Santa Barbara’s original wine festival returns with rare pours, top winemakers, and plenty of sunshine beneath the oaks, page 16
(UP TO 4 PAX
Academy – The Music Academy’s “American Mosaic” season
18 On Entertainment – Mark Booher wraps 27 years at PCPA, a HappySad ship, Alhecama’s Jamesian oratory, and Sondheim in Ojai
& Doings – Chuck took Sinatra’s call, backed Dizzy, and bootstrapped MUS’ band program. Mr. America figures in there, too.
Montecito Miscellany – SB Fine Art hosts Heal the Ocean, Every Brilliant Thing, and polo team Carbenella faces Mrs. Momma Bear
News Bytes – Music at Lotusland, Wellness Weekend a success, CASA Executive Director goes national, and other tidbits
20 Hot Topics – High fire season is here and Montecito Fire has tips on how to be prepared, and what preventative measures they’ve been up to
22 The Giving List – Unite to Light’s inaugural Illuminating Impact Summit brought together global leaders working at the intersection of energy and humanitarian aid
23 Elizabeth’s Appraisals – A rusted chain found on Isla Mujeres becomes the starting point for a fascinating journey through piracy, history, and myth
24
UCSB A&L – The 2026-27 season of Arts & Lectures has been announced with some old favorites, new twists, and a few surprises
27 In Passing – Remembering the life and impact of Connie Lindberg
30
The Sporting Life – Future MLB stars, packed summer schedules, and a decadespanning dynasty define another Foresters season
Curator’s Choice – A synoptic collection of butterflies found in Ventura County on view at the Maximus Gallery
35 Sheriff’s Blotter
36
Calendar of Events – Eco films on the GreenScreen, Texas swing at the Lobero, farewell concert for Dr. David Lozano Torres, Iranian American comedian Max Amini comes to town, and more
38
Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads, in which sellers offer everything from summer rentals to estate sales
Santa Barbara by the Glass – Nearly four decades later, SB’s original wine festival remains a beloved celebration in one of the region’s most beautiful outdoor
26
‘Mystic Whaler’ – Santa Barbara’s official tall ship offers students an immersive voyage into seamanship, teamwork, and ocean stewardship Your Westmont – The college hosts an energetic training session with the Qatar national team, and 75 students earn local scholarships
39 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles
Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer
by Steven Libowitz
The Music Academy of the West‘s 2026 Summer Music Festival is the Montecito-based institute’s 79th season, an eight-week celebration full of world-class performances, high-level education, and far-reaching programming that ranges from full 100-member orchestral concerts to chamber music events featuring solo, duo and larger ensembles. Over the course of more than 100 events, the repertoire ranges from classical music staples to bold new works, the performers comprised of 60 professional teaching and guest artists, 150 largely pre-professional fellows, and – new this year – some 65 younger students in a new MAW program.
The season has the theme of “American Mosaic,” both in recognition of America’s 250th birthday and as a nod to MAW’s commitment to advancing voices from beyond the standard classical tropes, