

obituaries Maureen Louise (Brennan) Janeway

11/09/1954-12/27/2025

Maureen Louise (Brennan) Janeway, lovingly known as “Moe,” passed away peacefully on December 27, 2025, at the age of 71, in Santa Barbara, California.

Maureen was born on November 9, 1954, in Dallas, Texas, to Robert Brennan and Marilyn (Kolar) Brennan. She moved to Chicago at the age of two, where she was raised and later met the love of her life, Terry Janeway, her husband of 41 years. In 1998, Maureen and Terry moved to Santa Barbara, where she built a life centered on family, community and service, especially for the special needs community.

For more than 35 years, Maureen enjoyed a distinguished career as a health care advertising executive in Chicago. She served as Vice President at Topin & Associates for over 30 years, working alongside her dear friend Alan Topin Throughout her career she was respected for her intelligence, creativity, leadership, and integrity, and most of all for her gift of forming lasting friendships and making everyone she encountered feel special.

Maureen’s generosity extended far beyond her professional life. She was a dedicated volunteer and served on the Board of Directors of Alpha Resource Center of Santa Barbara for more than 15 years, including several terms as Board President.

Following the tragic loss of her daughter, Katie, Maureen co-founded Katie’s FUNd in partnership with Alpha Resource Center. Established in 2003, Katie’s FUNd provides meaningful social and recreational opportunities for teens with mental and/ or physical disabilities. The program delivers teens a place to excel through love, compassion, and hope.

16

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In recognition of her extraordinary service, Maureen was honored as Santa Barbara County “Woman of the Year” in 2004, an award that reflected the profound impact she had on her community.

Above all, Maureen was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, and a gracious, caring friend to so many. She will be remembered as a beautiful, kind, and loving soul, totally devoted to her family, and equally known for her sharp wit and fabulous sense of humor. Her warmth, strength, and laughter will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know her.

A common refrain of her friends was that she was truly “one of a kind”.

Maureen is survived by her devoted husband, Terrall “Terry” Janeway; her son, Christopher Janeway; her daughter-in-law, Katy (Espley-Jones) Janeway; and her cherished grandchildren, Brennan (12) and Graham (10).

She is also survived by her siblings: Robert “Bobby” Brennan, Margarete “Peggy” (McGillen) Brennan, William “Bill” Brennan, Kandi (Kihm) Brennan, Patricia “Patty” (Brennan) Hunt, and Barbara (Brennan) Cassidy, Charles Cassidy; her siblings-in-law Lynn Janeway Murphy, Alan Murphy, Tim Janeway, Lisa Janeway, Stacey (Janeway) Rembisz, and Ray Rembisz; and her parents-in-law, Gary Janeway and Jacquelyn (Welsh) Janeway. She is also beloved as Aunt Moe to 19 nieces and nephews, and their spouses and partners.

She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Katherine “Katie” Janeway, and by her parents, Robert Brennan and Marilyn (Kolar) Brennan, her sister Mary (Brennan) Clark and her brother-in-law, John Hunt.

We are grateful and humbled by the love and support of family and friends for Maureen and our family. It has meant so very much to us all.

A visitation and rosary will be held at McDermottCrockett Mortuary on Wednesday, January 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will be

JANUARY 8, 2026

celebrated at San Roque Catholic Church in Santa Barbara on Thursday, January 15, at 10:30 a.m., with burial immediately following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Katie’s FUNd, c/o Alpha Resource Center of Santa Barbara, in Maureen’s memory.

Robert Alfred Zapata 11/16/1940-11/21/2025

"My Tribute to Robert Alfred Zapata" AKA: Bob • Bubba • Zeek • Zap • Pops • Pappy • Pappers • Grandpa After being married to Bob for 53 years, yep, I feel I knew him pretty well.

I met Bob in 1970 when I went to work at the Santa Barbara Police Department as a secretary in the Detective Bureau. Soon after I started my job, Bob moved from Patrol into the Bureau as a detective. Two years later, we were married, and from that moment on, I lived the life of a police family—a life that could be unpredictable and disruptive, especially when Bob was working his speciality, major cases. He was often called out in the middle of the night or on weekends to handle homicides, shootings, robberies, or other various crimes, but through it all, he handled the demands of his career with quiet strength and dedication.

Bob was truly a hometown boy. He was born and raised in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara and attended Santa Barbara High School, where he excelled in track and basketball. He carried lifelong positive memories of his friends, teammates, and teachers, especially those connected to sports. His love for the game continued as he dedicated time to coaching youth sports activities. He was competitive and driven, and loved to watch football in his free time. I have to admit that even though he was so easy-going, he could

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get somewhat upset when one of his favorite football teams lost.

Before joining law enforcement, Bob worked various local jobs, including driving a cement truck and working in a marble factory. One day, a customer at the marble shop, who happened to be a police officer, encouraged Bob to apply for a job at the Santa Barbara Police Department. That suggestion changed his life.

Bob went on to have a wonderful 20-year career as both a patrolman and a detective, work he truly loved. After open-heart surgery, he continued serving the community as an investigator for the District Attorney’s Office, later working security at the bankruptcy court, and eventually becoming a marshal at the golf course…his favorite hangout!

As I have witnessed, and after talking to many of his friends, no matter the situation, Bob treated everyone with respect—including those he arrested. His calm, thoughtful manner earned him deep respect from colleagues and the many people whose lives he touched.

The love and support I have received from his friends since his passing proves the kind of man he was, and the kind of friendships he built.

Mentally and physically, Bob was as strong as they come.

He faced major surgeries and illnesses with resilience and always seemed to bounce back, and he always had such a positive attitude. Even when I worried or had problems, Bob would simply say, “It’ll be all right” and somehow, it always was.

After retirement, Bob found a true passion in golf. He and I also traveled to many far-off places and shared some of the best times of our lives. Wherever we went, Bob had a way of connecting with people— especially tour guides, who often seemed to take to him instantly. He had a natural warmth, kindness, and comforting presence that made people feel at ease. That was Bob. As messages, calls, emails, and cards have arrived, I have been reminded of just how deeply loved Bob was.

So many wonderful stories have been shared with

me—stories that make me smile, laugh, and feel incredibly grateful. And of course, I have my own memories, enough to keep my heart full for the rest of my life.

Bob lived a wonderfully happy life, always doing something he enjoyed and always putting family first whenever possible. He raised a loving family of which he was deeply proud, and the bond they shared was unmistakable. He was a devoted husband, a family man through and through, and a steady presence to all who knew him.

Rest in peace, Bubba.

You will be forever loved and forever missed by many, — Kris Zapata

Phil DiMatteo

02/12/1936-10/09/2025

Phil DiMatteo, aged 89, passed away at his home in Santa Barbara, on October 9, 2025. Born on February 12, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, he was the cherished son of immigrant parents Salvatore DiMatteo and Lucia DiCapua.

Phil met his wife, Celeste Byers in St. Louis, Missouri and together they had a large family of 6. Phil’s greatest treasure was his kids. He nurtured the hope that they would always support and care for each other. Phil was proud to have climbed Mount Whitney at the age of 65 and to have explored all 50 states. He also enjoyed volunteering with his skills in home improvement and mechanical/electrical skills for both relatives and friends.

To honor Phil's wishes, he was laid to rest at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Knobel, Arkansas on November 10, 2025. A Memorial Mass will be held in Santa Barbara at St. Raphaels Catholic Church on January 10th at 10am, allowing family and friends to celebrate his life and legacy.

obituaries Mary Switzer

09/03/1929-12/20/2025

Mary (Marzolino) Switzer, 96, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025, in Santa Barbara, California, with her family by her side. She is now at home with our Lord and reunited with her beloved husband, John, who passed in 2023.

Born on September 3, 1929, in Detroit MI, Mary was the youngest of seven children in a loving Italian family. She attended school in Detroit before moving with part of her family to Pasadena CA, beginning a new chapter on the West Coast.

After business school, Mary worked as a secretary and loan processor before meeting John on a blind date at the Brown Derby in LA. They married, raised three sons, and shared nearly 70 years of devotion.

Her Italian heritage shone through in her exceptional cooking and the warm, welcoming home she created.

In 1964, the family settled in Santa Barbara, where Mary formed lifelong friendships and was blessed to be around many extended family members, especially her sister Theresa. She loved socializing and spending time with those she cherished.

Mary is survived by her sons Scott (Cheryl), Larry (Jill), and Robert (Tricia); seven grandchildren - Brian, Christine, Sarah, Kurtis, Ryan, Travis, and Greg; eighteen great grandchildren (with one on the way); and her 98 year old sister Theresa. Her family was her greatest joy. A lifelong and devout Catholic, Mary drew strength from her faith through every season of life. A memorial service will be held at San Roque Church in Santa

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Barbara at a later date.

Mary will be remembered for the beautiful life she built and the love she shared with all who knew her. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Hospice Care of Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Cemetery.

Frances Armen Hanna

01/31/1944-12/24/2025

Peter Howe Searl

be made to the Hawaiian Historical Society or to the Samarkand Benevolent Fund.

Lupe (Ortiz) Luera

11/02/1934-11/22/2025

02/21/1936-12/23/2025

Stephen W Rezzonico

03/01/1945-11/27/2025

Stephen was born in Santa Barbara, Ca. One of seven children, born to Edna and Charles Rezzonico. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School in 1963, Steve devoted his entire career working for the County of Santa Barbara as Facilities Supervisor with the Public Works Department. He approached his work with pride and dedication. In his spare time, he would keep meticulous care of his home and garden. When he retired, he and his wife Janet Gallagher embraced a peaceful new chapter together in Morro Bay. A gentle soul, Steve carried a deep appreciation for nature and all living things, especially his dogs Andy and Ernie. His passions included but are not limited to restoring classic cars, attending car shows with his wife in the passenger seat, camping, hiking, and fishing. He found joy in art and music and the simple pleasure of a quiet walk and-without-fail-a scoop of vanilla ice cream after dinner. But above all, Steve's greatest love was his family.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Janet; brothers John, Mark, Robert, his daughters Tracy (Ron) Hoogendyk of McCall, Idaho, and Maia Simonson; and his cherished grandchildren Jacquelyn ( BJ) , Kylie ( Cody) , Summer, and Dylan, who will carry his memory evermore.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the caregivers at Westmont of Santa Barbara and Central Coast Hospice for the compassion and comfort they provided during Steve's final chapter.

Steve will be laid to rest at

matt21slo@yahoo.com.

Donations in Frances’ memory may be made to the Santa Barbara Women’s Fund: https://womensfundsb.org/.

Frances Armen Hanna, age 81, passed away peacefully at her home in Santa Barbara on December 24th, 2025. She was born on January 31, 1944 in San Francisco, the daughter of Stella and Deran Jeskalian. Frances attended Polytechnic High School and City College of San Francisco before completing a bachelor’s degree in education at San Jose State in 1965. She later taught elementary school until she met the love of her life, Charles “Vernon” Hanna, at a Navy social on Treasure Island in 1973.

She moved to Rancho Palos Verdes and lived there with her new husband until he was relocated by IBM to Santa Barbara in 1976. While living in Santa Barbara she raised two sons, Stephen and Matthew Hanna, and developed an interest in real estate and managing property.

She was also active on the social scene, having maintained membership at various times in the Newcomers Club, Postcomers Club, Graduates Club, and Santa Barbara Women’s Club. Some of her interests including reading mystery novels, learning about the lives of old Hollywood stars, watching dramas on TV, going on cruises, and trying new foods.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister, Barbara.

She is survived by her husband, her two sons, and her grandchildren, Leon and Charles Hanna.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. For more information and to RSVP, please email:

Peter Howe Searl, 89, passed away peacefully on 23 December 2025.

Born in Syracuse, New York, he graduated from Deerfield Academy, Dartmouth College and Syracuse University College of Law. From 1958 to 1967 he served intermittently in the United States Army. In 1957 he married Priscilla Bruns; eight years later, they moved with their three children to Honolulu, Hawaii, where Peter lived for twentytwo years—practicing law, running marathons, teaching Hawaiian history, and interpreting daily life in the past at the Mission Houses Museum.

He later moved to Massachusetts, where he became historical interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village. While there, he met Mary Ellen Birkett, a professor at Smith College. They married in 1991 and made their home in Northampton, Massachusetts, with extended residences in Paris, France and Geneva, Switzerland.

In 2013 they moved to Santa Barbara, California, where Peter continued to explore the world with the stamina of an athlete, the mind of a lawyer, the curiosity of a historian, and the temperament of an artist.

He leaves his wife of 35 years, Mary Ellen Birkett; son Christopher Howe Searl and partner Jennifer Wood; son Peter Clayton Searl; and daughter Elizabeth Searl Crawford and husband Neil Crawford.

He is also survived by four grandchildren—Lauren Crawford, Marshall Crawford, Ryan Searl, Jack Searl and wife Jessie; and a greatgrandson, Stellan Searl.

A private memorial service will be held in Syracuse, New York. Donations in Peter’s memory may

Lupe (Ortiz) Luera passed away suddenly on November 22, 2025. Lupe was born and raised in Santa Barbara until she met her husband, Frank. They lived in Carpinteria raising their family.

She was artistic, compassionate, loving, loved animals, listened to many without judgment, she was patient, loved watching her sports on tv, giving, always there for others, helped when she could, a great sense of humor, subtle and stubborn too , loved fashion, and most of all her Faith and belief in Jesus.

There are many stories of making tamales with family and friends, camping, barbecues at Oak Park with family, casino trips, craft fairs, art classes, the exciting up & downs of raising two sons and a daughter.

She made sure that we were taken care of and that we treated others on how we wanted to be treated. She loved her family & friends deeply.

She is survived by her son, Johnny (Julie) and her daughter Rebecca (Kevin). She is proceeded in death by her loving husband Frank and her eldest son Steven. She has 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

She will be deeply missed.

Services will be Jan. 9th at St. Jospeh Church in Carpinteria, CA at 1:30pm.

Reception to follow burial services.

Continued on page 18 INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

17

obituaries Robert Muhr

02/08/1941-12/02/2025

It’s with deep sadness that we share about the passing of Robert Muhr on the night of December 2, 2025, due to cardiac arrest. Born in Granite City, IL, Bob was the son of German immigrants Ludwig and Anna Muhr. He grew up in Long Island, NY with his sister, Roberta, and many cousins, aunts, and uncles. He was very proud of his New York heritage and loved the Yankees as well as any and all college football teams. After high school, he attended Rensselaer (R.P.I) and M.I.T. where he pursued a BS and Master’s in mechanical engineering. After college, he moved to St. Louis and then Titusville, Florida where he worked in aerospace for McDonnell Aircraft. In 1967, Bob moved to Los Angeles where he eventually ended up working at UCLA in personnel.

In 1969, he met his future wife, Joan, and they were soon married in July 1970.

His first son, Peter, was born in May 1973, and the family soon moved to Goleta when Bob transferred to UCSB to work in personnel. His second son, Danny, was born in May 1977.

During the boys’ school years at Mountain View, Bob was active in Boy Scouts and helped coach their teams at the Goleta Boys Club. Both sons attended GVJH and Dos Pueblos where Bob and his wife faithfully attended football and basketball games whether the kids were on the teams or not.

In 1980, Bob left UCSB to work for Hydranautics as manager of industrial relations until 1985. Then he returned to UCSB to work in Facilities Management as senior engineer in Plan18

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ning and Construction. He retired in 2005.

To get away from the “Honey Do” list, he worked at UCSB Haz Mat Center, PathPoint, and as a substitute teacher at Dos Pueblos High School for 10 years.

His time as a sub at DPHS was definitely a special time for him. He was beloved by the students for his kind, easy-going, caring attitude.

He meant so much to the DP community that he had a two-page feature in their 2013 yearbook. He was recognized around town by former students who would always tell him how they remembered him as their “favorite sub.” This always meant so much to him! He loved talking with them and openly gave career advice, whether they wanted it or not.

He was very active in the Goleta Lions Club and served as president. He also participated in the drum and bugle corps. He was also a member of the Goleta Elks Club for about 20 years.

Throughout life, he loved surfing with his two boys and camping at El Cap, Leo, and Jalama to name a few.

No matter if it was sunny and beautiful or pouring rain over an unlightable fire, he always declared, “Isn’t this the best camping trip ever?” That always brought a big grin to all our faces and helped us to appreciate the moment together more. These camping and surf trips instilled a love of the outdoors and the ocean in both his boys.

He was an avid football fan watching hours of college football on the weekend and playing catch in the yard.

With his family, most vacations were centered either at the beach for relaxing and time in the water or up in the mountains for skiing.

When the boys were older, Bob and Joan loved to travel both in the U.S. and abroad.

Later, with the onset of dementia, travel became limited to road trips up and down the California coast which he always looked forward to. Despite the limitations, Bob continued to swim, bowl, and spend

JANUARY 8, 2026

time at the beach with his caregivers. We’d like to specifically thank Francisco, Mario, and Ashley for all their fun afternoon outings.

He was known for his kind and caring manner and had a strong love of being with his family. His boys fondly remember his always taking time, even after a busy day, to play catch, take them to beach or movies, or just spend time doing what they wanted to do. This also continued when the grandkids came along. He was a loyal friend who always kept in touch with childhood friends and relatives that lived abroad. We miss him very much but know he’s in a better place.

He’s survived by his wife of 55 years, Joan, his son Peter and wife, Rebecca, and son, Danny, and his wife, Danelle, and their two children, Logan and Makaela. In honoring Bob’s wishes, his family will be privately scattering his ashes in his favorite places.

Constance Pollak

11/24/1933-12/05/2025

Constance Pollak, beloved wife of James Pollak, died peacefully at her home in Santa Barbara on December 5, 2025. She was 92.

Connie had great warmth, charm and intelligence. Her lifelong interest in the arts and design was started by her mother, Frances, and enhanced through the education which Connie valued so highly, as well as through personal and professional interests. Connie had a special capacity to engage with people and this gave her great pleasure.

Making the most of any situation was central to her character, leading her to create rewarding lives for herself and her family in the many places in which they lived.

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She was born Constance Weintraub on November 24, 1933 in Philadelphia, a city whose ethos she always admired. At 14, the family moved to Los Angeles where Connie was an excellent student and very involved in extracurricular activities at Beverly Hills High School. She became a lifelong admirer of California.

At 14 she also met Jim Pollak whom she would marry in 1954. While working on Saturdays and vacations Connie gained a mentor, Amelia Gray, who opened the first designer fashion boutique in the United States and taught Connie about business, style and customers—passions which endured throughout her life.

Connie attended Smith College and left early to marry Jim. Before their marriage, Connie moved to New York City where she worked at Bergdorf Goodman. The experience helped refine her keen and lasting talent for fashion and design and she was also the employee selected to be Miss Bergdorf.

Connie and Jim married in New York in June 1954 and almost immediately Jim was drafted into the U.S. Navy. Following officer training in the United States Jim was stationed in the Philippines and their first child, Catherine, was born in Manila. The young couple began their 68 years of marriage with an adventure that led them to later choose a lifestyle of international assignments and new experiences.

In 1957 the family returned to Los Angeles, where Connie resumed her undergraduate education as an English major at UCLA. Two years later, their second child, Brad, was born.

In 1966, Jim was selected for a Ford Foundation management program that placed him with the Banco de Comercio. The family move to Mexico City established an enduring affection for Mexico. There, Connie founded her own interior design business which she continued when the family

moved to London. Connie found London very stimulating. They later returned to Mexico City and eventually settled in San Francisco, where they spent many years.

While living and working in San Francisco, Connie fulfilled a long-held goal by earning her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley—a testament to her tenacity, discipline and lifelong love of learning.

In the mid-1990s, guided by a shared sense of adventure, Connie and Jim moved to Ennis, Montana, a small town on the Madison River.

There they built a house and a rich family life that grew to include four grandsons, Alex, Will, Dylan and Holden who visited often and delighted in time spent with their grandparents.

After many years dividing time between Ennis and Santa Barbara, Connie and Jim settled in Santa Barbara. In 2013, when Connie was eighty years old, they embarked on an ambitious round the world trip that included Russia, Egypt, Turkey and China. During that trip, Jim arranged for Connie to hold and feed a baby panda—an experience that sparked a profound affection for the animals and became one of her most cherished memories.

Connie and Jim shared a wonderful relationship spanning 75 years. Connie often said that Jim had given her an incredible life and that she was deeply grateful for the time they spent together. Jim died in 2022. Following Jim’s illness and death, Connie became more involved with the Santa Barbara community. She found joy in the beauty of her surroundings, in concerts, visiting the museum, spending time with her lovely neighbors and attending All Saints-bythe-Sea Episcopal Church.

Connie left an indelible mark on all who knew her.

True to her outlook on life, she met every challenge with optimism and resolve, often reminding herself and others “Onward and upward!”

obituaries Guadalupe "Lupe" (Navarro) Gomez

12/12/1932-12/13/2025

Guadalupe ‘Lupe’ Gomez was born in Santa Barbara on December 12, 1932 to Carmen and Rosario Navarro, one of six children.

Lupe passed peacefully in her home on December 13, 2025, one day after her 93rd birthday surrounded by her loving family.

She is remembered for her life full of love, generosity, resilience, and devotion.

Her caring ways started as a very young girl. By age 13, her father lost his eyesight. She offered support to ensure food could still be put on the table. She drove her father through the streets of Santa Barbara, as he sold fruits and vegetables to local families. Her characteristics of responsibility and perseverance she displayed continued throughout her life.

After high school, Lupe received her beautician license and worked as a hairdresser in Santa Barbara. Shortly thereafter, she met Rudy Gomez, and after a brief courtship, they became engaged and were married on September 11, 1955. They immediately started a family, having three children: Anthony, Anna, and John. Together, they worked hard to raise their family, creating an unbreakable bond of love and trust that continues today.

Lupe was a modern-day Uber driver long before the term existed, always making sure her family and friends got where they needed to go.

She chauffeured everyone in the family’s 1955 Chevy Nomad station wagon – a car that remains in the family today and is still cherished.

In 1976, Lupe encouraged and supported her husband

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in joining a small local business, Helistrand, Inc., which was later transformed into a wire and cable manufacturing company. Its success and legacy continue to this day, now spanning three generations.

Family always came first to her. Her children were her pride and joy. She loved them fiercely like a momma bear, but her love extended to all. We fondly remember our home was an open door at any time. At night, there was always room at her table for others. Many would frequently join, since she was an excellent cook, best known for her traditional Mexican dishes. Her children will always remember those special dishes prepared for special occasions.

Throughout her life she quietly fed and supported countless family members and friends. Her kindness and generosity will remain appreciated by many.

Lupe is preceded by her husband Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Gomez, her loving parents Carmen & Rosario, her sister, Francis Diaz, and brothers Mario, Raul, Raymond and Hector Navarro.

She is survived by her three loving children Anthony (JoAnn), Anna (Steve Tetherow) John (Jan); grandchildren, Kendra, Dalen & Morgan Gomez, Nicole Tetherow-Bellotti, Sean Tetherow, and Erin Gomez; great grandchildren Aubrey Rose Hilliard & Bennett Bellotti along with numerous nieces and nephews.

The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to all the caregivers who have helped over the years, especially her devoted caregiver Patricia Guzman who never left her side these past 11 years.

Lastly, a special thanks to Vicki Dean Gomez who offered additional support this past year as well as Leslie & Victoria with Hospice Care for the compassionate care and support.

In honor of Lupe’s wishes a private cemetery service was held.

A Celebration of Life with lunch served will be held on January 30, 2026 1:00pm at the El Paseo Restaurant. The

family kindly asks guests to RSVP through https:// everloved.com/life-of/guadalupe-lupe-gomez/ or text Anthony @ 805-705-3775.

Janet Phillips Dickson

03/18/1934-12/14/2025

Loved by so many, Janet Phillips Dickson was looked up to for her never-ending ability to be supportive, loving and kind. Her passing on December 14, 2025, at the age of 91, leaves one less twinkling star in the universe. Born in Glasgow, Scotland on March 18, 1934, Janet waved goodbye to post-World War II recovery in search of a better life.

Side by side with her husband Jack, Janet eventually settled in Santa Barbara, California. Together, they raised a family, traveled the world, glided across dance floors and lived the enviable life of a couple who never fell out of love.

Beyond being remembered as an adoring mother and grandmother, Janet is remembered as a lady of style, sharp wit and grace.

She loved a good party, surrounded by friends and family, laughter and love.

Her fondness for animals, babies and discovering hidden treasures meant Janet couldn’t say “no” to adopting a stray, walk by a gurgling baby without saying “hi,” or go into a department store without finding a fabulous deal. Janet’s wanderlust had her enjoying month-long vacations to Australia and Scotland,

soaking up the glitter and glam of numerous ocean cruises, and road-tripping up the California coast always with her beloved husband and best friend, Jack.

Proudly, Janet never took sugar with her tea, but always with something sweet on the side. She happily enjoyed small comforts - Scottish chocolate, a nice piece of glittery jewelry, silky pajamas, a comfy, luxurious bed, a soak in a spa, and Harry’s vodka gimlets served up with flair. Forever a dancer, she could be found dancing in the kitchen or even in a grocery store aisle if the right song came along - especially anything performed by Sara Vaughn.

Janet is predeceased by her husband, Jack Dickson.

Her memory lives on with her brother Gordon (Jeanie) Smith, son Kenneth (Barbara) Dickson, daughter Karen (Steve) Flores; grandchildren, Jennifer (Paul), Angela, Kyle (Frankee), Jake, and Ben; great-grandchildren, Anthony (Sierra), Zoey (Robert), Sophia, and Jamison; great-great children, Zayden and Kingston.

Janet also leaves behind dearly loved lifelong friends and her second family (the Yates/Coryells) who will dearly miss her. Janet didn’t wish for a funeral, preferring that those who choose to remember her do so in their own way.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Santa Barbara or the Santa Barbara Humane Society. If you find yourself at Harry’s, raise a glass to Janet, the spirited, wee lass from Glasgow who made living life and dancing look effortless. Lang may yer lum reek!

Michael Arthur Glassow

05/02/1940-12/17/2025 Michael “Mike” Glassow, a pioneering and transformative archaeologist, succumbed at age 85 to bladder cancer. A leading figure in California archaeology, he was a passionate advocate for Cultural Resource Management (CRM) and heritage conservation.

Inspired as a student

by books discovered in his Grand Rapids High School library, Mike pursued archaeology from the American Southwest to California. He earned his BA, MA, and PhD at UCLA and later contributed his body to the UCLA Donated Body Program to support medical education.

Hired by the UCSB Anthropology Department in 1969, Mike served as department chair (2002– 2005) and remained deeply engaged in campus service and the UC Natural Reserve System, particularly Santa Cruz Island. His research and teaching focused on California archaeology and the Channel Islands, and mentoring students was the most rewarding aspect of his career. Over four decades at UCSB, he guided numerous MA and PhD students, published more than 150 works, and continued mentoring as emeritus after retiring in 2009.

Beyond academia, Mike served for over three decades as Archaeological Advisor to the City of Santa Barbara Landmarks Commission and was closely involved with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. His work helped shape Cultural Resource Management policy and practice statewide as well as with professional societies, beginning with the landmark Vandenberg CRM project in 1974—a pivotal moment for the CRM industry..

An avid photographer, his unique perspective was shared in his research as well as his travels. Thoughtful and generous, Mike enjoyed collecting and repairing old clocks and crafting home improvement.

His practical ingenuity and creativity resolved problems in houses and the field.

Mike is survived by his archaeological partner of over fifty years, Anabel Ford; his brother Jonathan Glassow and family; and his niece, Laura Glassow.

No memorial will be held; a celebration of life is planned for May. Continued on page 20

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obituaries Earl James Hajic

06/04/1926-12/05/2025

Earl James Hajic passed peacefully at home in Santa Barbara, CA on December 4, 2025 at the age of 99. He was preceded by his wife Winifred (Wink); his brothers Robert and Edgar (Carol), and his sister Phyllis (Frank Smetana). He is survived by his three sons Gregory (Barbara), Kenneth and Steven (Marji); and his grandson Zachary.

Earl (aka Bud) was born in Chicago, IL on June 4, 1926. He served in the Navy from 1944-1946, performing aircraft radar and radio servicing which sparked his interest in electronics. Earl later received his a BA and an MS in Electrical Engineering as a proud Illini from the University of Chicago Illinois.

Earl married Winifred in 1953 and the couple moved from Chicago to the west coast with a job transfer to the Motorola research lab where Earl specialized in microwave electronics. The Hajics found their way to Santa Barbara shortly after with a new opportunity for Earl at General Electric Tempo.

A second MA degree from UCSB in 1981 led to employment and eventual retirement as a senior lecturer and mentor in the geography department where Earl specialized in remote sensing and image processing.

Earl enjoyed the southern California lifestyle including beach running, ocean swimming and playing tennis.

He became an icon on roller blades, frequently spotted sweeping, then skating, the Cabrillo Boulevard bike path.

An avid historian and archivist, Earl spent many hours pursuing photography and exploring his Czech family roots. He remained independent and active until just 20

THE INDEPENDENT

To submit obituaries for publication, please call (805) 965-5205 or email obits@independent.com

before his passing, enjoying time in the sun and devoting time to yard work.

Full obituary and guestbook at Legacy.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Earl’s memory to Direct Relief or to VNA Health.

The family also extends their appreciation to Dr. Michael Bordofsky who provided invaluable support in keeping Earl independent and thriving through the years.

named Samantha. Kathy and “Sammy” were inseparable.

Most of all, Kathy and Jim loved to hang out on their back patio, watch the view of the trees and birds, and talk about everything and nothing.

Kathy was predeceased by her father, William, her mother Jane, her brother David, and her best friend ever, Diane Honiker. She is survived by her husband, Jim, her brother Sean, and his wife Laura. We all love you, Kathy!

In accordance with her wishes, Kathy’s ashes will be cast into the sea.

Eric Joseph Johansing 12/20/1961-12/15/2025

Kathleen Isaac

1950-2025

Kathleen Louise Isaac (Walker) was born on December 4, 1950. Her parents were William and Jane Walker. A lifelong Goleta resident, Kathy attended Goleta Union Elementary School, Goleta Valley Junior High School, and Dos Pueblos High School. She met her future husband, Jim Isaac, at Dos Pueblos by accidentally dropping her school books right in front of him.

Kathy and Jim were married for 53 years. Early in their marriage, they loved backpacking. On one trip, Kathy packed from Sequoia National Park in the western Sierra’s, across the mountains, over Mount Whitney to Whitney Portal in the eastern Sierra’s. Kathy loved sewing and made and altered many of her own clothes. Over the years she also made a beautiful collection of aloha shirts for Jim. Kathy loved to go on road trips up the coast of California along Highway 1 especially with her beautiful little Springer Spaniel

JANUARY 8, 2026

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Eric Johansing, a big wonderful man whose heart and spirit were even larger than he was.

Eric was born on December 20, 1961, in Los Angeles, California, the second son of Hal Johansing and Marlene Orfalea Johansing; Husband to Zeyla Johansing, brother to Harry and Therese Johansing and father to Gregory Johansing (Melissa), Luka, and Mia, uncle to Natalie Johansing, his adopted brother David Tucker. He died December 15, 2025, in Costa Rica, where he lived with his wife, Zeyla, and their children Luka and Mia. Eric was a devoted son, a loyal brother, a loving husband and an adoring father.

A large extended family mourns his death including his numerous uncles and cousins in the Orfalea and Johansing families.

Above all, Eric was kind; a person who would give without being asked and help without seeking credit.

He was authentic and loved for being precisely who he was.

Many people will remember Eric as a uniquely mis-

INDEPENDENT.COM

chievous boy, who grew up to be a uniquely compassionate man. His good works were always under the radar; giving a farmer in Mexico a flock of chickens to raise, so he could feed his family, bringing comfort, love and a sense of well being to his family and many friends.

Eric's life was a bridge between cultures and borders. His circle offriendship included people from his childhood in La Canada and Hermosa Beach to people he loved in Costa Rica and Mexico.

Eric's legacy of love spans thousands of miles, rooted in his having the rare gift for making people feel safe, accepted and comfortable with him. And he made them laugh.

His memory will live on in stories told by people who knew and loved him across three countries; a quiet man of few words, whose presence brought joy and comfort as well as laughter and fun.

There is a line in a Maya Angelou poem, "When great trees fall, Rocks on distant hills shutter."

As an analogy to Eric's life, his absence will impact people in the many communities where he belonged.

People loved him, not for what he said, but for what he did and how he made them feel; accepted and able to be themselves. Because Eric was himself, authentic to the core; an honest and genuine good man.

Wilma Marvine Kearns “Margie”

04/18/1931-1/2/2026

Margie was born in a small town in West Texas to Marvin and Belle Smith.

Mom spent her childhood surrounded by her 5 siblings: CB; Henry; Nita; Peggy and Berta, playing, singing, harvesting crops and attending school. Life was hard, but the

farm provided food for the table. When the farm and grocery store failed, three of the girls and household possessions made there way to California where their son was stationed in the military.

The journey ended in Santa Barbara where they found a place to stay and jobs at Nancy Alice Pie Company.

While attending Santa Barbara High School and working at the pie shop, she met sailor Tom at the roller skating rink. Mom was smitten!

Tom and Margie spent 75 years together. They raised Nita Kay and Kathy, held jobs in the grocery business and took to the road to get away whenever vacation time came around.

What can you say about Margie Kearns? She worked hard all her life. She was determined to have the things she didn’t have growing up. She loved people.

Customers lined up at Mom’s check out stand at Safeway just to talk to her. She was funny. I’m not sure she couldn’t have done stand up.

She loved her family, immediate and otherwise. She was loyal to all in her acquaintance. In the 2 years following the death of her beloved, Tommy, she held court in her recliner chair, watching game shows, eating rice pudding and vanilla ice cream, calling Glenna and planning what she was able. A woman warrior ahead of her time. We all loved you so much.

Margie is survived by Nita and Kathy, sisters Berta and Peggy, granddaughter Natalie (PBG), Nat’s Beau, great grandchildren Isla, Finn and Pearl, her BFF Glenna, numerous beloved nieces and nephews and the many friends and acquaintances who touched her life.

Services at Goleta Cemetery to be announced.

obituaries Victor Plana

04/24/1955-11/30/2025

Victor Plana was born in Havana, Cuba on August 24th, 1955. The second of the three sons of José Vicente Plana and Concepción Ester Plana, Victor was a very plump baby with arm rolls and beautiful green eyes, much to his mother’s encantamiento!

The Plana family spent happy years in Cuba; living in their downtown Havana home; riding horses and working on their ranch outside of the city; enjoying the white sand and clear, warm water of la Playa Varadero; and experiencing the rich cultural traditions of Cuban music, dance, food and familia.

Regime change in 1960 upended the family’s life in Cuba and they abruptly fled with only the clothes on their backs. Victor vividly remembered he and his older brother Tony being rushed out of their classrooms at Christian Brothers La Salle school in Havana, and taken to the airport, where they were strip-searched, then put on a plane.

Upon landing in Miami, the family was processed as refugiados, having left their home, ranch, employment, friends and many relatives behind in the hopes of beginning a new life in the United States.

During their year in Miami, Victor’s younger brother Oscar was born, and the family was complete.

Eventually, they received an invitation from Julio De Puzo to move across the country to Culver City, CA. The Plana family has been forever grateful to the De Puzo family for that oportunidad increíble.

Growing up in an apartment on Overland Ave. in Saint Augustine’s parish, Culver City, Victor’s parents worked every day, and his Abuelita Adelaida managed the home, cooking the boys’

To submit obituaries for publication, please call (805) 965-5205 or email obits@independent.com

favorite meals. Victor and his brothers Tony and Oscar, experienced the ‘free-range’ childhood common to the 1960’s. Victor vividly remembered riding his ‘sting-ray’ bike to and from St. Augustine’s school (sometimes against Overland traffic), playing sandlot baseball until dinner time, and trying to out-pedal the guards at nearby MGM studios when he and his friends decided to by-pass the gates and ‘take a tour’. Victor followed Tony’s lead and attended Loyola High School, graduating in 1973 as a proud Cub. In the fall of 1983, Victor accepted an opportunity facilitated by Oscar to manage a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley. There he would live in the manager’s apartment with adjoining stables, work with horses, care for the native oak trees, control the resident boar population, and keep the main house and grounds in readiness for the ranch owners’ visits.

Four years later, Victor noticed new renters moving ‘next door’ into an A-frame cabin on ten adjacent acres.

Soon, Victor was leaving packed lunches and treats for Jen and two-year- old Emilie every morning and successfully caring for Jen’s notoriously man-hating mustang while Jen and Em were away during the day at work and day-care. And so began their 37-year aventura together.

In 1990, Victor and Jen were married, and after a memorable Cuban-food potluck wedding, they set off on their honeymoon surf trip to San Jose del Cabo. In 1992, six months after son Torrey was born, the family of four left the rural ranch to begin a new chapter in Santa Barbara, which continues to this day.

Victor Plana (saint’s name: John) was a man of vibrant energy, who embraced every millisecond of every day with vigor, enthusiasm, and Cubanismo. He was a man’s man, a family man, an accomplished horseman, a true Renaissance man: if he had the ganas he could do anything. Over the course of his remarkable life Victor was: a carpenter, short-order cook, waiter, solar-panel salesman, motivational speaker, DIY expert, jazz aficionado, adopter of res-

cue pets, saxophone player, raconteur, home re-habber, avid surfer, cyclist, sprinter, and superb athlete. Victor had an exceptional 35-year career as a Realtor®; he was one of the top producing agents in the Montecito/Santa Barbara Coldwell Banker brokerage, achieving the highest tier designations of International President’s Elite and Premiere year after year.

He was incredibly driven and dedicated to his profession and his clients. He especially loved using his creative financing skills to assist clients in achieving the homeownership that some thought was beyond their means.

Our cariño Victor was gregarious, vivacious, loquacious, boisterous, and compasivo. He was described in a local publication as ‘that dashing Victor Plana’ after winning a contest with his luscious Cuban flan. He carved any mountain, rode any horse, handled any fast car (and any car fast) and rooster-tailed any lake or river. He rode the waves from Puerto Escondido to Trés Palmas, from Raglan to the North Shore, from Toes to Rincon, from C-Street to Tahiti reefs, from Hammond’s to Jalama. Always, his most-loved epic surf sessions were with his son, followed by an enormous chow-down at the Spot or Esau’s. Above all things, Victor wanted to keep living in order not to miss a moment of his adored children’s lives. He faced these last ten years knowing that he had Alzheimer’s disease, with tremendous bravery and courage, and he will always be our Victor Valiente.

He passed away peacefully, at home, on the night of November 30th, 2025, in the arms of his loving family. El mundo era mejor contigo en él. Te amaremos para siempre, amor de mi vida, y nunca serás olvidado.

Victor is survived by his son, Torrey Michael Victor Plana and fiancé Adria DeStefano; his daughter, Emilie Helen Halbach and her longtime partner Joel Poole; his wife of 35 years, Jen Plana; his two brothers and sisters-in-law, Tony Plana and Ada Maris, and Oscar and Ingrid Plana; his sistersin-law Susan Bush, Linda Tyler, Pamela Strohmaier,

and Pamela’s husband Scott Strohmaier; his nephews Alex Plana (Victor’s ahijado), Emile Plana, Henry Tyler, Taylor Strohmaier; his nieces Ana Smith (and husband Jesse Smith), Ava Tyler, Isabel Hafeman, Audrey Plana; his grandnieces Phoenyx, Aero, Maria; his grandnephew Lorenzo; his cousins Minerva Sanchez, Alina and Eduardo Añorga, Juan Añorga, Marisa Sálazar, Andre and Katie Añorga; Jorge Plana; Gus, Rini and Nick Valdespino, Lauren and Mike Canchola, Hilda Valdespino, and many Plana, Valdespino, Sanchez, and numerous other cousins around the country, and in Cuba and Spain. Victor’s family is forever grateful to his circle of dearest, longtime friends who safely guided him through continuing his passions of surfing and cycling until it was no longer possible; and those who were regular visitors, making him laugh or make faces, holding his hand, sharing tequila with him, and having lunch by the pond. You know who you are; he loved and valued you all deeply, and so do we.

We have so much gratitude and love in our hearts for Victor’s team of caregivers from Home Instead, who provided the highest level of care to him during the last year of his life: Fran, Cryn, Perla, Marta, Yanet, Chloe.

You made a significant difference in Victor’s life with your skilled professionalism, lovingkindness, engagement, humor, and strength. And finally, we want to express how thankful we are for Santa Barbara’s Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) and athome Hospice Care. They provided the most excellent nursing, spiritual, palliative, home health, and aftercare support through these past six months. We do not know how we would have navigated this painful and challenging process without them.

A Memorial Mass for Victor will take place at 11:00am, January 24th, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 1300 East Valley Rd, in Montecito; followed by a 1pm Reception Celebrating Victor’s Life with food, drink and music at the family’s home.

Rain or shine. Everyone is welcome to attend either or both events. Victor’s entierro

will take place at the Santa Barbara Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial Paddle-Out in his memory will take place at Refugio Cove in the Spring.

For directions, more information, or to be included in Victor’s Paddle-Out, please text your name and question/ request to 805.895.2112.

If you would like to make a contribution in Victor’s memory to the VNA/Hospice Garden please go to vna.health--ways to give-memorial and honor gifts, or call (805) 965-5555. Or support your local Hospice or Alzheimer’s chapter; the services and support they provide are vital.

Eamon H.Crawford 10/10/1977-11/25/2025

Eamon fought a courageous sixteen months battle with cancer. He faced his illness with strength and grace.

Survived by Mother Linda Wokal, Father Howard Crawford, Siblings Anna Crawford, Tom Crawford (Princess), Arlie Crawford (Luke), Garett Wokal (Yolanda). Also left behind his devoted partner Bonnie Wilkenson, their daughter Brielynn Crawford, the light of his life. Aunt Jan (she adored him) and Uncle Marty. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.

After graduating SB High School Eamon continued his education at SBCC where he earned his CNA license and worked in healthcare for many years. Compassionately caring for everyone in his charge.

An athlete from a young age, continuing through adulthood. Eamon was a loyal member of the SB Oakes Baseball team. Until this past year. A celebration of life will be held 01/11/2026. The University Club in SB, 2-5. Please RSVP (805)689-6505.

In lieu of flowers, a donation of your choice, a college fund for Brielynn, Ridley Tree Cancer Center or an animal rescue in Eamon's name.

INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

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“Drawing on her formidable range of vocal color, DiDonato captures the drama within each song, and across the cycle.”

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“Effortless phrasing and a gleaming High C that made audiences ecstatic.”

OperaWire

West Coast Debut

West Coast Premiere

Ruckus Davóne Tines bass-baritone

Joyce DiDonato Santa Barbara Debut mezzo-soprano Operatic Royalty in Recital Time for Three Juan Diego Flórez Emily – No Prisoner Be tenor Thu, Feb 5 / 7 PM Granada Theatre

What Is Your Hand in This?

Tue, Feb 3 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall Music Academy of The West

Vincenzo Scalera, piano Sat, Feb 7 / 7 PM Lobero Theatre

(805) 893-3535 | www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu Lobero event tickets can also be purchased at: (805) 963-0761 | www.Lobero.org Granada event tickets can also be purchased at: (805) 899-2222 | www.GranadaSB.org 22

THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

COVER STORY //

Welcome Isla Vista to

Introducing Our New Podcast on I.V., Then and Now

S

ome days, the marine layer hangs

UC SANTA BARBARA LIBRARY GEOSPATIAL COLLECTION

on to Isla Vista. White fog envelopes the shoreline and stretches along its crowded streets and apartment complexes so that the area is a world of its own, still, quiet, and smelling of salt.

I like these moments. They are special because Isla Vista is so rarely quiet. Daily, bicycles whir, buses grumble up and down El Colegio, bands play music out of living rooms, speakers blare in backyards, and basketballs drum the pavement in Estero Park. And, of course, there are voices, thousands of voices crammed into a little more than a half square mile.

I.V. is rarely quiet, but often, it does feel like its own world.

Surrounded by UC Santa Barbara campus on all sides but the ocean, largely developed a little more than 75 years ago, and lacking cityhood status, it operates as an island of high rents, student life, and cyclic change. Its cacophony is full of stories. Simply, I thought it would make a good podcast. I called it Welcome to Isla Vista.

An aerial photograph of Isla Vista in 1967. Through the late 1950s and 1960s, the area saw a massive building boom.

ALISHA GENETIN

By Christina McDermott THE ORIGINS WERE PARKING I am an outsider to Isla Vista, although I live nearby. I did not attend UCSB nor Santa Barbara City College. I am not a member of one of its long-term renting families, nor do I own a home there.

But I.V. is still part of my life. As a housing reporter for the Santa Barbara Independent, Isla Vista weaves its way into my workday, from covering the county’s preliminary rental inspection program to writing up new developments there.

I.V. is part of my personal story too; I spent early dates with my partner at I.V. Bagel and circling to find street parking.

Right — parking. I first grew interested in the history of Isla Vista—and how it related to the area’s present reality—because I could not find any parking. One day, while trying to snap photos for a story about I.V., I looked down a street lined with cars and understood what folks in the public comment period meant when they called the situation dangerous at a recent Planning Commission meeting.

I.V.’s rent nightmare stories, ones I’d heard from students and former students alike, made for compelling stories I wanted to tell. But the crowded streets tipped me toward the most interesting questions in journalism: Why and how does this place operate the way it does? I knew little about I.V.’s history, but this problem, unlike my lack of personal experience, I could remedy.

Light filled UCSB’s Special Research Collections reading room one late afternoon in March, when I sat at a desk and began to read county documents. On spiral-bound pages, I began to uncover the past of Isla Vista’s development: timber initiatives that stripped the land of topsoil, oil schemes that failed (we were a county intertwined with oil ventures then as we are now, albeit with different attitudes toward it), a lack of water that prohibited development, a U.S. Marine base in response to a world war, and then a $1 sale of land for a UC campus. I read about land for a new university location and a corner reserved for private development. Slowly, Isla Vista developed a “then” for me. The “then” began to inform how I understood the now, and the land’s history of exploitation.

I could see a story taking shape.

The author on the beach below Del Playa Drive on a quiet December day when classes were out of session.

PODCAST PLANS Before I started at the Independent in August 2024, I worked at a public radio station called KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska. Dillingham is a rural hub in the Bristol Bay region of the state, with a year-round population of about 2,300. Reporting in Dillingham was my first full-time job, after doing intern work for KCSB here at home and KCBX Radio in San Luis Obispo. I spent a little more than a year in Dillingham, writing, recording and producing stories, and compiling and hosting the morning news. For about seven of my 13 months, I was the region’s only reporter.

People in Dillingham treated me with kindness, respect, and patience. They also taught me how to listen. Often, voices other than my own could more effectively deliver an important message—you can hear people’s passion in their storytelling and

CONTINUED // >

INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

23

Were You Married in Santa Barbara County in 2025?

We Want to Hear from You! Share stories of your wedding with the Santa Barbara Independent — from how you got together and who proposed, all the way to your big day. Tell us what were your choices for venue, colors, clothes, ceremony, and reception?

What worked out, what didn’t, and any and all unexpected events–happy or otherwise.

We are planning the 2026 Santa Barbara Independent Wedding Guide, which will be published in Early 2026. We are looking to celebrate the weddings that have happened in Santa Barbara County. Send us your story and share your wedding photos to weddings@independent.com. Be sure to let us know how to contact you.

Send us your story and share your wedding photos to weddings@independent.com.

Be sure to let us know how to contact you.

Santa Barbara

24

THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

Vist

I sl

ALISHA GENETIN PHOTOS

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• Wel m co e

COVER STORY //

a

The beach below Del Playa Drive near low tide. Massive supports for houses above are visible now, as the cliff erodes.

explanations in the pitch and quality of their voice.

Noise from the world around me told stories, too. I recorded the glug and hum of a fishing boat motor as I interviewed fisher folks protesting the record-low price processing companies paid for their sockeye catch. I captured the hum of sewing machines at a class on how to make traditional Yup'ik garments. I caught the cheer of community members at the town’s big high school basketball tournament. And early in the morning, after thick snow made everything sparkling, quiet, and thick, I recorded the crunch my boots made on hard snow all for myself.

Storytelling with sound, I thought, would also work in sunny Isla Vista. Through a series, I could add to the literature on how this place came to be and avoid getting tired of the sound of my own voice. In June, I told Marianne Partridge and

Jackson Friedman, the Independent’s editor in chief and news editor, respectively, my idea for a limited series of podcast episodes: I.V.’s history and its present. They asked questions, offered ideas, and gave me the go-ahead.

VOICES, STORIES, HISTORIES

NEWSPAPERS.COM

One advantage of a community largely built and developed less than 80 years ago is that people were still around who could tell me stories firsthand.

I wanted to hear about Isla Vista from as many people as I could. Over the course of four months, I interviewed 40 people, my recorder placed on tables (sometimes near my laptop during video calls), held snugly in hand, or laid haphazardly on the grass.

I listened to a story about the year UCSB opened and the journey to the campus through lemon and walnut groves. I heard accounts of the 1970 Bank of America burning, and the political organization that came from it. I learned about I.V.’s fight for incorporation and how the fear of rent control influenced why people at the county level did not support cityhood for I.V. I understood why the sign welcoming a person to Isla Vista off Los Carneros Road had a tree on it.

People told me their personal stories of I.V., from the overcrowding to the live music scene. Stories of poor living conditions were frequent, but so too were anecdotes that showed people’s joy: camaraderie in a village of tepees, a bicycle beer race, or a migration to the coast to watch the sunset.

More recent history — things I could A photograph published in a News-Press article the morning after the Bank of America remember—began to take on new meanwas set on fire in Isla Vista. The article is dated February 26, 1970. The photo is credited ing. I saw the 2014 tragedy that shook I.V., to Tom O’Brian. when a young man killed six people in a

rampage, on the news when I was in high school in Washington State. It was one of several news-making mass shootings that occurred during my adolescence.

But now, it sat in context: a tragedy, accompanied by a year of unrest, that mobilized more people to support a community services district, according to one of its founders.

Through others, I learned how I.V. emptied out in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when UCSB switched to online learning. Then, 18 months later, I.V. refilled to the brim. Redfin, a real estate website, sent me property data from the zip code containing I.V. that showed how property values shot up in 2022. Recent grads and current students told me stories about the rush to find a place—waiting to apply with the online portals was like trying to get concert tickets, two students said—and expressed frustration that choices were so limited and expensive. Families suffered, too. In 2023, a massive renoviction meant hundreds of long-term, low-income families were forced to leave the community.

Neither UCSB nor I.V.’s landlords were interested in a formal interview. The university answered questions about its involvement in I.V. and housing initiatives via email, and I had the chance to talk to a couple of landlords off the record—talks that, coupled with discussions with a housing developer, helped me understand how owning more and employing management companies (which take a cut of profit) resulted in less labor for the landowners but could increase prices. It’s work, to live nearby and answer calls late at night, or on weekends—work that some landlords do with care. It’s hard work to care.

I met a lot of people personally invested in I.V.—people who worked to help the community. One day sticks out to me: A long-term tenant and I were cycling around Isla Vista as part of an interview. We stopped to speak to a Parks District employee who needed to clear away minifridges that someone had dumped over a fence protecting a county park from the cliff ’s edge on Del Playa Drive. The work required the person to put themself at risk to dispose of the fridges before they rotted there or plummeted 30 feet below and risked flattening someone. The person did so despite the risk.

Yes, Isla Vista struggles with garbage left on the street or in yards, but nature lives and thrives here. I should know—I spent a solid week in April reporting on a bear that wandered through I.V. The natural world inevitably slipped into my reporting. I learned that the area is an ancient marine terrace, and the rock forming the bluffs—the Sisquoc Formation—is slightly softer than the nearby Monterey Shale, meaning it erodes more easily than other parts of our coastline. The dangerous bluff edge is fast approaching Del Playa Drive. At low tide, I walked the beach below Del Playa and foundation beams, whitewashed

CONTINUED ON PG. 29 >

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THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

All Booked A bi-monthly newsletter from the Santa Barbara Independent exclusively for book lovers.

Sign up at independent.com/ support

COVER STORY //

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF ISLA VISTA TIMELINE 1926: Two investor groups join Pauline and John Ilharreguy in buying the parcels of land that make up Isla Vista. All three investor groups subdivided the land, writing out names and drawing their own streets. Then, they start to sell lots like shares, allowing people to drill for oil.

1941: On December 7, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, a U.S. military base in Hawai‘i, an attack that prompts the United States to enter World War II.

1943:

The California State legislature passes a bill that will allow the then Santa Barbara State College to become a branch of the University of California. The college is located on a small campus in Santa Barbara’s Riviera community.

IV

1948: The University of California Board of Regents buys the former Marine base for the university campus—a campus that does not include Isla Vista. This same year, some residents of Isla Vista form the Isla Vista Improvement Association.

Early 1950s

1947: Charles Mosher’s company, Signal Oil and Gas, joins with Honolulu Oil in a drilling effort in Isla Vista. They pour more than $20 million in today’s money into the initiative but find little oil.

1949:

Voters also approve the Cachuma project, a major dam that will provide water for the Goleta Valley (including, crucially, Isla Vista).

Isla Vista residents request a permanent zoning residence for their slice of unincorporated county (before that, there were no zoning rules).

1954:

“Santa Barbara College of the University of California” opens its doors in Goleta with about 1,850 students. In I.V., property owners prevail, and the area is zoned for density—four four or more units per lot for much of I.V. Planner Whitehead manages to get property owners to agree to give up some of their lots to widen some of I.V.’s narrow streets.

1957: Isla Vista is hooked up to Goleta’s sewer system. Santa Barbara’s Board of

1958: UCSB becomes “UCSB”—aa general college of the University

Overlay 1960s: A building boom in Isla Vista begins in earnest. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors grants many “variance” requests, allowing developers to bend zoning rules.

1969: On January 28, off the coast of Summerland, California’s biggest

of California system. It’s a designation that means the number of programs, both undergraduate and graduate, will grow.

supporting apartheid), an unknown group burn down the Bank of America.

Eyes turn to Isla Vista as civil unrest and police brutality ensued (then California governor Ronald Reagan calls in the National Guard). Police kill Kevin Moran, a recent graduate, who was trying to put out the fire on the steps of the bank.

1970: The Isla Vista Community Council (IVCC), a group of politically

1972: On Halloween, voters in Isla Vista vote to officially establish the

engaged community members, forms. The council came to represent I.V. when engaging with the county and work on community projects.

1972: 1975:

Isla Vista again asks LAFCO if it can incorporate. LAFCO rejects this application in 1976.

1983: Goleta’s water moratorium eases somewhat but still restricts

growth in I.V.

2001:

On February 23, David Attias kills four people and severely injures a fifth by driving his car into them on Sabado Tarde. The event causes eyes to turn to Isla Vista.

2012: The Loop, a four-story luxury apartment building, opens its doors. It’s the first and only major development built with support from the Isla Vista Redevelopment Agency. That same year, the state dissolved these types of agencies across California.

Parks District. Before the Parks District’s efforts, there was only one park in Isla Vista. Now, there are 25 parks and open spaces maintained by the district in I.V.

1973:

The IVCC submits a proposal to become a city to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). A location election the year prior saw 80 percent of voters supporting the initiative. LAFCO rejects it.

1983:

Isla Vista attempts to incorporate for a third time after local voter support, but LAFCO once again rejects it.

1996: Goleta’s water moratorium (limiting new development) lifts.

2006: The Coastal Commission blocks a permit parking plan for I.V.,

saying UCSB needed to be more involved.

2014:

The massive block party Deltopia spins out of control, causing student unrest. Just a month later, Elliot Rodger murders seven people in a mass shooting event. Once again, eyes turn to Isla Vista.

Initial plans for Munger Hall, a nine-story giant residence hall, are announced. Through planning stages, the dorm would draw widespread criticism, as most bedrooms did not have windows.

2016:

2015: The state approves the Isla Vista Community Services District.

2016: Isla Vistans vote IVCSD into existence. UCSB agrees to pay

2018: IVCSD once again puts forward a vote for a tax on utilities that

2020: The COVID-19 pandemic reaches the United States. In March,

2021: The City of Goleta and Santa Barbara County sue UCSB for failing

$200,00 annually from 2017 to 2023 for the district (an agreement UCSB would renew in 2024). A tax on utilities to fund the district does not pass.

UCSB and SBCC go “online,” and Isla Vista empties out.

2023: Munger Hall plans are abandoned amid widespread protest over the mostly windowless mega-dorm.

UCSB

1962: The design overlay is officially removed.

1970: During Bank of America’s involvement in South Africa (indirectly

oil spill begins. The oil spill would help bring about the environmental movement—a movement that find support in Goleta and Isla Vista.

The Goleta Water District imposes a moratorium that stopped new water hookups, halting development in the area for the next decade.

COVID-19

had already started just the year prior). To build the airport, workers level Quwa’ (Mescalatin) Island, further disrupting Chumash artifacts and graves. The airport opens in April, with a U.S. Marine base next door where UCSB and Isla Vista are today.

County urban planner Richard Whitehead proposes low-density zoning, due to the narrow subdivided streets and lots from the ’20s. But property owners want higher density to capitalize on profit.

Supervisors passes an emergency zoning ordinance (a quick-moving law) that requires design guidelines throughout Isla Vista. Meanwhile, development in I.V. grows.

IVCC

1942: In response to the war effort, construction of the airport picks up (it

would fund the district. This time, it passes.

to build enough student housing to keep up with student enrollment. The lawsuit is settled in 2024, with UCSB paying at a total of $6 million.

2025:

Santa Barbara County approves a preliminary rental inspection program for Isla Vista to address widespread safety and health concerns in the housing stock.

INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

27

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS! Born in 1986, the Independent is proud to be turning 40 years old in 2026.

To mark our anniversary, we want to celebrate our entire community’s success stories and major milestones.

SO WE ARE REACHING OUT TO YOU, OUR DEDICATED READERS. IF YOUR BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION IS 40 OR OLDER, SEE: INDEPENDENT.COM/ 40THBIZ or scan this QR code to fill out a quick survey.

WE’RE ALSO TOASTING PEOPLE WITH 1986 BIRTHDAYS, WHETHER YOU WERE BORN HERE OR LIVE HERE NOW.

IF YOU’RE A 1986 BABY, SEE: INDEPENDENT.COM/ 40THBDAYS or scan this QR code to fill out a quick survey.

Or you email us at birthday@independent.com.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SHARE YOUR STORIES!

28

THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

to

Vist

a

• Wel m co e

I sl

COVER STORY //

a

CHRISTINA MCDERMOT T

CONTINUED FROM PG. 25

To step inside Estero Community Gardens is to disappear from the hubbub of Isla Vista. Here, many long-term renting families cultivate fruit, vegetables, and flowers.

and towering like part of an ancient city, carved into the cliff. I picked guava fruit off the ground in the Sueno Orchard.

In a misting rain, I toured the nearby Estero Gardens and saw plots produc producing all sorts of food by families who have lived in I.V. for years.

For all its foibles, Isla Vista is special.

You can walk or bike to restaurants, parks, or your friends’ houses. Live bands play every week. In garden boxes, people grow food that anyone can come and harvest. You can meet folks from all over the world here. And on a sunny afternoon, you can take a towel to a park and lie in the grass, smell salt on the ocean breeze, and maybe, if you’re curious, you can listen to this podcast.

n

WELCOME TO ISLA VISTA:

THE SPECIFICS

The podcast series itself has six episodes. Each episode travels through space and time. Here’s a breakdown of what’s in store.

January 8: “Welcome to Del Playa Drive” —How did we get from oak forests to oil schemes and later to student housing?

Episode One introduces one of the oldest streets in I.V. and delves into I.V.’s early history and development.

January 15: “Rise and Fall of Development: Student Stories, Part One” — In 1954, Santa Barbara College students traded “the campus with a view” for the “campus in the slough.” Developers built more than 4,000 structures in 10 years, receiving variances and helping pass zoning codes to increase density. What was it like to live there? Student stories start in 1954 and finish in 2016, as that housing stock ages.

January 22: “The Near-Then and the Now: Student Stories, Part Two” —Post-COVID, Isla Vista grew even more expensive, all while housing stayed pretty much the same. What is like living in I.V. now? There’s good, bad, and ugly here.

January 29: “Political I.V.” —One night in 1970, a fire broke out at the Bank of America. No one yet knows who set it. But it brought both police brutality and political engagement to Isla Vista. Why does I.V. have such a vast network of parks? Why isn’t I.V. a city? And decades later how did tragedy bolster support for the Community Services District, according to its founders?

February 5: “The Quieter Corner” —Isla Vista is a student hub, but it’s not all students. This episode takes us into the quiet community garden, as well as the homes of long-term homeowners. How has Isla Vista changed from the eyes of people who see crops of students graduate each year? What was the impact of a major renovation that displaced dozens of long-term families? How can we look at I.V. from an artist’s perspective? And what’s with that uniquely shaped dome house?

February 12: “The Cliff’s Edge” — Development has started again in I.V., as new housing laws make it easier to build. At the same time, property owners are cutting back parts of homes on Del Playa as the cliff erodes and parking is even more tightly impacted. Where is I.V. headed? And what are some ways we can make it a better place to live?

Where to Listen: You can check out the podcast on the Independent’s website (with transcripts) at Independent.com/welcome-to-iv and n on Spotify and Apple Music. You can also catch it on KCSB. INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

29

INDEPENDENT CALENDAR

Jan.

8-14

the

BY

TERRY ORTEGA

As always, find the complete listings online at independent.com/events. Submit virtual and in-person events at independent.com/eventsubmit.

THURSDAY

Carpinteria: 800 block of Linden Ave., 2:30-6:30pm

FRIDAY

1/8:

nated violinist Tessa Lark, cellist and Music Academy alum Joshua Roman, and Grammy Award–winning double bassist Edgar Meyer will perform a genre-defying evening of chamber music of roots in classical, folk, jazz, and bluegrass. 7:30pm. Hahn Hall, Music Academy, 1070 Fairway Rd. Ages 7-17: free; GA: $65-$80. Call (805) 969-8787. musicacademy.org

1/8: Planned Parenthood Young Advocates Presents Blueprints of Tomorrow: A Vision Board Party Meet new friends and Planned Parenthood sup-

SUNDAY

Goleta: Camino Real Marketplace, 10am-2pm

TUESDAY

Montecito: 1100 and 1200 blocks of Coast Village Rd., 8-11:15am

Old Town S.B.: 500-600 blocks of State St., 3-6:30pm

SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY

Downtown S.B.: Corner of State and Carillo sts., 8am-1pm

Music Academy: Lark, Roman & Meyer Trio Grammy-nomi-

Shows on Tap

FARMERS MARKET SCHEDULE

COURTESY

COURTESY

THURSDAY 1/8

Solvang: Copenhagen Dr. and 1st St., 2:30-6:00pm

Dustbowl Revival

1/8-1/11:

SOhO Restaurant & Music Club Thu.: An Evening of Folk Women with Carmen el Faye, Magnetize, Nikki Falk, and Cecilia James, 7:30pm. $10-15. Ages 18+. Fri.: Numbskull & Good Medicine Present: Dustbowl Revival, Revival 9pm. $22. Ages 21+. Sat.: (((folkYEAH!))) Presents: Ariel Pink, 9pm. $25. Ages 21+. Sat.: Cuyama Mama and the Hot Flashes, 7:30pm. $10. 1221 State St. Call (805) 962-7776. sohosb.co m

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 LIZ FISH

porters and have a glass of wine as you create a vision board that represents your goals and dreams using the provided recycled materials. Please RSVP. 5:30pm. La Lieff Wines, 210 Gray Ave. $10. Ages 21+. Email development@ppcentralcoast.org.

tinyurl.com/Vision-Board2026

1/9: M.Special Brewing Co. (S.B.) Strange Neighbor, 8-10pm. 634 State St. Free. Call (805) 308-0050. mspecialbrewco.com

1/10-1/11: Cold Spring Tavern Sat.: The Unaccompanied Miners.

Sun.: Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan. 5995 Stagecoach Rd. 1:30-4:30pm. Free. Call

1/10: M.Special Brewing Co. (Goleta) Crying 4 Kafka, 6:30pm;

coldspringtavern.com

Food for the Wyrm, 7:30pm. 6860 Cortona Dr. Free. Call (805) 968-6500.

mspecialbrewco.com

FRIDAY 1/9

1/9-1/10: Maverick Saloon Fri.: Just Dave Band. Sat.: Tex Pistols.

1/9: Herman’s Hermits’ Peter Noone: A Notes for Notes Benefit Concert Take a journey with Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits through the iconic

3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. 8:30pm11:30pm. Call (805) 686-4785. Ages 21+.

songs of the British Invasion with classics such as “I’m Into Something Good,”“Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter,”“There’s a Kind of Hush,” and “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am” and experience the magic of the ’60s live. 8pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. $77$132. Call (805) 963-0761.

1/11: Longoria Wines Live music, 3-5pm. 732 State St. Free. Email info@ longoriawine.com.

longoriawines.com/events

1/12: The Red Piano Church on Monday: RJ Mischo, 7:30pm. 519 State St. $5. Call (805) 358-1439.

theredpiano.com

COURTESY

mavericksaloon.com/eventcalendar

(805) 967-0066.

lobero.org

1/9: 2nd Fridays Art @ SBTC Artist Reception: ABSTRACT 9+1 See works that connect and convey individual interpretations of non-objective art by 10 abstract artists who have created an intangible and emotional art experience for the viewer. The exhibition goes through March 3. 4:30-6pm. S.B. Tennis Club, 2375 Foothill Rd. Free. Call (805) 682-4722.

santabarbaratennisclub.com/art

1/9: Climate Fridays S.B. Join the Community Environmental Council (CEC), the Society of Fearless Grandmothers S.B., and the S.B. Sierra Club, as well as fellow climate activists, students, allies, community partners, and friends in a space where you can learn about regional climate change issues and collaborate to protect our planet. 4-5:30pm.

CEC’s Environmental Hub, 1219 State St., Ste. A. Free. Call (805) 963-0583.

tinyurl.com/CEC-ClimateFri

1/9: Raising Our Light: An Evening of Remembrance, Connection, and Hope The community is invited to attend this commemorative event and eight-year mark of the 1/9 Debris Flow for a short program of speakers and reading of the names of the 23 people who lost their lives on January 9, 2018, followed by fellowship and refreshments. 6pm. Montecito Union School, 385 San Ysidro Rd. Free. Call (805) 680-5526 or info@montecitofire.com.

1/9:

Talk: Ancestral Materials & Modernism: Textile Artist Porfirio Gutiérrez

Zapotec-American, multidisciplinary textile artist Porfirio Gutiérrez will talk about exploring the cultural heritage and knowledge of nature behind his art. A display of his functional work (table centerpieces, rugs, and wall hangings, some available for purchase), will follow the talk.

6-7:30pm. Fleischmann Auditorium, S.B. Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol. $10. Email kperry@ sbnature2.org.

sbnature.org/calendar

Out of the Blue

1/10:

Hooked Bar and Grill Out of the Blue, Blue 2-5pm. 116 Lakeview Dr., Cachuma Lake. Free. Call (805) 350-8351. hookdbarandgrill.com/music-on-the-water

tinyurl.com/Debris-Flow

PLEASE CONTACT THE VENUE TO CONFIRM HOURS AND EVENT CANCELLATIONS OR POSTPONEMENTS. 30

THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

Volunteer Opportunity

Fundraiser

Civil Discourse

Protest

ESCAPE TO

jan.

8-14

COURTESY

the

SATURDAY 1/10

1/10:

Annual Rose Pruning Day at Mission Historical

Park Volunteers are invited to drop in anytime during

the event to help prune the rose garden in preparation for spring growth. Pruning demonstrations will be provided. Bring gloves, hand pruners, loppers, and small hand saws, as supplies are limited. Wear long sleeves, pants, and sun protection. If it rains, the event will be moved to Saturday, January 17. 9am-noon. AC Postel Memorial Rose Garden, 420 Plaza Rubio. Free. Call (805) 564-5433. tinyurl.com/RosePruning-2026

concert of the year will feature the world premiere of Sonata for Bassoon and Piano by Eric Valinsky; Lucas Richman’s Concerto for Oboe, Carl Nielsen’s Quintet Opus 43 performed by the S.B. Players Woodwind Quintet, and more. 3pm. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 4575 Auhay Dr. Free. Email info@SBMusicClub.org.

SBMusicClub.org

1/10: The Pad Climbing Grand Opening with Free Climbing! Join for an all-day celebration that will blend adventure, inclusion, and community with free climbing, funfor-all-ages climbing-related games, area vendors, and a noon ceremony featuring city and county dignitaries to celebrate this new mission-driven gym that prioritizes accessibility, creativity, and deep community connection. 10am-5pm. The Pad Climbing, 5160 Hollister Ave., Goleta. Free.

Email sbopsmanager@thepadclimbing.org.

$199

Suites from

$249

ENJOY AN OVERNIGHT STAY WITH:

Two dinner entrees • A bottle of house wine

Rate Access Code: SANTABARBARA

MONDAY 1/12

Sunday-Thursday • Jan 4-April 2, 2026

1/12: Blind Fitness Golf Clinic This golf clinic, designed by

Not valid with other promotions • Subject to availability • Not available for groups • Must mention this coupon when booking & present at check-in • Taxes not included

Robert Kotowski PGA, will introduce participants and volunteers to the game of golf and help prepare for the 2026 Howard Shaw Memorial California Blind, Adaptive & Disabled Winter Golf Classic! Participants will learn the fundamentals of stance, swing, and putting in a supportive and inclusive environment. RSVP by January 9. 2-3:30pm. Sandpiper Golf Course, 7925 Hollister Ave., Goleta. Free. Call (805) 697-2244 or email tania@blindfitness.org.

800-966-6490 • 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria, CA 93428

Discover Notre Dame

tinyurl.com/BlindFitness-Golf

Preschool through 8th grade

Apply Now!

TUESDAY 1/13 COURTESY

1/10: SBMC (S.B. Music Club) Free Concert: Music for the New Year Now in its 56th year, the SBMC’s first

Rooms from

tinyurl.com/Pad-Climbing-Opening

Priority Round Applications for the ‘26-’27 school year ends February 20th

1/10: Konrad Kono Live in Concert Music educator, pianist, composer, and performer Konrad Kono, who has 30 years of experience teaching children music in the S.B. community, will perform his unique style of jazz, pop, gospel, Latin, and soul.

7pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Students/seniors: $20; GA: $30. Call (805) 963-0761.

lobero.org

1/10: S.B. Improv: The Great Cornadoes Bake-Off This comedy spectacular will feature area improv teams and a short-form improv jam that anyone can join. The show will be performed in three parts, the “Signature” show, where new talent will take to the stage, the “Technical” show, where the Cornadoes will put their baking know-how to the test, followed by the “Showstopper” show where anyone, regardless of improv experience, can join improv games with the performers. 8-9:30pm.

Jefferson Hall, Unitarian Society of S.B., 1525 Santa Barbara St. $10. Email info@sbimprov.com.

tinyurl.com/Improv-Bake-Off

1/10: The 20th Annual Kids Helping Kids Benefit Concert with Anne Wilson This 20th Anniversary Benefit Concert will feature American contemporary Christian and country music singer/songwriter Ann Wilson for a night of music, meaning, and community to raise funds to support children overcoming physical, emotional, and economic hardship — both locally and globally. 7pm. The Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. Visit the website for prices. (805) 963-9580.

arlingtontheatresb.com

SUNDAY 1/11 1/11: Free Contra Dance All-level dancers are invited to dosi-do to the American folk sound from the Rosin Sniffers and calls from Chris Page. Newcomers can learn with experienced dancers for the first dances with no need for a partner. 6-9pm. Carrillo Rec Center Ballroom, 100 E. Carrillo St. Free. Call (805) 897-2519.

tinyurl.com/Contra-Dance-Jan11

NotreDameSB.org

1/13:

Chaucer’s Book Talk and Signing: Amanda Leland and James Work-

man Authors Amanda Leland and James Workman will talk about and sign copies of their book, Sea Change: Unlikely Allies and a Success Story of Oceanic Proportions, about the real change that is preventing overfishing and securing resource longevity and the unlikely partnerships and surprising solutions that are quietly revolutionizing the fishing industry. 6pm. Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. Free. Call (805) 682-6787.

TAI CHI Qigong

chaucersbooks.com/events

WEDNESDAY 1/14 1/14: Blue Whale Reading Series Laure-Anne Bosselaar and Christine Kravetz will host this poetry reading that will feature poet, artist, and teacher Cie Gumucio and poet Daniel Thomas, whose third poetry collection, River of Light, was published by Shanti Arts in 2025. 5:30-7pm. Unity of S.B. Chapel, 227 E. Arrellaga St. Suggested donation: $5.

tinyurl.com/BlueWhale-Jan14

Beginners Welcome January 2026 New Classes Begin

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UNRAVELING COLOR WITH PORFIRIO GUTIÉRREZ ZAPOTEC-AMERICAN ARTIST LEADS RARE PROGRAMS AT SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Porfirio Gutiérrez

Vogue, and Artforum to museums such as Harvard Art Museum’s Forbes Pigment Collection and others nationally, Gutiérrez’s work speaks for itself.

“These workshops are intense, but they just barely scrape the surface. They are the beginning steps of understanding these processes, the materials themselves, and the philosophy of the people who have inhabited this land before us,” Gutiérrez said.

Santa Barbara sits on land with a deep and ongoing Native American history, making programs centered on Indigenous knowledge especially resonant. Learning directly from a Zapotec artist is a rare opportunity that hopes to inspire other immigrants to explore their own traditions and heritage.

“When there is over a thousand years of tradition using plants and respecting the natural world, we need to pay attention. An artisan like him can really stoke this curiosity,” Perry said.

At the end of the day, the weight of responsibility and the passion of creation keep Gutiérrez teaching, preserving, and sharing his history with not only Oaxacan youth and families, but everyone interested in a connection to the

411 Porfirio Gutiérrez’s talk on Ancestral Materials & Modernism takes place on Friday, January 9, 6-7:30 p.m., in the Fleischmann Auditorium at the Museum of Natural History (2559 Puesta del Sol). Gutiérrez will guide audiences through the cultural lineage of natural materials, the science and spirit behind cochineal red, and the ways in which ancestral knowledge can speak to the complexities of modern life. Attendees will also enjoy a special display of his functional woven works such as centerpieces, rugs, and wall hangings, with select pieces available for purchase.

Tickets are $10, RSVP is required, and doors open at 5:30 p.m.

This introductory evening sets the stage for an immersive opportunity later in the month: an Intensive Natural Dye Weekend, held January 24-25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. alongside Mission Creek at

LIZ FISH

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LUIZ GARVAN

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his January, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is bringing in internationally renowned Zapotec-American artist Porfirio Gutiérrez for a two-day workshop, and it promises to be something special.

Known for his mastery of natural dyes, especially cochineal, a bright red pigment made from insects that has been central to Oaxaca’s textile traditions for thousands of years, Gutiérrez will lead participants in a hands-on experience exploring the space where art, science, and culture meet.

“My ancestors have been using cochineal for thousands of years,” Gutiérrez said. “It’s an insect bred on cactus; used in medicine, ceremonies, rituals; and it changed the course of our art world.”

The program kicks off on Friday, January 9, with an evening talk on ancestral knowledge and the significance of cochineal, followed by an intensive two-day workshop January 24-25 where participants will receive 11 hours of hands-on instruction. They’ll learn the technical process of dyeing, as well as the cultural context, environmental care, and philosophy behind each color and pattern.

Kelsey Perry, community program specialist at the museum, first came across Gutiérrez while planning Cultural Heritage Week in October. “I went to his studio in Ventura, and we just started dreaming up this program,” she said. “It felt like a perfect fit. He has this respect for the natural world, and he shows how art and science connect in an immersive way.”

For Gutiérrez, his work goes beyond craftsmanship, technique, and aesthetics. He sees continuing his Oaxacan artistic traditions as a vital responsibility.

“I’m just one layer in a practice that started roughly 15,000 years ago,” he said. “I’m adding to what my ancestors started, and that’s what keeps me inspired.”

After migrating to California more than 30 years ago, Gutiérrez settled in Ventura, where he continues his practice today with valuable awareness and perspective.

“By migrating, I came to learn the harm of capitalism and colonialism, and my role as a Native American is to collect this information and balance it as a human,” he said.

When he’s back home, Gutiérrez spends time with local cochineal and indigo farmers and honors traditions such as burying an umbilical cord beneath a tree, a ritual that symbolizes a human seed and an undying connection with the land.

These experiences feed directly into his art, blending ancestral knowledge with contemporary expression and shaping works that reflect both his heritage and life in California.

At its core, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is about connection. Its mission centers on using science to spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and encourage hands-on engagement, making programs like this a natural fit.

Thanks to the Dr. Christel Bejenke Fund, a philanthropic initiative started in 2010 that supports public programming, workshops like Gutiérrez’s are possible at the museum.

“We can support lectures or other programs by relying on this fund, and it’s a really incredible opportunity for us,” Perry said. “We are extremely grateful to bring these programs to Santa Barbara.”

From The New York Times, ARTnews, PBS, the BBC,

L I F E

Dyed cochineal red threads

natural world.

“I feel as though I turned into a butterfly when I migrated, and when you turn into that spirit animal, you gain a responsibility,” Gutiérrez said. “I lost so much because I migrated, but I’ve also gained so much.”

Perry said the fit felt immediate. Time spent in his studio made it clear that his techniques are especially unique, relying on plants and slow, natural processes. He maintains a small garden at home where he grows cactus and farms cochineal for his work.

In bringing Gutiérrez to Santa Barbara, the museum is offering more than a workshop. It is creating space for reflection, learning, and reconnection. Through hands-on practice and ancestral knowledge, the program invites participants to slow down and consider where materials come from, how traditions endure, and what it means to create with intention.

“I hope to illustrate and confront people with the traditional canon of art and modernism,” Gutiérrez said. “By doing that, people can be reminded that our culture is still here; we’re present, we’re creating, and we are responding to contemporary issues with art.”

—Izadora Hamm

the museum. Participants ages 16 and up will receive 11 hours of hands-on instruction in the traditional use of cochineal dye, learning how to mordant wool, grind the insect pigment, prepare dye vats, and create their own cochineal-dyed wool scarf to take home. Gutiérrez will also share the deeper cultural significance of cochineal — once associated with gods, ritual, and medicine in Mesoamerican societies — offering insight grounded in his lineage from the Zapotec civilization that helped develop this globally influential dye.

The workshop requires advance registration, with tuition set at $300 for GA and $280 for Museum Members. Participants should dress comfortably for outdoor work and bring lunch, water, and a notebook. Gutiérrez is bilingual and ready to support Spanishspeaking attendees by request.

For more information or to register, please visit sbnature.org or contact kperry @sbnature2.org. n

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IMMORTALLY BELOVED REPERTOIRE GONE BIG

Evren Ozel

COURTESY

COURTESY

Dmitry Shishkin

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ALEXANDRA AKSENTIEVA

LISA MARIA MAZZUCCO

BEETHOVEN’S ICONIC PIANO CONCERTOS ARE THE SUBJECT OF SYMPHONY’S TWO-DAY BEETHOVEN PIANO CONCERTO MARATHON

Angie Zhang

Min Joo Yi

S

New House Santa Barbara provides a clean, sober and healthy environment that allows men with alcohol and other drug problems to begin their journey of recovery and reclaim their self-esteem and sense of purpose.

We operate three houses in Santa Barbara and pride ourselves on our supportive atmosphere with the common goal of recovery, based on twelve-step programs.

Scholarships are available.

Donations are vital to our mission sbnewhouse.org | 805-962-8248 to donate or learn more 34

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anta Barbara’s current wave of Beethoven-mania continues in the new year as the Santa Barbara Symphony (SBS) prepares for its two-day Beethoven Piano Concerto Marathon. In separate programs on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, January 17 and 18, The Granada Theatre will be the home base for all five of Beethoven’s legendary concertos, featuring gifted young pianists on the rise, if not of the household name status, yet.

This comes in the midst of a presumably coincidental convergence of Beethoven focus in town this season. It could be said to have begun with Jeremy Denk’s Beethoven+ trio of recitals during last summer’s Music Academy of the West festival, continuing with Camerata Pacifica’s current cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas (including the upcoming Friday, January 16, program at Hahn Hall) and in famed virtuoso Víkingur Ólafsson’s Hammerklavier sonata–centered recital at Campbell Hall last fall.

Moving on to the concerto portion of this unofficial Beethoven tribute season, Santa Barbara Symphony maestro Nir Kabaretti—currently in his 20th season at the SBS helm—has curated the marathon in a thematic rather than chronological fashion.

On the Saturday-night menu, Beethoven’s Egmont overture serves as the introductory course leading concertos No. 3 and 4. Sunday’s program is a meaty portion, with No. 1 followed by No. 2, and logically finishing off with No. 5.

At the Granada, the piano throne rotation over the weekend features Min Joo Yi, Evren Ozel, Dmitry Shishkin, Angie Zhang, and Jonathan Mamora. Each pianist boasts important piano competition laurels to their name, from Yi’s win of the Music Academy

Jonathan Mamora

of the West Solo Piano Concerto Competition to Ozel’s Cleveland International Piano Competition prize and Shishkin’s trophies from the International Tchaikovsky and Geneva International competitions.

Beethoven’s piano concertos, like his set of 32 piano sonatas, qualify as a repertorial world of its own in the universe of classical piano music. And in both cases, the various vintages and stylistic characters partly tell the story of the composer’s artistic evolution and immortal influence.

The official body of work spans his first concerto written as a precocious 25-yearold (actually written after the second, but numbered by the publisher), although he also wrote a concerto as a 14-year-old, but with only the piano part surviving. The grand and ever-popular fifth “Emperor” concerto, written in 1809, came at a stage when Beethoven’s severe hearing impairment prevented him from performing the piece himself.

Among the features of other concertos are a lightness in the second contrasted by the darker colorations of the third, and the unusual pensive solo piano opening of the sublime fourth concerto.

On this Granada weekend, listeners going the distance for both programs will be afforded the rare chance to compare and contrast a great body of music, live and in the orchestral/pianistic flesh.

For extracurricular preparatory listening, check out the recording of the concerto cycle

by Mitsuko Uchida with the Berlin Philharmonic at bit.ly/499pmUA. —Josef Woodard For more information on the Beethoven Piano Concert Marathon weekend, see bit.ly/4918Ze8.

EMAIL: ARTS@INDEPENDENT.COM

UCSB ARTS & LECTURES ADDS FOUR SPEAKERS TO ITS 2026 OFFERINGS

TUES

JAN

27

COURTESY

DR. MICHAEL V. DRAKE, CAITLIN DICKERSON, IBRAM X. KENDI, AND MASHA GESSEN WILL ADDRESS TOPICAL ISSUES IN JUSTICE FOR ALL PROGRAMMING

Caitlin Dickerson

K

icking off the new year with speakers on a variety of topics including higher education, immigration, and authoritarianism, UCSB Arts & Lectures’ (A&L) Justice for All programming initiative looks to today’s great minds and creators and to the courageous leaders across the globe who are forging a new path forward.

First up, on January 22, Michael V. Drake, MD, president emeritus of the University of California, reflects on the past, present, and future of higher education in a discussion with Dr. Susannah Scott, distinguished professor at UC Santa Barbara. A physician, educator, and former UC President, Drake explores higher education’s past, present and future through the lenses of UC Santa Barbara, the state of California, and the nation. Drawing on decades of leadership, Drake examines how universities can expand access, foster inclusion, and strengthen democracy. Following his remarks, he will continue the conversation with Scott, a UC Santa Barbara Academic Senate Chair (2020-2024) and vice-chair and chair-elect of the UC systemwide Academic Senate (2025-2027). This event is free, but registration is recommended.

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Caitlin Dickerson examines the human stories behind immigration policy and government accountability on March 5. Dickerson has spent more than a decade covering deportation and migration and received the Pulitzer Prize in 2023 for her reporting on the forcible separation of children from their families at the southwest border. Her work has also earned a Peabody, an Edward R. Murrow award, and honors from the National Association of Black Journalists.

A staff writer at The Atlantic and formerly with The New York Times and NPR, Dickerson will discuss how Immigration and Customs Enforcement carries out its mandate.

This event is free for UCSB students and $20 for the public.

Historian Ibram X. Kendi, one of the world’s leading scholars of racism and antiracism and a National Book Award Winner, will discuss his new book Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age, on April 7. The book traces how “great replacement theory” spread from fringe panic to a defining force in global politics. Free copies of Kendi’s new book, Chain of Ideas, will be available while supplies last (pick up at event, one per household). This event is free for UCSB students and $30 for the public.

Finally, on April 14, National Book Award Winner Masha Gessen will address Politics of the Past, Politics of the Future, which examines how autocratic tactics such as targeting LGBTQ+ communities and distorting historical memory can migrate across borders and take root in U.S. politics. Gessen is the author of 11 books, including the National Book Award–winning The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia. Gessen examines how autocracies “other” vulnerable groups, tracing this tactic in Putin’s Russia and its personal consequences, which caused Gessen to flee to the U.S. a decade ago. Today, Gessen draws a clear throughline to similar currents here.

This event is free for UCSB students and $20 for the public.

—Leslie Dinaberg All events take place at UCSB’s Campbell Hall. For more information, see artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/learn/justicefor-all.

MATTEO MANCUSO

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PONCHO SANCHEZ

GRAMMY® winning bandleader, conguero, and percussionist Poncho Sanchez is among the most influential percussionists in jazz. For more than four decades, he’s stirred up a fiery stew of straightahead jazz, gritty soul music, and infectious melodies and rhythms from a variety of Latin American and South American sources.

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Painting Class Offers Patients Space for Creativity, Connection, and Healing

COURTESY

or more than two decades, cancer patients and their families at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center have gathered to paint, talk, and momentarily step away from the realities of cancer treatment.

Led by local artist Rick Stich, the Finding Joy Through Painting class has been offered for 26 years and is funded by the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. The program provides patients and their caregivers a space to focus on creativity, connection, and healing.

“It’s been one of the joys of my life,” says instructor Rick Stitch (center).

“You can look at art in a lot of different ways,” Stich said. “Maybe you’re an artist, throughout the class allows him to see them relax, or enjoy walking around a museum, but art makes open up, and sometimes even share stories they us more awake. You’re more alive and aware of the hadn’t before.

“For beginning beginners, I try to reinforce the world when you’ve experienced creation.”

At 77, Stich has taught the class since its incep- idea that this is just fun,” Stich said. “You’re just going tion. Although he had no prior art therapy experi- to enjoy your time, and out of that will come a desire ence, the center invited him to teach, assuring him to paint a picture, or to know how art can work.”

Participants often bring family or friends, and the formal training wasn’t necessary. Soon after, he and the Wellness Department attended a program in environment fosters connection. Whether it’s a child Marin County to learn more about art programs visiting a parent or a parent supporting a child, the sessions offer space for conversation, quiet reflection, for patients. or shared creativity.

On October 20, the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center hosted the Art Heals exhibit, celebrating artwork created by participants. About 50 people attended, many with family members, and several shared their cancer journeys with the room.

“It was amazing for them to be able to

by Izadora Hamm share that with their family,” Willis said.

“It’s a celebration of creativity, resilience, and community.”

Finding Joy Through Painting is part of a larger “It’s been one of the joys of my life to be able to do wellness program at Ridley-Tree, which also offers it,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be with the patients.”

Lori Willis, executive director of the Cancer yoga, acupuncture, walking classes, and knitting.

Foundation of Santa Barbara, explained that the Willis explained that each program is designed to class provides participants with a much-needed give patients a chance to step outside the clinical distraction, whether they’ve never touched a paint- demands of treatment and focus on what brings them peace, joy, and connection. brush or have been attending for years.

“The whole institution, everyone in the building, “Each floor of the cancer center has a gallery where patients can see their work, whether you’re every patient, offers comfort,” Stich said. “We all wish sitting in the waiting room for the lab, waiting to there was more kindness in the world, because at the see your doctor, or receiving chemotherapy,” Willis end of the day, it’s all about love and compassion.”

Through years of witnessing grief firsthand, Stich said.

The class accommodates everyone, from begin- has never questioned his commitment. “There’s ners to skilled artists. The preferred medium is never been a day where I couldn’t do it, or wouldn’t watercolor, chosen for its simplicity and accessibil- want to do it,” he said. He sometimes jokes with the ity, but participants are encouraged to experiment managers, saying, “I thought you would’ve gotten rid of me by now.” Still, the work has profoundly shaped freely. n Stich noted that checking in with participants him—both as an artist and as a person.

INDY PARENTING

COURTESY PHOTOS

A Discounted Santa Barbara Staycation

Cal Coast Adventures

I

t was touch-and-go for a bit. Our Santa Barbara staycation — eagerly awaited and desperately needed after a crazy couple of months—came very close to being canceled after our 3-year-old brought home a bad cold and gave it to his parents.

But with symptoms abating and cabin fever peaking, we decided fresh air and a change of scenery was what the family needed. Plus, we were on the clock.

For a limited time through early 2026, more than a dozen South Coast hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals are giving Santa Barbara residents 30 percent off. I’m not usually a savvy deal-hunter, but that figure stopped me in my tracks. Plus, a whole bunch of businesses—from restaurants and spas to tours and attractions — are similarly offering discounts and deals to S.B. locals, also for a limited time. (See santabarbaraca.com/locals-discount-offers.) It was too good to pass up, so we packed our bags and tissues and headed across town.

Seasonal Colds Almost Derailed Our Plans, but Sunshine and Sea Breeze Prevailed

by Tyler Hayden For the one-night stay in our own backyard, we opted for The Eagle Inn (theeagleinn.com), a stately yet cozy bed-and-breakfast within walking distance of West Beach, the harbor, and downtown. Perfectly suited to families, their clean and spacious rooms are equipped with all the expected amenities, plus a balcony that we rolled toy cars across, a fireplace we cranked when the clouds came, and a large tub with jets we all took turns marinating in. There is no shortage of romantic restaurants in the vicinity, but with the young one in tow, we hoofed it to Rusty’s Pizza for a pepperoni pie and arcade games.

The crisp, white sheets of the king bed felt like luxury after recent nights of failed sleep-training, and the respite from dishes and laundry gave a supercharged boost to our batteries. For breakfast, I went with the homemade granola recommended by the pleasant guy at the front desk. I can’t tell you

what my wife and son had, because I was too busy wolfing down the deliciously toasted—and not too sweet—mix of oats and nuts with yogurt and fresh fruit. Even the coffee tasted better, knowing we were free, however briefly, from the daily grind.

With our colds still in remission, we headed 15 minutes up the coast for a walking tour of The Cultured Abalone Farm (culturedabalone.com), one of Santa Barbara’s best-kept secrets that really shouldn’t be a secret. Established in 1989 on the historic Rancho Dos Pueblos, the operation raises native red abalone through their entire life cycle, from spawning to the harvest and delivery of live market-size abalone to customers across the country.

After we peered at the pin-sized babies in their on-site hatchery, we meandered along a dirt road as our guide pointed to the impressive pumping system that continuously feeds their tanks with cool, clean ocean water from 40 feet deep in the Santa Barbara Channel. She explained how the abalone gobble up to 16 tons of kelp per week, and how the farm also cultivates two species of red seaweed, dulse and ogo, for people and their stock to eat.

The hands-on tour meant we got to hold and marvel at these rainbowed sea snails, which move surprisingly quickly on their muscular “foot.” I was feeling adventurous and bought three for cooking later at home. I was also happy to hear how the farm, sustainable stewards of local cultivation, has earned a coveted green rating from Seafood Watch as it helps restore abalone to its rightful place as an iconic California seafood.

Our day of escape ended with e-bike rentals from Cal Coast Adventures (calcoastadventures.com).

With the boy strapped in a seat above my back wheel, we cruised along the Chase Palm Park path. With the Pacific to our left, the mountains to our right, and the winter sun on our faces, we shared one of those “I can’t believe we live here” moments. We took a long break at the skate park so our son could gawk at the big kids before hitting the harbor for iced tea and cookies and reluctantly circling back.

To be a tourist in your own city—especially if that city is Santa Barbara—is to remember why this is truly an exceptional place, and why we pay a premium to live here. Diving back into the routine wasn’t easy, but now the family has new experiences in the memory bank and a nice abalone meal to look forward to. And more ideas for the next staycation. n

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FOOD&DRINK

bbq

Que Is Cued Up for Smokey Goodness

FOOD & DRINK

W

hiskey ‘N Rye—Solvang’s popular smokehouse

known for barbecue classics, premier whiskeys, and glowing Yelp reviews—set its sights south last month with the opening of Que at the Santa Barbara Public Market.

With a motto of “smoked slow and served fast,” owner Don Conner envisions this more casual, quick-service outpost as just the beginning of his restaurant offerings on the South Coast.

Whiskey ‘N Rye’s Casual Outpost Is the Newest Spot at the Public Market

by Leslie Dinaberg | Photos by Ingrid Bostrom

He’s got a second sit-down Whiskey ‘N Rye, even bigger than the 120-seat venue in Solvang, that’s in the works in a “very, very high traffic destination in Santa Barbara,” and hopes to have that lease in place by early February, so stay tuned on that one. Meanwhile, the Public Market space is off to a great start.

“One of the things that has really, I think, enhanced or accelerated our business in Solvang, and we’ve brought elements of it here, is when you look at traditional barbecue places, a lot of times it’s pretty much just barbecue on the menu, where you’ve just got ribs and brisket and you got a few sides,” explained Conner, as we chatted and tasted our way through the new menu at Que. After researching barbecue places throughout the U.S. including Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, Conner found that while the meats were good, a lot of the side dishes were not. “So, we’ve been very intentional with all of our food items, not only just our smoked meats, but our side dishes, to really craft them to be very flavorful.”

An example is the BBQ bourbon baked beans, which have 15 different ingredients and four different beans in them. I found them very flavorful, and the dill coleslaw was also quite good, as was the rustic pasta salad. They also offer fries, garlic smashed potatoes, and a farm salad as sides, which I didn’t get a chance to try yet. I did, however, try a delicious street-corn salad, which is a little bit of a riff on elote, but with romaine lettuce, smoked tomato, Cotija cheese, spiced pepitas, pickled onions, and a tasty charred lemon vinaigrette in the mix.

The mix of lighter menu items — including a saltroasted beet salad, a beautifully balanced grilled and smoky chicken sandwich with BBQ-marinated chicken and a 38

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An assortment of food from Que, including the blueberry cornbread, smokehouse sampler, street corn salad, and grilled and smoky chicken sandwich

terrific smoked tomato jam, and the moo-less burnt ends vegan sandwich made with smoked jackfruit and mushrooms—along with three different burgers (chili cheese, smokehouse, and California styles), and an assortment of smoked meats, including a melt-in-your mouth brisket, yummy pulled pork, and hickory-smoked baby-back ribs, are all part of Conner’s vision for a broad menu that keeps people coming back regularly.

“In Solvang, about half of our sales are barbecue. The other half is everything else. It’s the salads; it’s the prime steaks; it’s seafood. … We realize that people aren’t going to eat barbecue once a week … but that’s why we added the salads. That’s why we added the three different burgers, all in the vein of barbecue,” he said.

The irony of a primarily barbecue restaurant replacing the Public Market’s only vegan restaurant, Fala Bar, is not lost on Conner, who is particularly proud of the moo-less sandwich. “It’s a vegan sandwich, but it’s delicious. And most people, if they had it, would think the jackfruit is actually pulled pork because of the texture and because of what it looks like when you shred jackfruit, right?”

He continued, “You’ve had what, three vegan restaurants go out of business in the last 12 months, 18 months here, between Oliver’s, Mesa Verde, and then Fala Bar. I think people would like to eat healthy, and we have options for them to eat healthy. But when you narrow your whole focus to just a particular genre … you really narrow your ability to draw guests to your concept.”

Added Conner, “We try to be very creative on what we’re doing, and that’s why we kind of coined our own little term ‘the West Coast barbecue,’ because we’re trying to break away from the traditions in the county of Santa Maria–style barbecue, which is a completely different ilk that we typically don’t do. We want to bring a more elevated experience to it.”

Corporate Executive Chef Brian Aceves, who grew up in Goleta (his uncle is former councilmember Roger Aceves), went to Santa Barbara City College Culinary School, and is the former executive chef from Firestone, oversees the menu, which also includes a nice array of shareable items, including blueberry cornbread, jumbo chicken wings, loaded mac and cheese, brisket dirty fries, and brisket chili, as well as house-made chocolate chip cookies, sweet-potato maple cheesecake, and an on-theme chocolate smoked s’mores mousse that brings back sweet campfire memories on a plate.

With a background in business development and strategic planning for Disney, Conner, a resident of the Santa

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Ynez area, brings a kind of long-term vision to the table that’s unusual in the restaurant industry. “Our objective over the next five years is to build and have four to five fullservice Whiskey ’N Rye restaurants,” he said. In addition to the lease in the works for location number two in Santa Barbara, he said he plans to “build out 12 to 14 of these fastcasual versions (with Que as the model), and that would spread anywhere from Camarillo as far north as Monterey and potentially into Central California as well.”

But for right now anyway, Santa Barbara Public Market has the bulk of his attention, and he couldn’t be more excited about his new location. “Santa Barbara is kind of the next launching point for us. And we felt, within Santa Barbara really, the only place that we thought would be ideal for our concept was the Public Market, not only because there’s been almost a renaissance or a regeneration of the Public Market over the last, let’s say, 24 to 36 months, just from an energy perspective and from an operator perspective. But it’s great for us to be in a place where we have other great restaurants around us. … A high tide raises all boats. And you know, to be in a spot like, like, the market here, where we also fill a unique niche, we don’t really duplicate other folks here food-wise. And it’s just a really great mix of concepts between Korean and hot chicken, our barbecue, and Mexican and Thai—it’s just a great mix.”

Que is located in the Santa Barbara Public Market (38 W. Victoria St.). See quesmokeshack.com.

Corporate Executive Chef Brian Aceves

Cheers!

The bar at The Black Sheep

C’MON, GET HAPPY

F

or Ali Brieske, Santa Barbara is her happy place. “I

don’t know any other place like this. It’s the mountains, the ocean; it has the weather; it has everything,” says Brieske when reflecting on her hometown. But when the operations coordinator returned in 2021 after 15 years away, she found that finding her happy hour place was a little bit more challenging. So she took it upon herself to compile a list of the best ones around town.

by Meaghan Clark Tiernan | Photos by Ingrid Bostrom

As with so many other great businesses before her, Ali’s List began as a Google spreadsheet. In July 2022, Brieske shared on the Facebook group Support Santa Barbara Biz that she’d collected more than 100 happy hours from small businesses around Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito, Santa Barbara, and Goleta.

From there, the thing took off. Anonymous little forest animals bombarded the spreadsheet, enough so that just a year later Ali and her husband, Jeremy Brieske, took the time to build a dedicated website (it helped that Jeremy has a background in web design). It was shared among mom text exchanges, local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, and even discussed on the playground. “People seem very involved in supporting everything Santa Barbara,” she says.

Ali’s List is wonderfully easy to navigate, categorizing happy hours by location, day of the week, time, and rat-

The Black Sheep’s happy hour is Wed.-Sun., 5-6 p.m. in the restaurant and 5 p.m. - close in the bar.

FOOD & DRINK

Ali’s List Curates a Compendium of the Best Happy Hours in the Santa Barbara Area

ing. There’s even a map if you want to zoom Some of the Ali’s List swag available in and find a few happy hours near to help support the site one another to maximum ground coverage.

These days, both Ali and friends around town (returnJeremy maintain happy hour ing to your hometown has its details weekly, ensuring nothperks) who send images of ing is out of date or no longer sandwich boards or handrelevant. It’s the reason she written menus that are got into this business in the treated like gold. She’s even first place — the Santa Barhad diners tell her to check bara native found nowhere the list out, which always that had up-to-date lists she inspires a laugh when she could rely on, so she makes a tells them she’s Ali. point of never letting any change Of course, the big quesslip by her. It’s not easy for sometion to ask from the happy hour Ali Brieske, founder of Ali’s List, offers expert is about her favorite happy one to keep up with restaurants that up a toast at The Black Sheep. rarely post offerings online, share spehours right now. But, she’s hard to pin cials on their social accounts, or even have the down. Lure, Gala, Black Sheep, Something’s resources to maintain an online presence. But it’s someFishy, and more are on her recent list of adventures. thing that has earned her a loyal following—fans of the If the place has a happy hour, you can bet Ali and Jeremy have been there. As her website says, “If your idea of happilist appreciate how accurate it’s remained over the years.

There’s no scientific method for keeping tabs on all the ness consists of a good hour or two (or three) of reasonably happy hours and how things shift (although I bet she wishes priced drinks and appetizers while basking in the glow of a there was), but she does her due diligence to maintain pink sunset, you’ve found the right spot.” I think everyone the website, social presence, and weekly duty of attending in Santa Barbara can agree that that place is definitely one happy hours around town to ensure everything is presented defining happiness. as accurately as possible to each visitor. “This city is…big Her happiness also means supporting local restaurants. enough to [maintain] it, but small enough where it’s man- While her monthly visitor count is up 35 percent year-overageable,” she adds. “It’s an effort, but it’s worth it for Santa year and repeat visitors are her bread and butter, she doesn’t want to earn a profit from the little guys just trying to stay in Barbara.”

The Ali’s List Instagram account, which has 1,200 fol- business. “It’s a great way for businesses or local restaurants lowers and counting, gets tips from friends and strangers and bars to get promotion,” she says. “What we found is alike. Ali regularly receives tips on new specials, changed that they just don’t have time to do it all.” Not that Ali and time frames, or closures. She often receives texts from Jeremy, who both maintain full-time jobs in addition to updating the website weekly (and visiting happy hours on the weekend), do either. Still, the couple couldn’t imagine going door-to-door asking money-conscious restaurants for advertising fees. They could also never imagine charging the user. So the newest plan has been to monetize in other ways.

Instead of offering pay-to-play profiles vis-à-vis Yelp, Ali partnered with her longtime friend and graphic designer Kate Caughey to launch the first ever Ali’s List merchandise. The iconic Santa Barbara coastline can be found on magnets, stickers, and tote bags—available to purchase online, via Etsy, or at Jules by the Sea uptown. There is so much more to come for this entrepreneur who loves her city—from new listicles, to more merch locations—we can all expect to see more of Ali’s List in the future. Especially if you’re one to frequent happy hours.

Reach out to Ali on Instagram at @alislist.ca if you want your restaurant or business to be featured. She’d love to have you join the growing list of 150+ restaurants and bars already on the site.

See alislist.ca and follow @alislist.ca on Instagram.

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MUNICIPAL WINEMAKERS S OTTLAERRELS B Closing Funk Zone Tasting Room B & T KET TMANN T

BY MA

PAUL WELLMAN FILE PHOTO

E

ver since popping the first corks in the back of a

tiny hut on lower Anacapa Street more than 15 years ago, Municipal Winemakers embodied the spirit of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone wine scene.

Unpretentiously casual in approach, playfully modern in design, and yet utterly committed to handcrafting

boundary-bucking wines, Muni in many ways created the vibe that changed the waterfront neighborhood from an industrial afterthought to the dynamic, touristcrawling destination it is today.

But that era of Muni — which started in the rear closet of a former military barrack in 2009 before expanding into the current large space next door two years later — is ending. The winery’s founder Dave Potter announced that he’ll be closing the Funk Zone tasting room at the end of the month.

He’ll be shifting his attention to his other locations: the newish Municipal Winemakers tasting room in Ventura, which opened almost one year ago, and Potek Winery at The Mill on East Haley Street near downtown Santa Barbara, where he’s made both the Muni and more classically styled Potek brands since 2015. Potek will host Muni pop-ups every weekend starting next month.

“It’s bittersweet for sure,” said Potter on Tuesday. “I

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THE INDEPENDENT

Muni Wine’s Funk Zone location achieved iconic status on lower Anacapa Street.

kinda wanted to hang onto that forever. But the reality is that customers are hanging out at Potek and the new Muni. We’re just following what people are telling us.”

He’s been pondering the closure for a couple years, and almost decided to shut the Funk Zone doors when he launched Ventura last February, but gave it one more year. Overall, and unlike much of the struggling wine industry, Potter said his businesses are thriving, with sales up at every location.

But the bustling Funk Zone is a much different place than it was when Muni was one of the first wineries down there.

“I just don’t know if what we did 15 years ago is what people are looking for right now when there are so many other options,” said Potter, who’s always had a knack for making wine fun and accessible to newcomers and younger generations.

“If we were going to try to stay, we would have had to put in a kitchen or something.”

Muni’s departure may be the biggest sign of how much the Funk Zone has evolved from its scrappy days as a patchwork of warehouses and empty lots where artists and craftspeople could afford spaces to work and, often, sleep. In the last decade, its collection of tasting rooms, bars, restaurants, and retail shops became one of Santa Barbara’s primary hospitality hubs, Winemaker Dave Potter drawing crowds away from their historic destination of State Street.

“When Muni started, it felt so local and

COURTESY

FOOD & DRINK

A Centerpiece of Santa Barbara’s Waterfront Wine Scene Shifts Attention to Other Locations

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

everyone would ride down to the Funk Zone on beach cruisers,” said Potter. “Now it feels like a lot more tourist traffic, which is great. But Potek and The Mill feels so like Santa Barbara. It feels like we’re part of the community there.” Since Muni is pretty much the only business of its type in Ventura, that scene reminds Potter of what it was like in the early days of the Funk Zone.

To announce the closure, Potter penned a heartfelt goodbye letter that was released through his website, email, and social media on Monday. “I promise you that this isn’t a death. It’s more like … we found a new place to live,” he wrote, “And from where I’m sitting right now, it honestly feels less like closing something and more like we’ve outgrown our starter apartment.”

He continues, “We got to be part of making the Funk Zone grow. We evolved wine culture in Santa Barbara, making so many different styles and varieties of wines to help you discover what you love and then bring your friends back to share them. That’s been the whole point from the beginning: making real, honest wine that punches above its weight, and putting it in a place where wine is just the excuse to hang.”

To toast the end of this era, Muni Wine is hosting a “Grand Closing” party across two weekends, January 16-18 and 23-25, with special wines, pop-up eateries, and a memory wall for notes and photos. Potter is inviting anyone who’s ever worked there — a total of 118 people — to come back to work one last shift, and he’s bottling a Fizz sparkling syrah for the sendoff.

Then on Sunday, January 25, guests will toast the end of Muni’s Funk Zone era and then head to the opening party of the new Muni pop-up at Potek. “From one chapter to n the next, all in one afternoon,” said Potter.

Que West Coast BBQ Opens COURTESY

COURTESY PHOTOS

sweet treats

Exterior view of Ghirardelli Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop at 509 State Street in Santa Barbara

Ghirardelli’s Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop Stakes a Claim on State Street

new shop.

After a soft launch on December 20, the longest continually operating chocolatier in America—Italian immigrant Domenico Ghirardelli opened his first store in Stockton in 1849 and opened his iconic confectionary shop in San Francisco in 1852—took up residence at 509 State Street, most recently the home of Pascucci Restaurant and previously the home of Cadiz.

Ghirardelli’s Santa Barbara Ghirardelli World-Famous Hot Fudge Sundae Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop offers an impressive assortment of their familiar chocolate squares in more than 100 flavors ranging from milk and dark chocolate to peppermint bark, dark chocolate sea salt caramel, white chocolate sugar cookie, and a whole new line of the trendy Dubai-style chocolates with pistachio filling and crispy toasted kataifi, among others. The store also features a decadent array of ice cream sundaes, hot cocoas, and other sweet treats such as brownies, cookies, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

I had a Caramel Quake Shake at the Santa Monica oceanfront shop recently and it was indeed delicious.

“We couldn’t be more delighted to open our new storefront along the sunny, scenic State Street in Santa Barbara,” said Lacey Zane, Vice President of Restaurant & Retail at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, in a statement. “We’re excited to plant roots in this beautiful community, creating a place to gather with friends and family over an ice cream sundae or

by Leslie Dinaberg enjoy a sweet treat while on vacation.

With Ghirardelli’s rich history in California, this beautiful location on Santa Barbara’s State Street is the perfect place for us to expand our vision of Making Life a Bite Better for our guests, and we can’t wait to welcome them here soon.”

The company is having an official Grand Opening Celebration and ribbon cutting on January 22, from 3-5 p.m., with the ceremony beginning at 3:15 p.m. The first 100 guests in line will receive a free Ghirardelli World-Famous Hot Fudge Sundae to mark the occasion.

Grand Opening Celebration Is January 22

Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop, 509 State St., open daily from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. See ghirardelli.com/stores/santa-barbara.

I

n June, reader Anthony broke the news that

Que West Coast BBQ, which is an offshoot of Whiskey ’N Rye at 9442 Atterdag Road in Solvang, is coming to the Santa Barbara Public Market at 38 West Victoria Street. The eatery has finally opened. “From the team behind Central Coast favorite Whiskey ’N Rye Smokehouse comes Que—a fast-casual version where tradition meets innovation,” says their website (quesmokeshack.com). “Guided by ‘Smoked Slow — Served Fast,’ Que delivers hickory-smoked brisket, pulled pork, and BBQ burgers alongside rotating seasonal specials and plant-forward smoked creations. This culinary incubator is a smokehouse for all — blending beloved classics with adventurous new flavors, house-crafted sauces, blueberry-basil lemonade, and southern sweet tea. Counter-service convenience meets elevated BBQ in a concept designed for everyone — where classic smokehouse soul sparks culinary curiosity, and every visit offers something new to discover.” Call (805) 869-2193.

BODEGA FLOWER GIRL OPENS: Reader Steve H. let me

know that Bodega Flower Girl has opened at 15 West Gutierrez Street in a space once occupied by an art gallery. Bodega Flower Girl is a new market and eatery opened by chef and entrepreneur Emma West Roldan near the corner of State and Gutierrez streets. The shop focuses on sandwiches, burritos, salads, and other offerings made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

West Roldan is a founder of Satellite, a vegetarian restaurant on State Street, and has worked as a chef at several notable local establishments, including The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Hungry Cat, and Elements.

PASTA SANTINA TAKES SHAPE: Pasta Santina is a new

Carpinteria-based pasta food wholesaler created by chef Sergio Chierego, who arrived on the Central Coast in the spring of 2024 after relocating from Sardinia. The move, Chierego says, was driven by both personal and profes-

sional reasons, including the chance to live closer to the ocean and to work in a food culture shaped by local agriculture and a Mediterranean climate. At its core, Pasta Santina is focused on dried pasta made using a blend of semolina, spelt, and whole wheat flours. The pasta is dried for approximately 24 hours, a process Chierego says is designed to enhance flavor and texture while maintaining nutritional balance.

All flours used are organic and sourced within California.

Pasta Santina has leased a production facility at 4185 Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria, and Chierego says the business is actively working toward becoming operational. Equipment acquisition and setup are ongoing, and the timeline has been shaped by the realities of sourcing specialized pasta machinery. The plan is to begin selling Pasta Santina products through local farmers’ markets first, with broader availability at grocery stores to follow. “We’re working tirelessly to bring this vision to life,” he said. Thanks to reader Kim D. for the tip. Visit pastasantina.com.

FOOD & DRINK

S

tate Street’s getting a sweet

QUE DEBUTS: Que West Coast BBQ has opened at the Santa Barbara Public Market on West Victoria Street, bringing a fast-casual, smokehouse-driven offshoot of Solvang’s Whiskey ’N Rye to downtown Santa Barbara.

BLUEWATER BLUES: Reader Peter T. saw an

announcement from Bluewater Grill on Cabrillo Boulevard that they are planning to close. I called the restaurant, which opened in March 2018, and they said that they are actually looking for a buyer of the business at the iconic lighthouse building (built by Rusty’s Pizza). A representative of the small chain said they will give it about 90 days and close after that if no buyer can be found.

ISLA VISTA CO-OP EXITS STATE STREET: The Isla Vista

Food Co-op closed its downtown Santa Barbara location at 1533 State Street on December 26, ending a one-year lease of the space and shifting its focus back to Isla Vista. Cantwell’s Deli, which owns the property, plans to reopen in the same location. The community-owned grocery store said sales at the downtown market failed to keep pace with operating costs.

John Dickson’s reporting can be found every day online at SantaBarbara.com. Send tips to info@SantaBarbara.com.

INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

41

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY by Rob Breszny WEEK OF JANUARY 8

ARIES

(Mar. 21-Apr. 19): The mystics drone on endlessly about letting go. But I’m here now to praise the art of holding on fiercely, tenderly, with full commitment. Some treasures deserve your passionate grip. Some people warrant your loyal devotion. Especially in the coming months, dear Aries, I invite you to devote yourself to your exciting dreams with ardent intensity. No surrender! Relentless perseverance! Uncompromising faith in the beauty and truth you love! What looks like stubbornness to outsiders will actually be fidelity to a vision others can’t yet see.

TAURUS

(Apr. 20-May 20): As far back as the 19th century, daredevil college students in the U.K. have reveled in the practice of “night climbing.” They clamber up chapels, spires, towers, and bridges under cover of darkness. Why? Mainly for adventure, mischief, and altered perspectives. In the coming months, Taurus, you may be ready for your own symbolic version of night climbing. If that sounds fun, seek out vantage points you’ve never accessed. Experiment with possibilities you’ve dismissed as off-limits or outside your range. Be safe, of course, but also be joyfully exploratory. I bet the view from the frontiers will change you in inspiring ways.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20): In the coming months, I’m confident you will see and understand subtleties that most people miss.

You’ll be a maestro at tuning in to nuanced subtexts in conversations and hidden openings in stale situations.

Everyone else may assume that familiar situations will never change, but you will have the power to tease out creative possibilities. You might even decode seemingly contradictory truths with such aplomb that you surprise yourself. Use this superpower with as much kindness as you can, Gemini. Some discoveries may tempt you toward clever mischief, but I hope that instead you will choose inspired guidance. Your expanded spectrum, if spiced with compassion, can consistently reveal your next leap.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): The honeyguide bird of Africa has a lucrative arrangement with humans. It calls out to honeyhunters, leading them through brush to wild beehives built into trees. The people harvest the honey, and the bird eats the leftover wax and larvae. This cooperation is passed down over generations and benefits both species.

Let’s use this as a metaphor for your future in 2026. You will have extra power to notice where mutual benefit is possible, even with unexpected allies. They may be able to guide you toward resources you couldn’t find alone, and you will have value to give in return. Keep an ear out for signals that say, “Come with me, and we’ll both gain.”

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22): The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris took years to build. Work began in 1163 and continued until 1345. Generations of architects, masons, and artisans contributed to the project, and those who began it didn’t live to see it completed. Yet they labored with devotion, trusting that the holy beauty they facilitated would endure beyond their lifetimes. I hope you’re inspired by this story, Leo. It’s an apt metaphor for you. In the coming months, you could and should lay stones for creations you may not see fully accomplished for months or even years. I encourage you to redefine and refine what faith means to you, and summon it in abundance.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Ready to decommission your inner censor? Interested in dropping the mask, relaxing your guard, and rewilding your gorgeous but slightly inhibited self?

That’s what I recommend. Here are ways to fully enjoy the liberating grace period of the coming months: (1) Don’t deny yourself pleasures that would be healthy to indulge. (2) Shed taboos that were smart safeguards once upon a time but are no longer. (3) Reevaluate why you treat certain fun activities as questionable. (4) Be brightly compassionate toward aspects of yourself you regard as wounded or inferior. (5) Be receptive to rebellious urges.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1839, French artist Louis Daguerre perfected the daguerreotype, an early type of photography.

The images were so detailed that you could count the threads in a subject’s clothing. The only downside: They required minutes of perfect stillness to capture. A slight twitch or squirm could blur the picture. People held their breath and resisted the urge to fidget, hoping to preserve the magic moment. In this spirit, Libra, let’s make the long exposure your power metaphor during the coming months. The most useful truths will reveal themselves best if you give them time to develop. In conversations, resist filling every silence. In projects, don’t rush the pace. Have patient fun lingering on the threshold as the mysteries coalesce and clarify.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1907, Scorpio artist Pablo Picasso painted “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.” It was a work so radically different from his earlier art and from the era’s norms that even his friends were stunned. Some called it ugly; others, incomprehensible. Yet the painting became a foundation of Cubism and reshaped modern art. Dear Scorpio, I suspect you may be on the verge of your own “Les Demoiselles” phase in 2026: unveiling novel approaches and innovative changes so original that they rattle comfortable assumptions. Don’t be discouraged if the initial responses don’t bring you appreciation. The root-shaking breakthroughs you’re consorting with may take others a while to recognize and welcome.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You Sagittarians are often drawn to teaching. You have a predilection and a passion for sharing what you have learned from your adventures and explorations. Many of you also possess a related gift: helping people make the journey to where enlightening lessons can best occur. You have a knack for opening their minds and clearing the way so they can awaken to new ways of seeing and imagining the world. I hope you will provide both of these blessings in abundance during the coming months. Your ability to inspire and educate will be at a peak.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming months are ripe for sacred audacity: boldness with a conscience and courage guided by kindness. Imagine you’re a Benevolent Initiator, whose superpower is to kindle beginnings without causing disruption and unease. Practice brilliant, incremental nudges and tweaks rather than grand interventions. If you’re hesitating to say what needs to be said, deliver a modest version now and a stronger one later. Make gradual momentum your ally. Homework: Identify a future scene you want to generate and take three elegantly simple steps toward it.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Safety isn’t the opposite of adventure. It’s the infrastructure that lets adventure be expansive. Keep that in mind in the coming months, Aquarius. You will be wise to cultivate cozy bravery. You should relax deeply and nurture your strength. Build the support system for your future boldness. Then, in the second half of 2026, you will be well-prepared to launch a phase of experimental fun and exploratory learning. For best results, surround yourself with love and care. Decide who best supports you and make it attractive for them to support you.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-Mar. 20): High in the Andes Mountains, farmers have for centuries made chuño, a freeze-dried potato that can last for years. They leave the potatoes outside overnight to let the freezing temperatures draw out the water. In the daytime, the strong sunlight and dry mountain air evaporate residual moisture. By this process, a perishable food becomes a long-lasting staple. I propose we make the chuño your symbol of power, Pisces. The coming months will be an ideal time to build reserves. I hope you will turn what you have grown and developed into resources that will nourish you well into the future.

Homework: I dare you to give yourself a pep talk about a daring possibility. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s EXPANDED WEEKLY AUDIO HOROSCOPES and DAILY TEXT MESSAGE HOROSCOPES. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

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JANUARY 8, 2026

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PROFESSIONAL

ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST

CAMPUS DINING Manages and reports on income and expenses for Campus Dining’s Retail Operations. Reviews and verifies recon‑ ciliation of expense ledgers and ensures that expenses are properly identified, classified, and balanced to the monthly P&L statement. Reports on operational statistics and creates projections on his‑ torical data, current demographics, and planned capital expenditures. Provides liaison leadership to departmental units as well as to UCen Accounting and ARIT departments with recom‑ mendations and analysis in the areas of labor, accounting, purchasing, and technical equipment. Works closely with Campus Dining’s Retail managers/ asst. directors (9) to assist in budget development, recommends cost cut‑ ting strategies, provides data on sales history per day or month, assists man‑ agers with measuring labor vs. sales per hour to attain or exceed budgeted goals. Researches technical equipment

(hardware/software, printers, POS) and makes decisions on selection and purchasing. Oversees 30 computerized and 4 non‑computerized registers and administers 4 different operating plat‑ forms. Knowledgeable on each system’s hardware and software and is able to troubleshoot when problems occur.

Works with a high level of proficiency in Excel, CBORD menu, inventory; and all other software utilized by Campus Dining Retail Operations. Trains employees in the use of all software and hardware. Performs analysis on bids for all food, non‑food, and leased tenant operations that are part of an RFQ or RFP process. Reqs: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or Accounting or equivalent combination of education and experience. At least 3‑5 years of experience in a finance/accounting/ retail role. Advanced proficiency in Excel, foodservice menu software, and inventory. Able to perform analysis on bids for all food and non‑food. Strong analytical and organizational skills and the ability to multitask. Strong oral and written communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and the demon‑ strated ability to connect and commu‑ nicate effectively with individuals at all levels. Or equivalent combination of education and experience. Notes: Work hours/days may vary. Satisfactory crim‑ inal history background check. Hiring/ Budgeted Salary Range: $71,600/ yr ‑$80,000/yr Posting Salary Range: $71,600/yr ‑$85,000/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, protect‑ ed veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs. ucsb.edu Job #82959

agencies reviews. Responsible for the supervision of the Planning staff, com‑ posed of up to two Senior Planners and one Principal Planner, and work study and intern positions. Reqs: Bachelor’s degree ‑ Bachelor’s degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. Expert knowledge / skills in all aspects of city and environmental plan‑ ning, architecture, other planning‑relat‑ ed fields, including knowledge / skills in large‑scale site planning. Must be judicious and possess political acumen, have expert project management expe‑ rience, negotiation skills, excellent writ‑ ing, and analytical capabilities, be adept at public speaking, and have a track record of successfully managing mul‑ tiple projects with competing demands under the pressure of deadlines. Expert skills in building, maintaining and nur nur‑ turing strong professional relationships to achieve short and long range orga‑ nizational development goals. Expert knowledge of the organization, including its architectural history, short and long range development plans, infrastruc‑ ture and current, on‑going and future design and construction plans. Notes: Satisfactory criminal history background check. Budgeted Salary Range: $140,000 to $175,100/year. Full Salary Range: $119,400 to $230,800/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. Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb. edu Job #83000

COMPENSATION ANALYST 3 OR 4 HUMAN RESOURCES

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CAMPUS PLANNING & DESIGN

BUDGET AND PLANNING OFFICE Responsible for the development and supervision of the Long Range Development Plan (LRDP), Plan Amendments, and environmental and physical planning on the campus from the programming stage through approvals at the Campus, Office of the President, Regents and California Coastal Commission. Provides expert level expertise, advice and counsel on the development, revision, and imple‑ mentation of the LRDP. The position is recognized as the campus’ expert on long‑range and environmental planning.

Represents the campus and university officials in community and govern‑ mental relationships. Coordinates with staff UCOP Physical and Environmental Planning in preparing the LRDP, Coastal Plan, and EIR as well as supporting material, related reports, and presenta‑ tions. Manages and works with profes‑ sional consultants working on the LRDP as well as physical planning studies including community affairs, planning, and environmental specialists. Works in close association with the Directors of Capital and Physical Planning, Design and Construction Services and Facilities Management to ensure the campus is compliant with all local, state, and fed‑ eral environmental laws that pertain to the UC Santa Barbara campus. Works in close coordination with these direc‑ tors in the planning, programming, design and implementation phase of all projects subject to outside or internal

This role is available at either the Compensation Analyst 3 (Experienced Level) or Compensation Analyst 4 (Advanced Level) and supports a wide range of compensation and classifica‑ tion functions within Human Resources.

The position provides analytical sup‑ port for a high volume of compensa‑ tion services, including job evaluations, position classifications, union wage implementations, HR systems and pro‑ cesses, and the interpretation of campus policies and programs. Responsibilities include resolving compensation issues, providing policy guidance, supporting training efforts, and contributing to the development and improvement of HR programs, policies, and procedures. The Compensation Analyst 3 (Experienced Level) performs these duties indepen‑ dently for moderately complex cases and assignments. This level requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience, 4 to 6 years of HR experience, and 1 to 3 years of progres‑ sive analytical experience in areas such as policy analysis, advising, training, and data analysis. Candidates should dem‑ onstrate a solid understanding of com‑ pensation concepts, the ability to apply labor laws and compensation policies, effective problem‑solving and prioriti‑ zation skills, proficiency with Microsoft and Google applications (particularly Excel and Google Sheets), strong ana‑ lytical and reporting skills, and effec‑ tive communication and interpersonal abilities. The Compensation Analyst 4 (Advanced Level) performs all duties of the Analyst 3 role with a higher level of expertise, independence, and authority.

This level requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience,

4 to 6 years of progressive analytical experience, and 4 to 6 years of experi‑ ence in HR and/or compensation and classification. In addition to advanced mastery of Analyst 3 competencies, the Analyst 4 brings comprehensive knowl‑ edge of compensation and job evalua‑ tion theories, expert‑level classification skills, advanced interpretation of labor laws and policies, experience with sal‑ ary survey methodologies, and the abil‑ ity to design and deliver compensation training. This role also involves leading projects, advising senior leadership on complex compensation matters, and applying advanced leadership, influ‑ ence, and collaboration skills. The final classification level will be determined based on the selected candidate’s skills, knowledge, and experience. Pay Rate/ Range: The budgeted salary range is $88,000 to $98,000/year. The full sal‑ ary range for this position is $88,000 to $161,600/year. Note: Satisfactory criminal history background check.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employ‑ ment 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 # 82014

CONFERENCE DINING ASSOCIATE

CAMPUS DINING Plans, organizes and manages din‑ ing and catering content for assigned, moderately complex summer confer‑ ence programs on campus and at University‑owned apartments. The Conference Dining Associate inter‑ acts with a diverse clientele, including University professors and commercial program directors, to assess and deter deter‑ mine how a program’s dining and cater cater‑ ing needs can be met by our services and facilities, or other on and off‑campus resources. Serves as a planning con‑ sultant to event organizers to ensure that all dining and catering details have been considered, working with the cli‑ ent’s needs and budget parameters, developing a comprehensive services package that includes vendor contracts.

Determines scope of project, timelines and unit requirements to fulfill service agreements. Reqs: Two to three years of experience and strong knowledge in event planning and management in the hospitality sector. Exceptional customer service skills with ability to cultivate professional business partnerships.

Proficiency with Microsoft applications and general database management.

Ability to learn specialized software systems quickly. Working knowledge of Google Workspace. Notes: Work hours/ days may vary during the summer sea‑ son. Overtime may be required from May‑August to meet the operational needs of the department. Satisfactory criminal history background check.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Hiring/Budgeted Hourly Range: $28.88 ‑ $32.07/hr. Posting Hourly Range: $28.88 ‑$36.46/hr. 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. Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb. edu Job #83389

LEAD LABORER

CAMPUS DINING Serves as the custodial crew leader and is the working lead for a team of Sr. Custodians, student employees and seasonal workers, working various assignments. Responsible for work assignment and quality, safety, employ‑ ee training, building security, oversight of special projects and maintenance tasks, emergency response and cus‑ tomer service. Also responsible for equipment maintenance for building.

In compliance with division goals and objectives, affirms and implements the department Educational Equity Plan comprising short and long term objec‑ tives that reflect a systematic approach to preparing both students and staff for a success in a multicultural society.

Works in an environment which is eth‑ nically diverse and culturally pluralistic.

Works in a team environment. Reqs: 3 years of custodial or maintenance work experience in an institution and/or commercial setting. Notes: Satisfactory criminal history background check. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work standing up to 8 hours per shift. Hiring/Budgeted Hourly Range: $25.00/hr‑$28.12/hr. Full Hourly Range: $25.00/hr‑$28.70/hr. 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, protect‑ ed veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs. ucsb.edu Job #83178

OPERATIONS MANAGER

COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES Responsible for the comprehensive, efficient, and compliance manage‑ ment of the administrative and clinical operations of Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). This individual manages and supervises all daily clinic functions, including client flow, scheduling, and the per‑ formance of the Electronic Health Record system (PnC). This position is responsible for staff supervision, including recruitment, training, disci‑ pline, and daily workload distribution for non‑clinical support personnel, to ensure excellent customer service and effective resolution of client complaints. The role serves as a key liaison among technology, facilities, and safety, the IT team, and manages all equipment and space while ensur‑ ing departmental compliance with campus health, safety, and security protocols. The Operations Manager directs financial and business opera‑ tions on behalf of the executive director in collaboration with the Leadership Team and the Student Affairs Business and Administration (SABA) team, covering budgeting, billing, purchasing, and fiscal plan‑ ning. This position acts as a criti‑ cal member of the CAPS Leadership Team, contributing to strategic plan‑ ning, policy formulation, quality data management, outreach efforts, and adherence to all UC, Federal (HIPAA, FERPA), and state regulations. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/train‑ ing 1‑3 years of Administrative analy‑ sis, guest relations, client or student experience, or university or health‑ care operations experience. 4‑6 years of Experience with direct supervision

of teams of staff, demonstrating the ability to effectively manage, hire, train, evaluate, counsel, and address performance concerns in accor‑ dance with campus policies, labor agreements, and best supervisory practices. Highly developed organi‑ zational acumen with the capacity to work effectively within a complex matrix of stakeholders and compet‑ ing priorities. Skill in identifying key decision‑makers and understanding their perspectives, motivations, and underlying needs to achieve strate‑ gic goals. Proven ability to antici‑ pate and proactively manage poten‑ tial conflicts or internal resistance to change initiatives. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to pres‑ ent complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences (e.g., senior leadership, external stakehold‑ ers). Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential informa‑ tion with discretion and appropriate security measures. Proficiency with Windows‑based software, the Google professional suite, and Microsoft Word and Excel. Notes: Any HIPAA or FERPA violation is subject to disci‑ plinary action. Mandated reporting requirements of Child Abuse. UCSB Campus Security Authority under Clery Act. Satisfactory criminal his‑ tory background check. Hiring/ Budgeted Salary Range: $79,200/year to $90,000/year. Full Salary Range: $79,200/year to $143,400/year. 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 ori‑ entation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected vet‑ eran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs. ucsb.edu Job #83206

Continued on p. 44

INDEPENDENT.COM INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

43 43

INDEPENDENT CLASSIFIEDS

EMPLOYMENT LEGALS (CONT.) LEGAL NOTICES ADMINISTER OF ESTATE

SCENE SHOP MANAGER

THEATER AND DANCE Under the direction of the Technical Director (TD), the Scene Shop Manager oversees scenic, painting and proper‑ ties area. Responsible for the execution and installation of scenic and proper‑ ties designs related to the department’s season for theater and dance produc‑ tions. Maintains scene shop equipment and oversees safe practices in shop.

Responsible for the supervision of stu‑ dent assistants assigned to this area.

Teaches and supervises student labs and evaluates their work for grading purposes. Works closely with other shop supervisors and assists them when requested. May serve as technical director and/or production supervisor for departmental productions. Also, assists, as time permits, with scenic construction, scenic painting and/or stage properties for classroom‑related productions. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree required in related area and / or equiva‑ lent experience / training; 1‑3 yrs of practical experience with strong car‑ pentry, rigging, welding, and technical skills; 1‑3 yrs Ability to interpret work‑ ing technical drawings; Possess strong leadership, communication, organi‑ zational, and mentoring skills. Notes: May be required to work some evenings and weekends. Satisfactory criminal history background check. Hiring/ Budgeted Salary Range: $28.88 to $32/ hr. Full Salary Range: Full Salary Range: $28.88 to $49.76/hr. 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, protect‑ ed veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs. ucsb.edu Job #83191

TALENT ACQUISITION & TRAINING ANALYST HUMAN RESOURCES

Performs a wide range of services relat‑ ed to staff employment and recruit‑ ment, outreach, and training. Manages recruitments, advertises vacancies, and assists University staff and external applicants. Manages learning activities in the UC Learning Center (UCLC) for HR Training and Development unit.

Serves as a TAM (applicant tracking system) and UCLC system liaison. Reqs: Bachelor’s degree in related area and/ or equivalent experience/training. 1‑3 years of work experience conducting recruitment processes. Ability to apply employment and training policies and procedures, as well as knowledge of various federal and state HR laws and regulations. Effective written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to establish productive working relationships with clients, coworkers, peers, and management. Ability to manage a large volume of recruitments and other work in a fast‑paced environ‑ ment. Ability to use discretion, exercise good judgment and resourcefulness, tact, diplomacy and maintain strict confidentiality. Notes: Satisfactory criminal history background check.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.Salary or Hourly Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $31.47 to $33.95/hr.

Full Salary Range: $31.47 to $55.12/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, disabil‑ ity status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 83194

44

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: RICHARD YEE No.: 25PR00626 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: RICHARD YEE A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: MARY YEE in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara.

THE PETITION requests that (name): MARK WASTSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the dece‑ dent’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 author‑ ity 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 per‑ sonal 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: 03/12/2026 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 contin‑ gent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal rep‑ resentative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issu‑ ance 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 stat‑ utes 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. Darrel E. Parker, Executive Officer 12/17/2025 by Monica Buenrostro, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: J.A.A. Purves; 1215 De La Vina Street, Ste K Santa Barbara, CA 93101; 805‑965‑0085 Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 8, 2026.

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF MARGARET LOUISE ROFF Case No. 25PR00621 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of MARGARET LOUISE ROFF A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Luisa Bertha Lowe in the Superior Court of California, County of SANTA BARBARA. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Luisa Bertha Lowe be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

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PHONE 805-965-5205

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 on March 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM in Dept.

No. SB5 located at 1100 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

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.

Attorney for petitioner: TROY WERNER ESQ SBN 265907 GRACE LIM‑AYRES ESQ SBN 321004 THE WERNER LAW FIRM 27433 TOURNEY RD STE 200 SANTA CLARITA CA 91355 CN123047 ROFF Dec 24, 31 2025.

Jan 8, 2026 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: NICHOLAS BROWN No.: 25PR00642 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: NICHOLAS BROWN A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: GABRIELLE TAYLOR in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara.

THE PETITION requests that (name): GABRIELLE TAYLOR be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the dece‑ dent’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 author‑ ity 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 per‑ sonal representative will be required

INDEPENDENT.COM

|

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: 03/12/2026 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 contin‑ gent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal rep‑ resentative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issu‑ ance 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 stat‑ utes 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 inter‑ ested 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.

Darrel E. Parker, Executive Officer 12/23/2025 by Nicolette Barnard, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: Denise Pritchard; Schinner & Shain, LLP ; 96 Jessie Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; 415‑369‑9050. Published: Jan 8, 15, 22 2026.

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: JACQUELINE A. TOCCI No.: 25PR00565 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: JACQUELINE A. TOCCI A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara.

THE PETITION requests that (name): JUDY M. PAULINO be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the dece‑ dent’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 author‑ ity 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 per‑ sonal 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: 01/29/2026 AT 9:00 a.m. Dept: SB 5 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, locat‑ ed 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 contin‑ gent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal rep‑

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. CO M

resentative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issu‑ ance 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 stat‑ utes 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 inter‑ ested 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.

Darrel E. Parker, Executive Officer 10/31/2025 by Monica Buenrostro, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: John A. Berryhill;Miller & Berryhill LLP; P.O. Box 5691, Santa Barbara, CA 93150; 805‑969‑4451 Published: Jan 8, 15, 22 2026.

BULK SALE NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE (Division 6 of the Commercial Code) Escrow No. 043832‑ST (1) Notice is hereby given to creditors of the within named Seller(s) that a bulk sale is about to be made on personal property hereinafter described.

(2) The name and business addresses of the seller are: Coast Village Holdings, LP, 1198 Coast Village Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93108 (3) The location in California of the chief executive office of the Seller is: 1198 Coast Village Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93108 (4) The names and business address of the Buyer(s) are: Endwell Montecito LLC, 67 Engert Ave Apt 302, Brooklyn, NY 11222.

(5) The location and general description of the assets to be sold are all stock in trade, furniture, fixtures and equipment and goodwill of that certain business located at: 1198 Coast Village Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93108 (6) The business name used by the seller(s) at that location is: Bar Lou. (7) The anticipated date of the bulk sale is 01/20/26 at the office of All Brokers Escrow Inc., 2924 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505, Escrow No. 043832‑ST, Escrow Officer: Stephanie Toth .

(8) Claims may be filed with Same as "7" above.

(9) The last date for filing claims is 01/16/26.

(10) This Bulk Sale is subject to Section 6106.2 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

(11) As listed by the Seller, all other business names and addresses used by the Seller within three years before the date such list was sent or delivered to the Buyer are: NONE Dated: December 16, 2025 Transferees: Endwell Montecito LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company By:S/ Young Aie Sohn, Member By: S/ Mark A. Armenante, Member By: S/ Ryan Sohn Transferors: Coast Village Holdings, LP, a California Limited Partnership By: S/ Webb Restaurant, Inc., Its General Partner, By: Warner Ebbink, Chief Executive Officer By: S/ Webb Restaurant, Inc., Its General Partner, By: Brandon Boudet, Secretary 1/8/26 CNS‑3996432# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE To satisfy the owner’s storage lien, PS Retail Sales, LLC will sell at public lien sale on January 16, 2026,the personal property in the below‑listed units. The public sale of these items will begin at 08:00 AM and continue until all units are

sold. The lien sale is to be held at the online auction website, www.storagetreasures.com, where indicated. For online lien sales, bids will be accepted until 2 hours after the time of the sale specified.

PUBLIC STORAGE # 25714, 7246 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117, (805) 324‑6770 Sale to be held at www.storagetreasures.com. 5324 ‑ schwan, Mary; 6201 ‑ Gant, Demetrius; A224 ‑ Acosta, Salvador; A395 ‑ Rojas, Kelly; A460 ‑ Dixon, Timothy PUBLIC STORAGE # 75078, 7246 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117, (805) 961‑8198 Sale to be held at www.storagetreasures.com. 086 ‑ Latimore, Jaden; 190 ‑ Marquez, Brenda; 269 ‑ Alturki, Abdullah PUBLIC STORAGE # 75079, 5425 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, (805) 284‑9002 Sale to be held at www.storagetreasures.com.

019 ‑ Hometown Equity Group LLC Escobar, Daniel; 232 ‑ Badone Assili, Genevieve Public sale terms, rules, and regulations will be made available prior to the sale. All sales are subject to cancellation. We reserve the right to refuse any bid.

Payment must be in cash or credit card‑no checks. Buyers must secure the units with their own personal locks. To claim tax‑ exempt status, original RESALE certificates for each space purchased is required. By PS Retail Sales, LLC, 701 Western Avenue, Glendale, CA 91201.

(818) 244‑8080.

1/8/26 CNS‑4000509# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CP BUILDERS: 209 W. Alamar Ave Ste A. Santa Barbara, CA 93105; Center Point Development Group, Inc. (same address) This business is conducted

by A Corporation Registrant com‑ menced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Dec 16, 2025. Filed by: MICHAEL O’FLYNN/CFO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 15, 2025. This state‑ ment expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002832. Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN2025‑0002628 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: REDEYE CANNABIS, 311 NORTH F ST, LOMPOC, CA 93436 County of SANTA BARBARA GOLDEN STATE REMEDIES, 311 NORTH F ST, LOMPOC, CA 93436 This business is conducted by a Corporation The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable.

GOLDEN STATE REMEDIES, S/ SEVAK OVSEPYAN, CEO This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 11/14/2025.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 12/18, 12/24/25, 12/31/25. 1/08/26 CNS‑3993669# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as:CRESTWOOD SANTA BARBARA MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM AND ACCES LINE SERVICES: 303 S. C Street Lompoc, CA 93436; Crestwood Behavioral Health Inc. 520 Capitol Mall Ste 800 Sacramento, CA 95814 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the ficti‑ tious business name or names listed above on Nov 15, 2024. Filed by: GEORGE C. LYTAL/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER with the County Clerk of

Santa Barbara County on Dec 08, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002754.

Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KIDS RUN SB: 1222 De La Guerra Rd Santa Barbara, CA 93103; Becky S Aaronson PO Box 3362 Santa Barbara, CA 93130 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the ficti‑ tious business name or names listed above on N/A. Filed by: BECKY S AARONSON with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 12, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002819.

Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SOLERA & CO, SOLERA AND COMPANY: 512 Laguna Street, Ste A Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Fino SB 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 Dec 01, 2025. Filed by: CHARLIE SCHAFFER/ PRESIDENT with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 11, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002793.

Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FLYING SHADE, FLYING SHADE EVENT RENTALS & DECOR, BRANCHES MOBILE GALLERY, BONEFEATHER DESIGN, WESTCOAST BAMBOO, BONEFEATHER FESTIVAL, PEV‑DMV: 117 State Street, 1035 Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Bonefeather Llc 7015 Marketplace Dr #1018 Goleta, CA 93117 This business is conducted

by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Nov 07, 2025. Filed by: LUKE HOLDEN/ OWNER MANAGER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Nov 18, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002644.

Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SANTA BARBARA POOL SERVICE: 2965 Stagecoach Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105; Parker H Woodward (same address) This business is conduct‑ ed by A Individual Registrant com‑ menced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Dec 01, 2025. Filed by: PARKER WOODWARD/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 04, 2025.

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 E66. FBN Number: 2025‑0002730. Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SUSAN HOOD, REAPATTERNING ROOM: 7015 Marketplace Dr, #1002 Goleta, CA 93117; Susan H Estillore (same address)This business is conducted

by A Individual Registrant com‑ menced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Filed by: SUSAN ESTILLORE with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 10, 2025. 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

INDEPENDENT CLASSIFIEDS

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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. CO M

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Fri 9

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Sat 10

3:08 am 4.6

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Sun 11

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Mon 12

4:44 am 4.9

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Tue 13

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18

25

2:31 pm -0.6

Sunrise 7:05 Sunset 5:08

High

9:20 pm 3.3

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Across

33. “Anywhere but here” 59. Pick out acronym 60. Run-down tavern 1. Sideways sidler 38. Late fashion icon Iris in 61. “Love ___ Elevator” 5. “The Bubble” director the 2014 Albert Maysles (Aerosmith song) Apatow documentary “Iris” 62. Chicago ex-mayor Richard 9. Destroy, as a contract 39. Alter the soundtrack, 63. One of four on the New 14. “Black Swan” actress Kunis maybe?

Zealand flag 15. Three-level snack 41. Speed limit in some states 64. TV’s “Warrior Princess” 16. “___ a customer” 42. Express ridicule 17. “Moneytalks” band 44. “The Devil’s Dictionary” 18. “Jeepers!”

1. Nashville-based awards author Ambrose 19. Shapewear brand show, familiarly 45. One who’s just OK? 20. Instruction on liquid 2. Rolling in it 48. 1990s Britpop psychedelic medicine or salad dressing 3. “M*A*S*H” Emmy winner rock band ___ Shaker 23. Steamed bun on a Chinese 4. Acrobatic show of agility 49. Christmas, in Montreal menu 5. Briggs who hosts “The Last 50. Hotel fixtures 24. Slugging Giant Mel Drive-in” 51. Maze goal 25. Brand-new, like film footage 6. Prod along 52. Bean mentioned by 34. Legendary Olympian Jesse 7. Like the staff of Gallaudet, Hannibal Lecter 35. Moisturizer brand predominantly 53. “Titanic” actor Billy 36. 2022’s Super Bowl 8. Extinct bird 54. Sultanate near Yemen 37. Sort 9. Brew made from petals 55. Garth’s portrayer in 38. Per ___ (yearly) 10. Ports behind the TV, “Wayne’s World” 39. Per ___ (daily) perhaps 56. Proof letters 40. Shiba ___ (Japanese dog) 11. Fried rice ingredients ©2025 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.

41. Fast pitch?

12. ___ Reader (quarterly com) For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, cents per minute. Must be 18+. Or to bill to your credit 42. Sloop in a Beach Boys song magazine founded in 1984) 99 card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle #1269 43. Door holder’s quip 13. Chicken ___ LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION: 46. “So ___ heard” 21. Piercing places 47. Across, poetically 22. “Air Music” composer Ned 48. Villainous “Superman 25. Phone maker from Finland II” demand (RIP Terence 26. “Dallas” surname Stamp) 27. Convention locale 56. Vegan brand made with 28. Cinematic scorer Morricone mycoprotein 29. The ___ things in life 57. Proctor’s handout 30. Botanical seed-to-be 58. Word almost 1 minute into 31. 1912 Peace Nobelist Root “Bohemian Rhapsody” 32. Major happening

Down

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Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as:THE SHORTCAKE BOOKSHOP: 707 N 1st Unit B Lompoc, CA 93436; Jaquelin J Perez (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: JAQUELIN PEREZ with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Nov 25, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002691.

Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as:CALIFORNIA COUNSELING CLINICS: 1819 Cliff Dr. Suite F Santa Barbara, CA 93109; ARC Psychological Services Inc. (same address)This business is conducted

by A Corporation Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Oct 09, 2020. Filed by: ALEXANDRA ROBINSON/CEO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Nov 26, 2025. 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 E66. FBN Number: 2025‑0002702. Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GEODOR: 6970 Scripps Crescent St Goleta, CA 93117; Geodor (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 Jan 01, 2025. Filed by: GEORGE K. PAPAZACHARIOUDAKIS/ PRESIDENT with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 10, 2025. 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 E76. FBN Number: 2025‑0002775.

Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ARISPER CONSTRUCTION: 7060 Madera Dr Goleta, CA 93117; Alvaro E Aristondo Perdomo (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: ALVARO ARISTONDO PERDOMO/SR with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 09, 2025. 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 E81. FBN Number: 2025‑0002762.

Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN2025‑0002660 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ONE PLANT GOLETA, 290 STORKE RD. STE G, GOLETA, CA 93117 County of SANTA BARBARA THREE HABITAT CONSULTING STORKE LLC, 290 STORKE RD STE G, GOLETA, CA 93117 This business is conducted by a limited liability company The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 05/28/2021.

THREE HABITAT CONSULTING STORKE LLC, S/ RYAN BISHARA, VP OF OPERATIONS This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 11/20/2025.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 12/18, 12/24/25, 12/31/25. 1/8/26 CNS‑3993624# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TRUE CORE PLUMBING: 1501 E Oak Ave Lompoc, CA 93436; Cristian A Lopez Salgado PO Box 1385 Lompoc, CA 93438 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Nov 20, 2025. Filed by: CRISTIAN A LOPEZ SALGADO/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on

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Dec 15, 2025. 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 E24. FBN Number: 2025‑0002824.

Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 15 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SANTA BARBARA LITERARY JOURNAL: 444 Los Feliz Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93110; Noleta Press LLC (same address) This business is conducted

by A Limited Partnership Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Oct 08, 2025. Filed by: MARYANNE KNIGHT/ MANAGING MEMBER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Nov 26, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002694.

Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 15 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PEPPERIDGE FARM SANTA BARBARA: 4588 Nueces Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93110; Fernando Zermevo (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jun 01, 2006. Filed by: FERNANDO ZERMENO/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 12, 2025. 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 E24. FBN Number: 2025‑0002801.

Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 15 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SMART GMP SOLUTIONS: 6336 Lindmar Dr. 102 Goleta, CA 93117; Smart CBD Solutions, 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 N/A. Filed by: DIANA STARR LANGLEY/CEO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 10, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002787. Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 15 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SB FIVE‑STAR PET CARE: 211 West Highway 246, Suite 101 Buelton, CA 93427; JM SFV Partners, LLC 7220 Windsor Dr. C/O Acuna Group Allentown, PA 18106; Neciosup Group, Inc. (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Partnership Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Filed by: DANIEL ACUNA/MANAGER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 16, 2025. 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 E24. FBN Number: 2025‑0002835.

Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 15 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SB FIVE‑STAR PET CARE: 27 W Anapamu Street, Suite 478 Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Sylvie Raphael Dream 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 31, 2025. Filed by: RAPHAEL MANETTI/MEMBER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 805MIXOLOGY: 4326 Calle Real Spc 119 Santa Barbara, CA 93110; Miguel A Avalos Torres (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Partnership Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Dec 08, 2025. Filed by:

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Dec 04, 2025. 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 E35. FBN Number: 2025‑0002733.

Published: Dec 18, 24, 31 2025.

Jan 08, 2026.

JANUARY 8, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KW SLO, KELLER WILLIAMS SLO, KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY SLO, K W SAN LUIS OBISPO, KELLER WILLIAMS SAN LUIS OBISPO, KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY SAN LUIS OBISPO, KELLER WILLIAMS WEST VENTURA COUNTY, KELLER WILLIAMS PACIFIC ESTATES, KELLER WILLIAMS LONG BEACH, KELLER WILLIAMS CERRITOS, KELLER WILLIAMS LA MIRADA : 1511 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101; SB Wealth Inc (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: NICHOLAS RESENDEZ/SECRETARY with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Nov 16, 2025. 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 E24. FBN Number: 2025‑0002841. Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 8, 15 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: VAQUEROS DE LOS OLAS: 10 State Street.

Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Grit Line 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 N/A. Filed by: KIM ROBINSON/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 16, 2025. 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 E66. FBN Number: 2025‑0002847. Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 15 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DEVEREUX CALIFORNIA: 6980 Falberg Way Goleta, CA 93117; The Devereux

Foundation 444 Devereux Drive Villanova, PA 19083 This business is conducted by A Corporation commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Mar 21, 1945.

Filed by: EVAN M. BARKER. ESQ./ ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 17, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002867. Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN2025‑0002788 The following person(s) is doing business as: Central Coast Picklers, 671 Daniel Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454, County of Santa Barbara.

Bradley Luton, 671 Daniel Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454 This business is conducted by An Individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable /s/ Bradley Luton, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 12/10/2025.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 12/31/25. 1/8, 1/15, 1/22/26 CNS‑3992769# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PAPE KENWORTH PACELEASE: 1322 White CT. Santa Maria, CA 93458; Pape Trucks, Inc 355 Goodpasture Island Road Eugene, OR 97401 This business is conducted by A Corporation commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jul 01, 2007. Filed by: LANCE JORGENSEN/CFO/VP OF FINANCE with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Nov 26, 2025. 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 E71. FBN Number: 2025‑0002731.

Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

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MIGUEL A AVALOS TORRES/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 16, 2025.

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 E73. FBN Number: 2025‑0002849. Published: Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 08, 15 2026.

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MONTECITO SPIRITS COMPANY: 411 E Montecito Street 2 Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Charron Favreau S.P.C. (same address) This business is conducted

by A Corporation commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Filed by: KURT CHARRON/ CEO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 09, 2025.

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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002768. Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CHEERS LIQUOR: 7320 Hollister Ave, #2 Goleta, CA 93117; Fadel & Abir Inc. (same address) This business is conducted by A Corporation commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jun 12, 1997. Filed by: FADEL MAIDA/OFFICER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 17, 2025. 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 E66. FBN Number: 2025‑0002864. Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: TRUBOND: 17 Conejo Road Santa Barbara, CA 93103; Fludity Group 1187 Coast Village Road Suite I, PMB#276 Santa Barbara, CA 93108 This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Filed by: AUTUMN SHELTON/ CEO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 18, 2025.

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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002886. Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALIGN REHABILITATION CENTER SPEECH, SWALLOW & COGNITION: 20 Walnut Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93111; Chasity D Roberts (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Dec 15, 2025. Filed by: CHASITY ROBERTS with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 18, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002884.

Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PEMBERLEY ESTATE COFFEE & TEA: 449 Cannon Green Drive Apt D Goleta, CA 93117; William E Cunningham (same address) This business is conducted

by A Individual commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Dec 22, 2025. Filed by: WILLIAM E CUNNINGHAM/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 22, 2025. 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 E49. FBN Number: 2025‑0002905. Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BIG SNORER: 3325 Manzana St Santa Ynez, CA 93460; Jackson P Elliott (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Dec 13, 2025. Filed by: JACKSON PAUL ELLIOTT/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara

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County on Dec 17, 2025. This state‑ ment expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002870. Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SANTA YNEZ VALLEY CONCERT SERIES: 1111 Chapala St Ste 200 Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Santa Barbara Foundation (same address) This business is conducted by A Corporation com‑ menced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Filed by: JACKIE CARERRA/PRESIDENT & CEO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 19, 2025. This state‑ ment expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002896. Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KMT Island Sunrise: 126 South H St. Lompoc, CA 93436; P&D Bartley Enterprise LLC (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company commenced to transact business under the fictitious busi‑ ness name or names listed above on N/A. Filed by: DOLORES BARTLEY/ MEMBER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 08, 2025. 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 E24. FBN Number: 2025‑0002747.

Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DOG GYM: 5142 Hollister Avenue #607 Santa Barbara, CA 93111; Mads Cantu, LLC (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company commenced to transact business under the fictitious busi‑ ness name or names listed above on Nov 23, 2025. Filed by: MADELINE CANTU/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 15, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002831.

Published: Dec 31 2025. Jan 08, 15, 22 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE SNIFF AND SNACK SHACK: 1300 E. Airport Ave. Lompoc, CA 93436; Dustin D Forrest (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual com‑ menced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Dec 21, 2025. Filed by: DUSTIN D FORREST/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 29, 2025. This state‑ ment expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by E35. FBN Number: 2025‑0002940. Published: Jan 08, 15, 22, 29 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MEGHAN BIEDERMAN INTERIORS: 306 W De La Guerra St Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Meghan Biederman (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual commenced to transact business under the fictitious busi‑ ness name or names listed above on Nov 21, 2025. Filed by: MEGHAN BIEDERMAN/INDIVIDUAL with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Nov 21, 2025. 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 E30. FBN Number: 2025‑0002674. Published: Jan 08, 15, 22, 29 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CONEJO VALLEY AIR: 2550 Azurite Circle.

Newbury Park, CA 91320; Conejo Services, LLC, CONEJO VALLEY

APPLIANCE REPAIR, CONEJO VALLEY APPLIANCE, CONEJO VALLEY SOLAR, SOLAR SOLUTIONS, CONEJO VALLEY MECHANICAL, CONEJO VALLEY HEATING, CONEJO VALLEY REFRIGERATION, CONEJO VALLEY HEATING AND AIR, CONEJO VALLEY AIR CONDITIONONING AND HEATING, CONEJO WATER HEATERS, CONEJO TANKLESS, CONEJO VALLEY WATER HEATERS, CONEJO HEATING, CONEJO VALLEY TANKLESS, CONEJO VALLEY HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, PLUMBING AND ROOTER, CVHA PLUMBING AND ROOTER, CONEJO VALLEY SOLAR SOLUTIONS, CONEJO VALLEY PLUMBING AND ROOTER, CONEJO VALLEY INSUATION, CVHA PLUMBING, LOCAL ROOFS.COM, LOCAL. ROOFS, CONEJO VALLEY HOME SERVICES, CONEJO SERVICES, CONEJO SERVICES HEATING & AIR, PLUMBING & ROOTER AND ELECTRICAL, CONEJO SERVICES HEATING & AIR, CONEJO SERVICES HEATING & AIR, CONEJO SERVICES ELECTRICAL & GENERATORS, CONEJO SERVICES INSULATION, CONEJO VALLEY HEATION & AIR CONDITIONING, PLUMBING & ROOTER AND GENERATOR, CONEJO VALLEY GENERATORS, CONEJO SERVICES PLUMBING AND ROOTER, CONEJO SERVICES PLUMBING AND ROOTER, CONEJO HEATING, AIR, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL, CONEJO VALLEY AIR WINDOWS, CONEJO ELECTRICAL AND SOLAR, CONEJO VALLEY ELECTRICAL, CONEJO VALLEY ROOFING AND SOLAR (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. Filed by: GARY SOLTANI/CFO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 23, 2025. This state‑ ment expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by E35. FBN Number: 2025‑0002914. Published: Jan 08, 15, 22, 29 2026.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DLIKESCOACHING: 5142 Hollister Ave, #4011 Santa Barbara, CA 93111; Demelza Shaefer (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual commenced to transact business under the fictitious busi‑ ness name or names listed above on Dec 17, 2025. Filed by: DEMELZA SHAEFER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Dec 22, 2025. 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 E24. FBN Number: 2025‑0002902.

Published: Jan 08, 15, 22, 29 2026.

NAME CHANGE IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: SHARON KRYSTAL MCCAULEY NUMBER: 25CV07255 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: PETITIONER: SHARON KRYSTAL MCCAULEY 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: SHARON KRYSTAL MCCAULEY PROPOSED NAME: S KRYSTAL MCCAULEY THE COURT ORDERS that all per‑ sons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hear‑ ing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any per‑ son 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 peti‑ tion should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition with‑ out a hearing. Notice of Hearing February 2, 2026, 10:00 am, DEPT: 5, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA 1100 Anacapa St Santa Barbara, CA 93101, ANACAPA

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published in the Santa Barbara 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 12/15/2025, JUDGE Colleen k. sterne of the Superior Court.

Published Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 8, 15 2026.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: NATHAN DAVID BROWN CASE NUMBER: 25CV07090 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: PETITIONER: NATHAN DAVID BROWN 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: NATHAN DAVID BROWN PROPOSED NAME: NATHAN ZOLA DEWOLF THE COURT ORDERS that all per‑ sons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hear‑ ing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any per‑ son 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 peti‑ tion should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition with‑ out a hearing. Notice of Hearing February 6, 2025, 10:00 am, DEPT: 4, 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 DECEMBER 12, 2025, JUDGE Donna D. Geck of the Superior Court. Published Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 8, 15 2026.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: MAYELLEN ALAIMO BANISTER NUMBER: 25CV07251 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: PETITIONER: MAYELLEN ALAIMO BANISTER 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: MAYELLEN ALAIMO BANISTER PROPOSED NAME: MAYELLEN ALAIMO GRAHAM THE COURT ORDERS that all per‑ sons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hear‑ ing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any per‑ son 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 peti‑ tion should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition with‑ out a hearing. Notice of Hearing February 4, 2026, 10:00 am, DEPT: 3, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA 1100 Anacapa St Santa Barbara, CA 93101, ANACAPA DIVISION A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published in the Santa Barbara 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 12/13/2025, JUDGE Thomas P. Anderle of the Superior Court.

Published Dec 24, 31 2025. Jan 8, 15 2026.

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: MEGANN ELSIE DROST NUMBER: 25CV07481 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: PETITIONER: MEGANN ELSIE DROST 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: MEGANN ELSIE DROST PROPOSED NAME: MEGANN ELSIE THE COURT ORDERS that all per‑ sons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hear‑ ing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any per‑ son 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 peti‑ tion should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition with‑ out a hearing. Notice of Hearing February 13, 2026, 10:00 am, DEPT: 4, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA 1100 Anacapa St Santa Barbara, CA 93101, SANTA BARBARA‑ ANACAPA A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published in the Santa Barbara Independent, a newspa‑ per 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 12/15/2025, JUDGE Donna D. Geck of the Superior Court.

Published Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 2026.

AMENDED IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: MISA MIELE MANDIGO KELLY NUMBER: 25CV05015 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: PETITIONER: MISA MIELE MANDIGO KELLY 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: MISA MIELE MANDIGO KELLY PROPOSED NAME: LOLANI PUU KOLENC THE COURT ORDERS that all per‑ sons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hear‑ ing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any per‑ son 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 peti‑ tion should not be granted. If no writ‑ ten objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing February 9, 2026, 10:00 am, DEPT: SB 5, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA 1100 Anacapa St Santa Barbara, CA 93101, ANACAPA DIVISION A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published in the Santa Barbara 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 12/29/2025, JUDGE Thomas P. Anderle of the Superior Court.

Published Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 2026.

PUBLIC NOTICES AT&T MOBILITY LLC is proposing to install a telecommunication tower and associated equipment for AT&T site CSL01923 located at 4430 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, CA 93110 [34° 26’ 56.1 N; 119° 46’ 32.0W ] . The height will be 15.2 meters above ground level ( 124.4 meters above mean sea level). The faux tree antenna structure tower is not required to have FAA Style Marking/Lighting at this time. Interested persons may review the application for this project at www.fcc.gov/asr/applica‑ tions by entering Antenna Structure Registration (Form 854) file no.

A1352201 and may raise environmental concerns about the project under the National Environmental Policy Act rules of the Federal Communications Commission, 47 CFR §1.1307, by notifying the FCC of the specific

reasons that the action may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Requests for Environmental Review must be filed within 30 days of the date that notice of the project is published on the FCC’s website and may only raise environmental concerns. The FCC strongly encourages interested parties to file Requests for Environmental Review online at www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalreq uest, but they may be filed with a paper copy by mailing the Request to FCC Requests for Environmental Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. A copy of the Request should be provided to: Environmental Assessment Specialists, Inc. at 71 San Marino Avenue, Ventura, CA 93003 or via email at gjl1999@easenv.com 1/8/26 CNS‑3999189# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

SUMMONS SUMMONS ‑ (FAMILY LAW) NOTICE TO RESPONDENT: MICHAEL GANN AVISO AL DEMANDANDO: PETITIONER’S NAME IS: CASSIE GANN DEMANDANTE: CASE NUMBER: (NUMERO DEL CASO) 25FL‑01667 You have 30 calendar days after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL‑120) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter, phone call will not protect you. If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnership, your prop‑ erty, and custody of your children.

You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs. For legal advice, contact a lawyer immedi‑ ately. Get help finding a lawyer at the California Courts Online Self‑Help Center (www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp), at the California Legal Services web‑ site (www.lawhelpca.org), or by con‑ tacting your local county bar asso‑ ciation.

NOTICE‑RESTRAINING ORDERS ARE ON PAGE 2: These restraining orders are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until the petition is dismissed, a judgment is entered, or the court makes further orders. These orders are enforceable anywhere in California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of them.

FEE WAIVER: If you cannot pay the fil‑ ing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. The court may order you to pay back all or part of the fees and costs that the court waived for you or the other party.

Tiene 30 dias calendario despues de haber recibido la entrega legal de esta Citación y Petición para presen‑ tar una Respuesta (formulario FL‑120) ante la corte y efectuar la entrega legal de una copia al demandante.

Una carta o llamada telefónica o una audiencia de la corte no basta para protegerlo.

Si no presenta su Respuesta a tiempo, la corte puede dar órdenes que afec‑ ten su matrimonio o pareja de hecho, sus bienes y la custodia de sus hijos.

La corte también le puede ordenar que pague manutención, honorarios y costos legales.

Para asesoramiento legal, póngase en contacto de inmediato con un aboga‑ do. Puede obtener información para encontrar un abogado en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en el sitio web de los Servicios Legales de California (www.lawhelpca.org) o poniéndose en contacto con el colegio de aboga‑ dos de su condado.

AVISO‑LAS ÓRDENES DE RESTRICCIÓN SE ENCUENTRAN EN LA PÁGINA 2: valen para ambos cón‑ yuges o pareja de hecho hasta que se despida la petición, se emita un fallo o la corte de otras órdenes. Cualquier autoridad de la ley que haya recibido o visto una copia de estas órdenes puede hacerlas acabar en cualquier lugar de California. EXENCIÓN DE CUOTAS: Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario un formulario de exención de cuotas.

INDEPENDENT.COM INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

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LEGALS (CONT.) La corte puede ordenar que usted pague, ya sea en parte o por com‑ pleto, las cuotas y costos de la corte previamente exentos a petición de usted o de la otra parte.

1.The name and address of the court are (El nombre y direccion de la corte son): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF MERCED 1159 G Street , Los Banos, CA 93635.

The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s attor‑ ney, or the petitioner without an attorney, are: Scott Jordan (Bar# 88455) 303 I Street Los Banos, CA 93635; (209)‑826‑5024 (El nombre, dirección y número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del

demandante si no tiene abogado, son): Dated September 05 , 2025.

Clerk, by (Secretario, por) Veronica Leon, Deputy Clerk (Asistente) Published Dec 18, 24, 31 2025. Jan 8 2026.

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): QUOTE ONLY NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): QUOTE ONLY YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): QUOTE ONLY 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 want to 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 Web site

(www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self‑Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/self‑ help), 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. ¡AVISO! 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

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that the General Services Department, County of Santa Barbara, will receive bids for: COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA Santa Maria Probation Juvenile Justice Center Housing Units 1/2/3 Remodel 4263 California Blvd. Santa Maria CA.93455 Project No. PRJ-000139-21055

MANDATORY JOB WALK: Wednesday, January 14th, Security Check in at 9:30 am Job Walk at 10:30 A.M. BID DUE DATE: Tuesday, February 3rd, at 3:00 P.M. BID OPENING: Tuesday, February 3rd, at 3:15 P.M. CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATE: Estimated cost of construction is $1,550,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred FiftyThousand.)

PROJECT LOCATION: 4263 California Blvd. Santa Maria, CA 93455 MANDATORY JOB WALK: Note: Security Check in for the Job Walk is at 9:30 am. Located at 4251 California Blvd.

Santa Maria ,CA 93455 It is anticipated that this job walk will be well attended please allow time for your arrival with for security check in. The job walk is MANDATORY on 01/14/26 at 10:30am. Only those prime contractors checked in and attending a job walk shall be qualified to bid for the work.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The scope of this project is to remodel housing units # 1,2, and 3 in accordance with the plans and specifications provided. Each housing unit will incorporate upgrades to the existing unit’s security systems, security hardware, lighting, plumbing, shower and restrooms into compliance with current Title 24 requirements, and other cosmetic refreshes to the units finishes and esthetics.

CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE: The CONTRACTOR shall possess either a Class A, B QUESTIONS: All questions MUST be submitted electronically through the Public Purchase Portal (www.publicpurchase.com www.publicpurchase.com) on or before 12:00 pm 01/26/2026. Any changes or additional information needed for bidding will be provided in an Addendum posted on the Public Purchase site. Contractors shall be responsible for addendums.

BID SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS: Each bid shall be in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the General Services Department. The bid MUST be submitted electronically through the Public Purchase website (www.publicpurchase.com www.publicpurchase.com) on or before 02/03/2026 by 3:00pm SUBSTITUTION OF SECURITIES: Pursuant to Section 22300 of the Public Contract Code and the project specifications, the CONTRACTOR may substitute securities or request that the County make payment of retentions to an escrow agent for any money held by the COUNTY to ensure contract performance.

REGISTRATION: No contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project (submitted on or after March 1, 2015) unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code § 1725.5 [with limited exceptions from this requirement for bid purposes only under Labor Code § 1771.1(a)]; no contractor or subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works project (awarded on or after April 1, 2015) unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code § 1725.5; and this project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations.

QUALIFYING CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR: Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4104 of the California Public Contracting Code a contractor or subcontractor shall not be qualified to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal or engage in the performance of any contract for public work, as defined in Section 4104, unless currently registered with the Department of Industrial Relations and qualified to perform public work pursuant to Section 1725.5 California Labor Code.

WITHDRAWAL OF BIDS: The COUNTY reserves the right to reject any and or all bids or waive any informality in a bid. No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of sixty (60) days after the date set for the opening thereof.

BID PROTEST: The County of Santa Barbara Bid Protest Procedures are described in Item 10 of the BID FORM, which is included in the bid documents.

CONSTRUCTION TIME: The successful CONTRACTOR (after receiving the Notice to Proceed) shall have 548 calendar days to complete all work called for under the Contract Documents.

LIQUIDATED DAMAGES: The liquidated damages will be $2,500.00 (Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars) per day for project delays that are determined to be attributable to the CONTRACTOR.

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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 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 dé 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 ó 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): QUOTE ONLY 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, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): QUOTE ONLY DATE (Fecha): QUOTE ONLY QUOTE ONLY, Clerk (Secretario),

by QUOTE ONLY, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served 12/24/25, 12/31, 1/8, 1/15/26 CNS‑3994072# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT

TRUSTEE NOTICE T.S. No. 138873‑CA APN: 023‑060‑005 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 4/23/2003. 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 On 1/28/2026 at 10:00 AM, CLEAR RECON CORP, as duly appointed trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 5/1/2003 as Instrument No. 2003‑0055201 of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of Santa Barbara County, State of CALIFORNIA executed by: RENEE L. MALLOY, A SINGLE PERSON WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK DRAWN ON A STATE OR NATIONAL BANK, A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, OR A CHECK DRAWN

BY A STATE OR FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, OR SAVINGS BANK SPECIFIED IN SECTION 5102 OF THE FINANCIAL CODE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE; AT

THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 1100 ANACAPA STREET, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101 all right, title and inter‑ est conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the prop‑ erty situated in said County and State described as: BEGINNING AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE WEST LINE OF SANTA BARBARA MISSION LANDS WITH THE CENTERLINE OF TUNNEL ROAD, FROM WHICH A STONE MONUMENT #7 OF THE MISSION LANDS BEARS NORTH 0°09’30” WEST 18.26 FEET; THENCE ALONG SAID WEST LINE OF THE MISSION LANDS, SOUTH 0°09’30” EAST 215.97 FEET TO A 3/4” SURVEY PIPE; THENCE AT RIGHT ANGLES NORTH 89°50’30” EAST 159.07 FEET TO A POINT ON THE CENTER LINE OF TUNNEL ROAD FROM WHICH A 3/4” SURVEY PIPE SET ON THE WESTERLY LINE THEREOF BEARS SOUTH 89°50’30” WEST 20.01 FEET: THENCE ALONG THE CENTER LINE OF SAID TUNNEL ROAD THE FOLLOWING COURSES AND DISTANCES; NORTH 1°53’00” WEST 28.34 FEET TO AN ANGLE POINT THEREIN; THENCE NORTH 34°01’ WEST (AT 137.99 FEET TO THE MOST SOUTHERLY CORNER OF THE 3.407 ACRE TRACT OF LAND SHOWN ON THE MAP OF A PORTION OF THE MISSION LANDS FILED IN BOOK 26 AT PAGE 20 OF RECORD OF SURVEYS, RECORDS OF SAID COUNTY) 182.10 FEET; AND NORTH 57°28’ WEST 67.44 FEET, MORE OR LESS, TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real prop‑ erty described above is purported to be: 1085 TUNNEL ROAD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be held, but without covenant or war‑ ranty, express or implied, regard‑ ing title, possession, condition, or encumbrances, including fees, charg‑ es and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to pay the remaining principal sums of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obliga‑ tion secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $192,819.59 If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any rea‑ son, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust hereto‑ fore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned or its predecessor caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are con‑ sidering 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 infor‑ mation. 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. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, ben‑ eficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that informa‑

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LEGALS (CONT.) tion about trustee sale postpone‑ ments 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 (855) 313‑3319 or visit this Internet website www.clearreconcorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 138873‑CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not imme‑ diately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postpone‑ ment information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: Effective January 1, 2021, 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 prop‑ erty 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 (855) 313‑3319, or visit this internet website www.clearreconcorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 138873‑CA 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 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 pur‑ chase. FOR SALES INFORMATION: (855) 313‑3319 CLEAR RECON CORP 3333 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 225 San Diego, California 92108.

Published: Dec 31, 2025. Jan 8, 15 2026.

TRUSTEE SALE No. 184994 Title No. 250357316 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 01/05/2005.

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. On 02/11/2026 at 10:00 AM, PRIME RECON LLC, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 01/14/2005, as Instrument No. 2005‑0003819, in book xx, page xx, of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of SANTA BARBARA County, State of California, executed by OSCAR HERNANDEZ AND ZAHIDA CARRERA, HUSBAND AND WIFE AS COMMUNITY PROPERTY WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK/CASH EQUIVALENT or other form of payment authorized by 2924h(b), (payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States), AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 1100 ANACAPA STREET, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. All right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State, described as: FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE ABOVE DEED OF TRUST. APN 017‑222‑ 007 The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 126 SOUTH CANADA STREET, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein.

Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, if any, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $1,026,833.17 If the Trustee is unable to convey title

for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned caused a Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. Dated: 12/27/2025 Prime Recon LLC By: Jorge Rios‑ Jimenez, Authorized Signer Prime Recon LLC 27368 Via Industria, Ste 201 Temecula, CA 92590 (888) 725‑4142 Prime Recon LLC may be attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained may be used for that purpose. FOR TRUSTEE’S SALE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: (844) 901‑0998 OR VIEW OUR WEBSITE: https://salesinformation.prime‑ recon.com 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.

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 sale postponements be

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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 (844) 901‑0998 for information regarding the trustee's sale or visit this internet website ‑ https://salesinformation.prime‑ recon.com ‑ for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case: TS#184994. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be 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 (844) 901‑0998 for information regarding the trustee’s sale, or visit this internet website https://salesinformation.prime‑ recon.com for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case TS#184994 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 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.

NPP0482987 To: SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT 01/08/2026, 01/15/2026, 01/22/2026 LOAN NO.: EWL6860 ‑ Papadaki & Polizzi TS no. 2025‑11434 APN: 067‑082‑005 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE UNDER DEED OF TRUST YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 3/15/2023, 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 1/28/2026, 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 Hariklia Papadaki, an unmarried woman, and Paul Polizzi, a married man as his sole and separate property, as joint tenants recorded on 3/28/2023 in Book n/a of Official Records of SANTA BARBARA County, at page n/a, Recorder’s Instrument No. 2023‑0008662, 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 9/8/2025 as Recorder’s Instrument No. 2025‑0027408, 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 23, Tract 10086, per Map, Book 54, Pages 28, 29 and 30 of Maps. The street address or other common designation of the real property hereinabove described is purported to be: 869 Via Campobello, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. 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 $301,296.01. 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.

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 www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 2025‑11434. 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 www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 2025‑11434 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: December 31, 2025 Ashwood TD Services LLC, a California Limited Liability Company Christopher Loria, Trustee's Sale Officer 231 E. Alessandro Blvd., Ste. 6A‑693, Riverside, CA 92508 Tel.: (951) 215‑0069 Fax: (805) 323‑9054 Trustee’s Sale Information: (916) 939‑0772 or www.nationwideposting.com NPP0483157 To: SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT 01/08/2026, 01/15/2026, 01/22/2026

Notice of Southern California Edison Company’s (SCE) Rate Increase Request Southern California Edison Company’s (SCE) (U-338E) Request for California Public Utilities C o m m i s s i o n ( C P U C ) A p p r o v a l o f I t s N o r t h C o a s t P r o p e r t y S a l e A p p l i c a t i o n A2512015 What is Being Requested?

SCE is requesting approval to sell its North Coast Building located at 28460 Avenue Stanford in the City of Santa Clarita for $7.21 million. This sale will result in an after-tax loss of approximately $1.49 million which will be allocated to ratepayers and shareholders.

TOTAL RATE INCREASE REQUESTED Customer Class $ Increase* % Increase Residential $0.00 0.01% Lighting – Small & Medium Power $0.00 0.01% Large Power $0.00 0.01% Agricultural and Pumping $0.00 0.01% Street and Area Lighting $0.00 0.00% Standby $0.00 0.00% *The total dollar amount increase for each customer class is less than a hundredth of a dollar.

How Would This Impact the Average Residential Customer?

If the request is approved, the average residential customer using 500kWh per month would see a rate increase of approximately $0.01 per month. The actual impact will vary based on usage, baseline territory, and other factors. The increase will remain for one year.

Additional Information An administrative law judge will hold hearings, consider evidence, testimony, and public comments before drafting a proposed decision on this application. CPUC Commissioners will then vote on a final decision at a public meeting.

You can read more about the utility’s request and make public comment by visiting apps.cpuc.ca.gov/c/A2512015. For questions about participating in CPUC matters, you can contact the Public Advisor’s Office at Public.Advisor@cpuc.ca.gov, 1-866-849-8390, or 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102. Please reference A.25-12-015 in any communication with the CPUC. Q u e s t i o n s A b o u t t h e Request For questions about this application, please contact SCE at (800) 655-4555, or via email at case.admin@sce.com. The mailing address: Case Administration Southern California Edison Company A.25-12-015 – North Coast Building 851 Sale P.O. Box 800 Rosemead, CA 91770

CNSB # 3998886

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19

ADDRESS

The Oldest Hou se on the Block

: 324 Nor th Soledad

History from Nea

Street

r and Far

It pays to netw ork when history of you are your that her hom house. Chris learn curious about the his c. 1900 past and that e’s property had beened from a neighbo r home at 324 the family much larg was the was corr North had seve er in the only obo Sole ral dad house on Street Built on a paper for rated by a 1909 ad that farm animals. This the block of each othe a “milch” small hill unti I found in l 1917 (mil r. betw Gutierrez Sole . k) the local een dad home. cow for sale was referred The James A. Bloo Montecito streets, on skirts of the at the 324 d who buil and to as wha A few North t this hom ably overlookcity, this Queen Ann t was then the out- Junior to distinguJames A. Blood e the hom months after the curr e–style hom ed the city ish him from the Carp e in 1990, and whe e tree a woman ent owners moved n s ther in e were fewe prob- the farm interia farmer, alth into knocked on dad) mea the area. Soledad oug r homes er was his the door and ns “solitary (pro uncle, not h ” in Spanish. nounced so-LAY- father.) his THE GREAT HOUSE The Bloods The hom DETECTIVE raised six e is pain in Santa tori call y Barbara — children appropriat ted his- whom several of spent thei tone colo e eart hr rs adu Emanuel that owners Chris this home. The mos lt lives in and had carefully Pau l Lom men was Alice Mabel Bloot prominent an accompl d, who was researched. colors ishe The d acce pain orig inal ntuate the home’s been Saint Barbara ter and had deta ils. and the val Fest The slop e of istee p paraQueen in the Flow its roofline er Festival des of the as mar an ks 1890 olde it r James A. Bloo s. shallower home among the d was in the slop real homes that es of the newer estate business and was co-owne

by Betsy J. home’s crow surround it. The with Francis H. Green Knight of r House-Furni ning glor the che erfu l y is the sun State Street shing Emporium on accents the burst mot near Orte if ga. The popular decofront gable. This that sold furn store was a itur vintage. I’ve ration for homes Family pic: The ever ythi ng e — of this here. Kee noticed it on other right: Addie Blood family posed on baby carr from p an eye out hom , Carolyn, Fred, the iage for it as you es Mabel. Front front porch in the 1920 coffins. The s to walk s. Back row, row: Grace, com from Mary left J., troversy, acco pany once caused Ella. to kins. In his rding to Walker A. a con- explained that her gran Tom newspaper he wrote column in p- Along with dfather that had som in e the info Blood and 1880s, the 1971, she had a rmation abou built the home.

1920s pho Knig firm of t the hom to of the the porch. side of a buil ht put a huge sign e’s past, Blood fam A on the ily ily members porch post can be that read ding facing Stearns : “BLOO seen next posed on Wharf D to the original to — the same post that UNDERT AKERS. COFAND KNIGHT, the home is there toda famseparating PRICES.” is “Since man FINS AT LOW the front parl the large pair of pock y. Also y of Sant wint or Chr et er visit a Barb ors in the ara’s hou is Emanuel rememb from the family room doors 1880s were terminal se 30 year . ers falli illnesses, in their the the one. The s ago. “When I saw ng in love with the Blood and Knight — advertising of house has it, I knew has ous a nam not a this was been very too euph very welcoming e feel to it. chill the mar in itself — was eno oni- original char nicely redone and civic prot It still retains ugh to row. So ests, that work thro acter. There is a lot a lot of the the controve vociferous were removed.” ughout the of the rsial sign house and very lovely wood was finally pepper tree in the a great old back.”

Mexican

T

Built by a Pionee

n is a Santa

If you would like Betsy to trace your home’s history for her column, send her a message through the contact page of her website: betsyjgreen.com.

STRENGTH. INTEGRITY. TRUST.

JERMAINE

BROWN REALTOR®

(805) 452-6089 jermainebrown@bhhscal.com jermainebrownrealestate.com DRE: 02154911

r Family

Barbara histo

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Recently I had a need for home insurance and after spending three weeks talking and looking, my sister suggested trying Baxter. Never occurred to me.

I had coverage at a reasonable rate in two days. I now sleep at night.”

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Do you have an older home on the Mesa?

If so, it might be the next case for The Great House Detective!

Local historian Betsy J. Green researches local homes and their history for her column The Great House Detective, publishing monthly in the Independent.

She’s always looking for homes to investigate.

PHOT OS GREEN BETSY J.

COUR TESY

The family built the of James Augustus home. Bloo Blood Mar y Jose phine Hall d and his wife, eled from Blood, had Illinois by covered wag trav1870 and settled in on in Sant Bloo d fam ily came here a Barbara. The tive, also because nam a relaed Jam settled on es A. Bloo rela a farm in Carpinteria d, had (My research in 1867. was mad both men shared the e especially challeng same nam ing because e and died within a year

Betsy J. Gree

50

©2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC.

rian and auth

or of

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51

The Richness of the American Prairie GOING GREEN

F

rom our school days, we know the story of European immigrants coming in waves to homestead and farm the American prairie. This 19th-century movement produced astonishing bounties to feed America’s booming population. It offered land to landless immigrants. The grasslands were transformed by the invention of the steel plow, the building of extensive drainage systems, and the application of artificial fertilizers.

These changes have come, however, at enormous cost. Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty, authors of Sea of Grass: The Con-

realestate.independent.com JANUARY 8, 2026

REALTORS:

INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE

quest, Ruin, and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie, document how the plants, microbes, and animals of our North American grasslands created one of earth’s richest ecosystems. The roots of these grasses, which range between 12 and 15 feet deep, sequester carbon and lock it up for centuries. Scientists estimate that grasslands hold one-third of the earth’s terrestrial carbon stocks, more than forests and the atmosphere combined. Unfortunately, plowing of our prairies continues to this day on a massive scale. Keeping remaining grasslands intact is one of the simplest

and most powerful ways to more conservation and habitat address climate change. restoration.

Change is coming. NoBig strides have been made till planting, the opposite of to save grasslands. For continplowing, is growing but still ued progress, however, convertonly accounts for about 15 ing additional prairie to corn percent of crops. Acreage and soybeans must be halted. planted in cover crops, a subIn addition, bison herds can stitute for artificial fertilizer, is be encouraged to expand and also expanding but represents allowed to roam again, more a mere 5 percent of cropland. wetlands and buffer strips could

by Dennis Allen Farmers save money on ferbe created, and the use of pestitilizers, pesticides, and fossil cides further reduced to restore fuels when utilizing these practices while healthy populations of bugs and pollinaimproving soil fertility, soil moisture, and tors. Existing trends make all these conceivable today. soil structure.

Also, it would be helpful for us to adopt Roughly 90 percent of the nation’s corn and soybeans go into livestock feed or bio- a new attitude toward land, one where we fuels. Reducing or eliminating the federal see ourselves as part of nature. This would subsidy for corn ethanol would help protect bring about many positive changes and remaining grasslands. Moreover, taking could especially lead to establishing a balall factors into account, ethanol produces ance between the natural world and the more carbon emissions than an equivalent production of our food. amount of fossil fuel.

Some big consumer food companies, Unilever and Pepsi to name two, are sup- Dennis Allen is chair of Allen Construction, an employeeowned company committed to building and operating porting regenerative agriculture by pay- sustainably. He is also former chair of the Dean’s Council ing their supply farmers to make changes. at the Bren School of Environmental Science & ManageCongress could also reform the federal ment at UCSB and a former boardmember of the Santa crop insurance program to encourage Barbara Museum of Natural History.

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Turnkey Mission Canyon Gem

3 BD | 3 BA | $1,775,000 840CheltenhamRoad.com

Perched in Mission Canyon Heights, this turnkey modern retreat offers stylish indoor-outdoor living, two primary suites, abundant natural light, and sweeping city views.

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Hope Ranch Haven

3 BD | 3 BA | $3,795,000 4356ViaGlorieta.com

Set on 1.5 private acres in the prestigious Hope Ranch enclave, this home offers ocean and mountain views, a pool, spa, and wine cellar, recent updates throughout, and exclusive access to beaches and trails.

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Ajia Orozco Marketing

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Kendrick Guehr

INDEPENDENT.COM DRE #1964065

JANUARY 8, 2026

Steve Epstein

THE INDEPENDENT

DRE #994429

52

Roman

Lic. #600029

Epstein Partners | Real Estate Professionals | 805.689.9339 | Keller Williams Realty Montecito - Santa Barbara | TheEpsteinPartners.com Info@TheEpsteinPartners.com | 1503 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | 1235 Coast Village Road, Montecito, CA 93108

JANUARY 8, 2026 realestate.independent.com

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OPEN HOUSE: SATURDAY 1/10 | 1-3PM

Opportunity Knocks 522 W. Victoria St., Unit B | Santa Barbara, CA

TERRI DIMOND

Sarah Sinclair brings you the inside scoop on real estate in her weekly newsletter The Home Page. Come along as she takes a peek behind the doors of grand estates, tiny houses, and everything in between. Enjoy style secrets, garden gossip, industry insights, and more in your inbox each Sunday.

REALTOR® Sales Associate

805-709-0934

TerriDimond@bhhscal.com TerriDimond.com DRE 01378431 TerriDimondSB

SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

1 BATH

1 BED

927 SQ.FT.

Value-add opportunity! This private 1-bed, 1-bath Westside condo in a gated 6-unit community offers a blank canvas for renovation. Built in 1981, the original interior is ready for your vision. Features include an open living area with patio, a versatile nook in the primary suite, and an attached 1-car garage for secure parking and storage. Sold as-is perfect for contractors, investors, or DIY enthusiasts to create sweat equity or a custom retreat.

OFFERED AT $715,000 © 2026 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for your listing.

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OPEN HOUSES Saturday 1/10 & Sunday 1/11 Goleta 507 Bolinas Way #103, 2BD, 2.5BA, Sun 1-4, $1,040,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Avi Becker 805-9442653, DRE#02076584 5087 Rhoads Ave Unit B, 2BD, 2BA, Sat & Sun 12-2, $1,075,000, Village Properties, Michelle King 805 455 8818, DRE#02030289 5680 Surfrider Way #105, 3BD, 3BA, Sat 10-3 & Sun 10-5, $1,195,000, Village Properties, Bruce Frey / Lourika van Tonder / Carly Gribble / Erin Timmerman / Hannah Peck 805-515-4135 / 805-280-5865 / 805-951-7255 / 805-689-9970 / Hannah Peck, DRE#02294679 / #02211987 / #02233358 / #02012810 / #02197005 562 Poppyfield Place, 3BD, 2.5BA, Sun 1-3, $1,255,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Reyne Stapelmann 805705-4353, DRE#01347808 7926 Winchester Circle, 4BD, 3BA, Sun 2-4, $1,795,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Jessica Lovett Christopher 805-637-5849, DRE#01489086

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San Roque 3728 State Street #135, 3BD, 3BA, Sat & Sun 1-4, $1,598,000, Village Properties, Marilyn Moore 805-6890507, DRE#01255085 3737-3739 San Remo Drive, 5BD, 4BA, Sun 1-4, $1,749,000, Village Properties, Bruce Frey 805-515-4135, DRE#02294679

JANUARY 8, 2026 INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE

The Mesa 1070 Miramonte Drive Unit 10, 1BD, 1BA, Sat 12-3 & Sun 1-3, $737,000, Village Properties, Michael Dickman / Brittany Lough 805-689-3355 / 805-455-5736, DRE#02093312 / #01905525 2417 Calle Linares, 3BD, 3BA, Sat 12-4 & Sun 12-5, $2,375,000, Keller Williams Santa Barbara, Nancy Newquist-Nolan 805-570-1015, DRE#01459696 922 Fellowship Road, 4BD, 3BA, Sat & Sun 1-4, $2,795,000, Village Properties, Julie Barnes 805/8959498, DRE#01107109 245 Cordova Drive, 4BD, 3BA, Sat 1-4 & Sun 11:30-2, $3,350,000, Village Properties, Ryan Kell 805220-0848, DRE#02224217 1173 Harbor Hills Drive, 5BD, 3BA & 1PBA, Sat & Sun 1-4, $5,695,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, Taryn Martin 805-636-6442, DRE#01995581 1547 Shoreline Drive, 5BD, 5BA & 1PBA, Sun 1-3, $14,500,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, Chris Palme 805-449-3066, DRE#00989478

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Hope Ranch 4517 Vieja Drive, 4BD, 4BA, Sun 11-1, $5,000,000, Village Properties, Adrienne Schuele 805-452-3960, DRE#01012149

4004 Via Laguna, 4BD, 4BA & 1PBA, Sun 1-3, $6,925,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, Brad Merritt 805-450-6522, DRE#01855401 4335 Marina Drive, 5BD, 5.5BA, Sat 12-2, $14,995,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Michael Pinero 310-2134481, DRE#01800009

Mission Canyon 2253 Las Canoas Rd, 4BD, 3BA, Sun 11-3, $2,450,000, Village Properties, Curtis Swan 805-607-9709, DRE#02049218

The Riviera 712 Arbolado Road, 3BD, 2BA, Sun 1-4, $3,495,000, Village Properties, Liz Benson 805-402-1945, DRE#02252004

Santa Barbara 2727 Miradero Dr. #302, 1BD, 1BA, Sat & Sun 12-3, $689,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Denise Castro / Lyndsey Jones 805-724-5377 / 805-6084989, DRE#02324715 / #02125898 522 W Victoria Street #B, 1BD, 1BA, Sat 1-3, $715,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Terri Dimond 805-7090934, DRE#01378431 4013 Invierno Dr. #B, 2BD, 1.5BA, Sat & Sun 1-3, $1,075,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Gabe Grandcolas / Lindsey Haeberle 805-450-4723 / 805-951-9139, DRE#02136493 / #02199986 30 S Salinas Unit B, 3BD, 2BA, Thurs 10-2, Sat 1-4 & Sun 12-3, $1,099,000, Keller Williams Realty Santa Barbara / We Sell Real Estate, Tamara McLean / Phyllis Coonce 805-892-0292, DRE#01480305 834 W Valerio Street, 4BD, 2BA, Sat 1-3 & Sun 1-3:30, $1,389,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Katya Sheets / Sunnie Maxwell 805-708-2323 / 805-252-9524, DRE#02061444 / #01463861 4840 Winding Way, 3BD, 2BA, Sat & Sun 1-3, $1,395,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Katie Spieler / Kathy Strand Spieler 805-245-4582 / 805-895-6326, DRE#02172820 / #00851281 3728 State Street #136, 2BD, 2BA, Sun 1-4, $1,570,000, Compass, Geoff Rue 805-679-3365, DRE#01939921 1275 Calle Cerrito, 3BD, 2BA, Sat & Sun 1-4, $1,699,000, Village Properties, Katie Mohun 805-7055144, DRE#02047418 779 Dos Hermanos, 3BD, 3BA, Sun 2-4, $1,750,000, Village Properties, Adrienne Schuele 805-452-3960, DRE#01012149 830 N Hope Avenue, 4BD, 2.5BA, Sat & Sun 1-3, $2,095,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Alanna Watson / Stefan Stojanovski 805-570-4020 / 805570-0640, DRE#02241240 / #02112629

3715 Hitchcock Ranch Rd, 3BD, 2.5BA, Sun 1-3, $2,595,000, Coast & Valley Properties, Bob Ruccione 805-729-2004, DRE#00544022 2106 Mount Calvary, 4BD, 4BA, Sun 1-3, $3,200,000, Village Properties, Ruth Ann Bowe 805698-1971, DRE#01751940 428 Corona Del Mar, 5BD, 2.5BA, Sat 12-2:30, $3,399,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Jenny Easter 805-4556294, DRE#01858581 3520 La Entrada, 4BD, 3BA, Sun 1-4, $3,450,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Katya Sheets 805-708-2323, DRE#02061444 3855 Calle Cita, 4BD, 3BA, Sat 2-5 & Sun 2-4, $3,495,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Andi Ruhge / Caleb Overton 805-895-5862 / 805-4537080, DRE#01965484 / #02117608 947 Palmero Drive, 4BD, 3BA, Sat 1-3, $3,495,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, Christian Webb 559-631-0825, DRE#02125765 9 E Quinto Street, 3BD, 2.5BA, Sat 1-4 & Sun 12-4, $3,500,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Ken Switzer 805-680-4622, DRE#01245644 1226 Alameda Padre Serra, 3BD, 4BA, Sun 1-4, $3,675,000, Compass, Chris W. Hunt 805-453-3407, DRE#01326111 1367 Via Veneto, 6BD, 6BA, Sun 1-4, $5,895,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Chase Enright 805-708-4057, DRE#01800599

Montecito 720 Circle Drive, 3BD, 2BA, Sun 1-4, $2,295,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Rachel Brown 805-570-7160, DRE#01950975 380 Sheffield Dr, 2BD, 2BA, Sat & Sun 1-4, $3,295,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Bruce Fisher 805-5701679, DRE#00879404 31 Cedar Lane, 3BD, 3.5BA, Sat 1-3:30, $3,750,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, JJ Gobbell 805-4035785, DRE#02063124 315 Calle Elegante, 3BD, 2.5BA, Sun 1-4, $4,995,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Andrea Cambern 805722-2352, DRE#02158714 99 La Vuelta Road, 5BD, 4BA, Sun 1-3, $5,750,000, Village Properties, Sharon Fisher 805-886-8001, DRE#01442186 1383 School House Road, 4BD, 3BA, Sat & Sun 1-3, $5,950,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Brittany Arntz 805-680-5946, DRE#02055307

4700 Sandyland Road #54, 2BD, 2BA, Sat 1-3, $1,200,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Georgette Owens 805570-6138, DRE#02172408

Santa Ynez Valley 546 Covelo Ln, 2BD, 3BA, Sun 1-3, $699,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Kelly Mahan Herrick 805-208-1451, DRE#01974836 740 Alisal Road, 3BD, 1BA, Sun 10-1, $1,195,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, Brenda Cloud 805-901-1156, DRE#01772551 1334 Edison Street, 3BD, 2BA, Sat 1-3, $1,235,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Arielle Carleton 818-448-8970, DRE#02247215 40 Bobcat Springs Road, 3BD, 3BA, Sun 1-3, $1,598,000, Monument Global Estates, Kristina Novak 805325-8843, DRE#01140992 1214 Coast Oak Dr, 4BD, 3BA, Sun 11-1, $1,675,000, Village Properties, Lisa Allen 805-705-3460, DRE#01242652 80 Bobcat Springs Rd, 3BD, 3BA, Sun 1:30-3:30, $1,925,000, Village Properties, Lisa Allen 805-705-3460, DRE#01242652 2465 Grand Avenue, 4BD, 2BA, Sat 2-4, $2,850,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Angie Marrufo 805-863-6866, DRE#02231894

Ojai 159 Burnham Rd, 3BD, 2BA, Sun 11-1, $1,498,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Amanda Stanworth 805-218-8117, DRE#01262333 1195 Rancho Ct, 4BD, 5BA, Sun 1-4, $2,850,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Amanda Stanworth 805-218-8117, DRE#01262333

Ventura 1684 Poli St, 2BD, 2BA, Sat & Sun 12-3, $1,625,000, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Toni Guy 805-570-0265, DRE#01491191

Realtors: submit your open house listings at INDEPENDENT.COM/ OPENHOUSESUBMISSIONS

$25 PER LISTING OR FREE FOR INDEPENDENT ADVERTISERS

Carpinteria 3950 Via Real #239, 2BD, 2BA, Sun 1-4, $845,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, Marie Larkin 805-680-2525, DRE#00523795

Email: openhouses@independent.com with questions

54 THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026 INDEPENDENT.COM

MONTECITO & SANTA BARBARA’S #1 REAL ESTATE TEAM* 2025 SALES | 88 TRANSACTIONS | $209MILLION+ SALES VOLUME

Partner | DRE#01923245

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Senior Partner | DRE#01129919

Managing Partner | DRE#01499736

Nanc y Hamilton

Michael Calcagno

Susan Kim Office Manager

JANUARY 8, 2026

Kevin Schmidtchen

Kelly Mahan Herrick

INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE

Partner | DRE#01316975

Partner | DRE#01974836

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INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT

THE ULTIMATE COASTAL DREAM

JANUARY 8, 2026

333 PALISADES DR | SANTA BARBARA, CA OPEN HOUSE

INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE

SAT & SUN 1:00-4:00

14

Step into the ultimate 1950s coastal dream where vintage charm meets the relaxed energy of Santa Barbara’s most coveted beachside neighborhood! Nestled behind swaying palm trees and a lush green lawn, this quintessential Mesa cottage is the perfect backdrop for your new California lifestyle.

From the moment you pull up the classic red brick driveway, you’ll feel the “West Mesa” magic. This 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath gem is a sun-drenched sanctuary featuring original details and a layout built for easy, breezy living.

The real showstopper? Your very own private outdoor lanai. Whether you’re hosting sunset cocktail hours or enjoying a quiet morning coffee surrounded by tropical greenery, this space turns every day into a vacation. The detached garage offers plenty of room for your surfboards and beach gear, which you’ll need since the ocean breeze is practically your front door neighbor.

3 Bed

1.5 Bath

1,370 Sq. Ft.

Lot = 0.14 Acres

$1,995,000

Joe Parker | REALTOR® The Santa Barbara Group 805-886-5735 JoeParker@bhhscal.com TheSantaBarbaraGroup.com DRE 01314939

EXPLORE 333 Palisades Dr!

© 2026 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for your listing. Some images were AI-generated and are for illustration only; they may not reflect actual properties or conditions.

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THE INDEPENDENT

JANUARY 8, 2026

INDEPENDENT.COM

THIS IS WHAT

COASTAL RANCH INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE

Congratulations to Kerry Mormann and the entire Central Coast on the sale of the historic ±6500-acre Rancho Cañada Larga, Ventura.

JANUARY 8, 2026

The ranch has sold to a conservation buyer, which will preserve its open space and agriculture for the public beneit in perpetuity.

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13

Sold for $27,650,000 Kerry Mormann 805.689.3242

KerryM@BHHSCal.com

© 2025 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be veriied by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for your listing. Awards based on 2024 production of nearly 45,000 sales associates in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Global Network. DRE # 00598625

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JANUARY 8, 2026

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INDEPENDENT.COM

Find your one of a kind

N I C O L E D E V E R 805.570.5226

L I N D A B O R K O W S K I 805.252.7305

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PoloCondo923.com

3BD | 2BA | $1,450,000

2BD | 2BA | $1,515,000

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D U S T Y B A K E R G R O U P 805.220.4210

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947PalermoDrive.com

905Laguna.com

4BD | 3BA | $3,495,000

4BD | 3BA/1PBA | $3,995,000

Renovated Hidden Valley Home

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B R A D Y G R O U P 805.331.3053

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5445Baseline.com

439Meadowbrook.com

5BD | 3BA/1PBA | $5,695,000

5BD | 5BA/1PBA | $6,795,000

3BD | 3BA/2PBA | $8,995,000

The View You’ve Been Waiting For

Spanish-Style Hacienda, Big Views

Serene & Secluded Ennisbrook Estate

NEW LISTING | ALTA MESA

SANTA YNEZ

NEW LISTING | MONTECITO - UPPER VILLAGE

1173HarborHills.com T A R Y N M A R T I N 805.636.6442 INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE

SAN MARCOS PASS

JANUARY 8, 2026 realestate.independent.com

Shadow Hills Living 4BD | 2BA/1PBA | $1,599,000 4440ShadowHills.com A L E X G A L L O P 805.451.1695

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NEW PRICE | SAN ROQUE

Super Sweet San Roque Condo 2BD | 2BA | $826,000 3663SanRemo4F.com S A R A G U T H R I E 805.570.1211

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© 2026 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity. All services/products are provided by independently owned and operated franchisees and are not provided by Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Dimensions are approximate and unverified. Buyers should consult a qualified professional to confirm measurements.

DRE License Numbers for All Featured Agents: Dusty Baker: 01908615 | Micah Brady: 01219166 Taryn Martin: 01995581 | Scott Westlotorn: 01875690 | Alex Gallop: 02020303 | Linda Borkowski: 01970135 | Nicole Dever: 02110739 | Sara Guthrie: 01294545

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THE BEATING HEART OF SANTA BARBARA

INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE

2253 Las Canoas Road | Santa Barbara | 4BD/3BA DRE 00978392 | Offered at $2,450,000 John A. Sener 805-331-7402

760 Falcon Ridge Lane | Buellton | 2BD/3BA DRE 01242652 | Offered at $1,918,000 Lisa Allen 805-705-3460

9

1275 Calle Cerrito | Santa Barbara | 3BD/2BA DRE 01397913 | Offered at $1,699,000 Emily Kellenberger & Associates 805-252-2773

3737-3739 San Remo Drive | Santa Barbara | 3BD/2BA & 2BD/2B DRE 00938841/02283881 | Offered at $1,749,000 Bob & Braden Curtis 805-895-1951

922 Fellowship Road | Santa Barbara | 4BD/3BA DRE 01107109 | Offered at $2,795,000 Julie Barnes 805-683-7392

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5680 Surfrider Way 105 | Goleta | 3BD/3BA DRE 02012810 | Offered at $1,195,000 Erin Timmerman 805-689-9970

110 S Salinas Street D | Santa Barbara | 3BD/3BA DRE 01806890/02139725 | Offered at $1,200,000 Tiffany Doré & MarLa Gamberdella 805-689-1052

4700 Sandyland Road 54 | Carpinteria | 2BD/2BA DRE 01005773 | Offered at $1,200,000 Gregg Leach 805-886-9000

JANUARY 8, 2026

611 Winchester Drive | Oxnard | 3BD/4B DRE 02203936 | Offered at $769,000 Marcia Ribeiro 805-245-4550

3375 Foothill Road 524 | Carpinteria | 1BD/1B DRE 01751940/00835438 | Offered at $825,000 Ruth Ann Bowe & Jacqueline Walters 805-698-1971

5087 Rhoads Avenue B | Santa Barbara | 2BD/1.5B DRE 02030289 | Offered at $1,075,000 Michelle King 805-455-8818

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Your Mesa Realtors JANUARY 8, 2026 INDEPENDENT REAL ESTATE

8

As we welcome a new year, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Santa Barbara community for your trust, support, and partnership. This year, we were fortunate to assist in 21 real estate transactions — 18 closed and 3 currently pending — each of which represents a meaningful relationship and a unique story.

We had the privilege of representing 14 local sellers in the successful sale of their home or investment property, and we were honored to help 7 buyers make their dream of homeownership in Santa Barbara a reality. Every client, every negotiation, and every closing reminds us how special it is to work in this extraordinary place.

Being both a local independent brokerage and a top-producing team is a rare combination in today’s real estate world. People often wonder whether a boutique firm can match the services of a national brand—yet time and again, our clients tell us we not only measure up, we exceed their expectations. With more than 100 five-star reviews, we take immense pride in delivering San Ysidro 1553 Shoreline Drive 1547 Shoreline Drive exceptional service and going beyond what is expected of us. at $3,250,000 Offered at $3,495,000 Offered at $7,995,000 Ouron approach is simple: twoRare full-time working with you, day 1/2 in and out. front No hand-offs. privacy this fabulous acreday ocean lot! This No is alayers. once No oceanbrokers front estate on directly the Mesa!

This distractions.

Just expertise, responsiveness, and a genuine commitment in to your success becomes our success, ito estate.

Resting athands-on the a lifegoals. timeYour opportunity to purchase spectacular 4bed/4.5bath ultra-luxury and we are grateful for the opportunity to guide you through a life-changing transaction. roperty is a charming a vacant piece of ocean front property property boasts ~5,100+ sq. ft. of living Craftsman style home located in one of Santa Barbara’s most space resting on over 1/2 acre of prime Here’s to a bright, healthy, and prosperous 2026! circa 1912. Today, it desirable neighborhoods. Build your California coastline. Enjoy unparalleled n amenities, and still dream home to the exact specifications ocean views from everyWarmest corner wishes, of this &person!

Kyle charm. Located in MUS. that you desire. Panoramic ocean views! contemporary home. MustMike see in The Richardson Team

The Richardson Team

Mike and Kyle Richardson

Mike and Kyle Richardson Team@mrrealtors.com Team@mrrealtors.com 805.963.1704 805.963.1704 www.mrrealtors.com www.sbrealtor.com

DREBRE Lic.Lic. #00635254 #00635254+ + #01902531 #01902531

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5,453 SQ. FT.

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1367 Via Veneto, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 6 BED

SWEEPING OCEAN & MOUNTAIN VIEWS | EXCLUSIVE GATED COMMUNITY | PRIVATE CASITA WITH FULL KITCHEN

7

WELCOME TO MODERN ZEN AT LA ROMANA ESTATES. Where breathtaking views and refined living meet in perfect harmony.

Discover your private sanctuary at Modern Zen, a stunning contemporary residence tucked within the exclusive, gated community of La Romana Estates. Thoughtfully designed with both style and function in mind, this home offers six spacious bedrooms, including three with en suite baths.

Inside, soaring ceilings, expansive walls of glass, and pocket sliding doors seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living. The luxurious primary suite features its own private lounge, while the separate Casita offers a full kitchen, bedroom, bath, and patio — perfect for guests or as a private rental retreat.

Nestled within a community that boasts an 11-acre open-space preserve, this home invites sunrise hikes, golden sunset vistas, and a lifestyle of elevated California living.

www.1367ViaVeneto.com

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© 2026 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for your listing. Awards based on 2024 production of nearly 45,00 sales associates in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Global Network.

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All About Lived-In Layers in 2026

THE STYLE SPECIALIST

A

s we enter 2026, let’s take a peek at what’s on the horizon for interiors. This transition to a new year feels more like a quiet shift rather than the introduction of any dramatic trends. From major furniture catalogs to what’s trending on social media, it seems that layered, lived-in spaces are everywhere. It’s a move away from ultra-polished, minimal interiors and back into homes that tell a story.

To see what the powerhouses of interior design have to say, I turned to my favorite writers at Architectural Digest (AD) and Elle Decor. AD points to a clear departure from pared-back minimalism and neutral sameness, noting that saturated color and bold personality are making a comeback. Rich decorating details such as tassels, fringe, cording, and tufting are returning in popularity.

Elle Decor argues that 2026 isn’t about radical new inventions; rather, we’re making a “course correction” away from years of stark minimalism and beige/whitewashed interiors. They noted that homeowners are craving warmth and personality, effectively restoring lost character to modern spaces. Elements such as chair rails, picture-frame molding, wainscoting, and base moldings are returning. These details add architectural interest, especially helpful in newer homes built with minimal character.

If you’re thinking about refreshing your home in the new year, here are a few of my favorite ways to bring a layered look.

realestate.independent.com JANUARY 8, 2026

Curves and Architectural Details Curved silhouettes have been rising for a while — and they’re not going anywhere. From arched headboards to kidney-shaped sofas in velvet and bouclé, curves soften the edges of a room and create a more inviting flow. That same softness is showing up in architecture: Arched doorways, double bullnose-edge countertops, and curved kitchen islands add a custom, high-end touch that’s still welcoming.

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Layered Textures The quickest way to make a space feel warm and inviting?

Layer your textures. Mix linen, velvet, boucle, rattan, and wool in pillows, chairs, and sofas. It’s less about matching and more about contrast: a crisp linen pillow against a plush velvet sofa, or a high-pile rug beneath a clean-lined coffee table. Even minimal spaces feel rich when you bring in a blend of materials that create depth and tactility.

6

COURTESY PHOTOS

by Christine S. Cowles

Dressed-Up Rooms Architectural details, such as chair rails, crown molding, picture-frame walls, and decorative baseboards, can add instant sophistication, especially in newer builds that might lack architectural charm. And don’t stop at the walls. Layering window treatments (for example, roman shades plus drapes) is another way to make a space feel polished and thoughtful.

Polished Metals While warm metals such as brass and bronze have been leading the charge for the past few years, cooler-toned metals, such as polished chrome and nickel, are rising in popularity again. The best part? You don’t have to choose just one.

Mixing a brushed, aged brass faucet with polished chrome sconces adds depth and makes a space feel collected, not cookie-cutter. These cooler metals also pair beautifully with the richer tones and expressive stone we’re seeing in 2026.

Reupholstered and Antique Pieces This may be my favorite “trend,” if you can even call it that, because it’s really about going back to what lasts. Reupholstering vintage furniture and pairing antiques with modern pieces adds soul and sustainability to a home. When layered with newer elements, they create a home that feels personal and storied.

The year 2026 isn’t about reinventing the wheel; rather, it’s about reconnecting with design that feels authentic and creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful, filled with meaning and materials that stand the test of time.

Christine S. Cowles is the owner of Saltwood Interiors, an interior design company specializing in residential and vacation rental properties. She is a certified Short-Term Rental StylistTM, member of Santa Barbara Association of Realtors, and a proud WEV graduate. She can be reached at design@saltwoodinteriors.com.

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PRIVATE MOUNTAIN-VIEW HOME 4840 WINDING WAY, SANTA BARBARA

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3 BED | 2 BATH | FOOTHILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OFFERED AT $1,395,000 Ideally perched at the top of a quiet cul-de-sac, this 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home enjoys an elevated setting with peaceful mountain views and a true sense of privacy. Floor-to-ceiling windows and glass French doors flood the main living spaces and kitchen with natural light, seamlessly connecting indoors to the surrounding landscape, while high ceilings throughout create an open, welcoming ambiance. The primary suite serves as a relaxing retreat, featuring an en-suite bathroom and French doors that open directly to the backyard. Mature landscaping and fruit trees frame the front yard, where a charming flagstone patio and walkway create a serene and inviting entry. A spacious garage with a dedicated workshop area completes the property, offering ample space for hobbies, storage, or projects. Centrally located near bike paths, shopping, restaurants, transportation, and schools, and situated within the Foothill Elementary School District.

DRE 02172820

DRE 00851281

805.245.4582 KTSpieler@gmail.com

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KATIE SPIELER REALTOR®

KATHY STRAND SPIELER REALTOR®

TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FUTURE HOME

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© 2026 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for your listing. Equal Housing Opportunity. Some images were AI-generated and are for illustration only; they may not reflect actual properties or conditions. For unaltered images, visit https://bit.ly/4qzUHXI

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546 COVELO LN, BUELLTON 2BD/2½BA • $699,000 Kelly Mahan Herrick / Calcagno & Hamilton 805.208.1451 / 805.896.0876 LIC# 01974836 / 01499736

522 W VICTORIA ST #B, SB 1BD/1BA • $715,000 Terri Dimond, 805.709.0934 LIC# 01378431

OPEN SUN 1-3

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5455 8TH ST #95, CARPINTERIA 2BD/2BA • $900,000 Jo Ann Mermis, 805.895.5650 LIC# 00891742

509 FARMLAND DR, BUELLTON 4BD/3BA • $1,050,000 Jenae M Johnson, 805.452.9812 LIC# 01308742

1311 PLAZA DE SONADORES, MON 1BD/1BA • $1,795,000 Dan Johnson, 805.895.5150 LIC# 00609860

654 CHALK HILL RD, SOLVANG 3BD/2½BA • $1,875,000 Laura Drammer, 805.448.7500 LIC# 01209580

5114 WALNUT PARK DR, SB 5BD/3½BA • $2,195,000 Steve Heller / John Finseth 805.252.2749 / 805.403.3151 LIC# 00929496 / 01336897

149 VEREDA LEYENDA, GOLETA 4BD/2½BA • $2,895,000 Steve Heller, 805.252.2749 LIC# 00929496

191 E MOUNTAIN DR, MONTECITO 4BD/4BA • $5,795,000 Cristal Clarke, 805.886.9378 LIC# 00968247

1515 N TIGERTAIL RD, BRENTWOOD 3BD/2½BA • $6,295,000 Fielden Junglas, 310.728.0930 LIC# 01902641

338 TORO CANYON RD, CARPINTERIA 5BD/5+(5)½BA • $18,500,000 Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group, 805.565.4014 LIC# 01426886

3595 PADARO LN, CARPINTERIA 6BD/6+(2)½BA • $34,900,000 The Kogevinas Group, 805.331.7577 LIC# 01209514

2830/2750 CALZADA AVE, SY 6BD/5½BA • $10,750,000 Laura Drammer, 805.448.7500 LIC# 01209580

3589 TORO CYN PARK RD, CARP ±121.12 acres • $4,750,000 Cristal Clarke, 805.886.9378 LIC# 00968247

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2760 SYCAMORE CYN RD, MONTECITO 4BD/4½BA • $8,950,000 Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group, 805.565.4014 LIC# 01426886

937 ARCADY RD, MONTECITO 3BD/3½BA • $6,850,000 Cristal Clarke, 805.886.9378 LIC# 00968247

380 SHEFFIELD DR, MONTECTIO 2BD/2BA • $3,295,000 Bruce Fisher, 805.570.1679 LIC# 00879404

3855 CALLE CITA, SANTA BARBARA 4BD/3BA • $3,495,000 Caleb Overton, 805.453.7080 LIC# 02117608

OPEN SAT/SUN 1-4

OPEN SAT 2-5/SUN 2-4

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639 ROSKILDE RD, SOLVANG 2BD/1½BA • $682,000 Dianna Zlaket, 805.390.8382 LIC# 01701860

365 MAIN ST, LOS ALAMOS 2BD/1BA • $695,000 Laura Drammer, 805.448.7500 LIC# 01209580

91 SIX FLAGS CIR, BUELLTON 2BD/2BA • $795,000 Cammy Pinoli, 805.452.9725 LIC# 02074002

333 OLD MILL RD SPC 256, SB 2BD/2BA • $799,000 Ali Evans, 805.980.8007 LIC# 01846603

416 RANCHITO VISTA RD, MONTECITO ±1.3 acres • $1,200,000 Jasper Rhodes / Jody Neal 805.708.8136 / 805.252.9267 LIC# 02220808 / 01995725

4808 OGRAM RD, SANTA BARBARA 3BD/2½BA • $1,350,000 Ali Evans, 805.980.8007 LIC# 01846603

163 3RD ST, SOLVANG 3BD/2½BA • $1,398,000 Carole Colone, 805.708.2580 LIC# 01223216

1849 EUCALYPTUS RD, NIPOMO 4BD/4½BA • $1,875,000 Deborah Brooks, 805.235.0406 LIC# 01475395

00 LONG CANYON RD, SANTA MARIA ±30 acres • $1,995,000 Jody Neal / Jasper Rhodes 805.252.9267 / 805.708.8136 LIC# 01995725 / 02220808

830 N HOPE AVE, SANTA BARBARA 4BD/2½BA • $2,095,000 The Easter Team, 805.570.0403 LIC# 00917775

1818 ALISO CYN RD, NEW CUYAMA ±312 acres • $775,000 Jasper Rhodes / Jody Neal 805.708.8136 / 805.252.9267 LIC# 02220808 / 01995725

© 2026 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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INDEPENDENT.COM JANUARY 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT 333 OLD MILL RD SPC 38, SB 2BD/2BA • $539,000 Jeff Oien, 805.895.2944 LIC# 00852118

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MARSHA KOTLYAR ESTATE GROUP

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the seller at 5057 Via Alba,

the buyer at 917 Paseo Ferrelo,

Sold for $6,000,000.

Sold for $5,750,000.

KNIGHT REAL ESTATE GROUP 805.895.4406 Kelly@KnightRealEstateGroup.com KnightRealEstateGroup.com DRE 01463617

MARSHA KOTLYAR ESTATE GROUP 805.565.4014 Home@MKGroupMontecito.com MontecitoFineEstates.com DRE 01426886w

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the co-seller at 917 Paseo Ferrelo,

Sold for $5,750,000.

Sold for $5,750,000.

JANUARY 8, 2026

JOSIAH HAMILTON 805.284.8835 Josiah@TheHamiltonCo.com TheHamiltonCo.com DRE 01415235

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the buyer at 407 E Padre Street,

the buyer at 127 Via Alicia,

Sold for $4,150,000.

Sold for $3,875,000.

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© 2026 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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VANESSA SHOTWELL 805.448.5307 Vanessa@TeamShotwell.com TeamShotwell.com DRE 02071607

JOE RAMOS

CRISTAL CLARKE 805.886.9378 Cristal@Montecito-Estate.com Montecito-Estate.com DRE 00968247

GLICK REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES

on the successful representation of

on the successful representation of

the buyer & seller at 9760 Hwy 101,

the seller at 2213 Keenan Road,

Sold for $3,700,000.

Sold for $3,375,000.

JOE RAMOS 805.680.6849 JoeRamos@bhhscal.com DRE 02040488

GLICK REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES 805.689.7167 Randy@RandyGlick.com DRE 00950129

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4314 W OCEAN AVE, LOMPOC

2465 GRAND AVE, LOS OLIVOS

851 ADOBE CREEK RD, SOLVANG

4BD/3BA • $3,200,000 Kerry Mormann / Joe Ramos, 805.689.3242 / 805.680.6849 LIC# 00598625 / 02040488

Ranch house + 2 GHs + barn; ±3,484 acres • $29,800,000 Ealand & Sideris Group / Hristo Hristov, 805.698.9902 / 805.284.8471 LIC# 01766178 / 00603730 / 01978598

9 CHAMISO DR, LOS ALAMOS

165 LESLIE ST, LOS ALAMOS

4BD/2BA; ±3.49 acres • $2,850,000 Cammy Pinoli / Laura Drammer, 805.452.9725 / 805.448.7500 LIC# 02074002 / 01209580

4BD/2½BA + office; ±2.69 acres • $2,995,000 Cammy Pinoli / Laura Drammer, 805.452.9725 / 805.448.7500 LIC# 02074002 / 01209580

2BD/1BA; ±1.38 acres • $1,200,000 Ealand & Sideris Group / Hristo Hristov, 805.698.9902 / 805.284.8471 LIC# 01766178 / 00603730 / 01978598

4BD/3BA • $959,000 Ealand & Sideris Group / Hristo Hristov, 805.698.9902 / 805.284.8471 LIC# 01766178 / 00603730 / 01978598

© 2026 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. Equal Housing Opportunity.

0 HIGHWAY 135, LOS ALAMOS

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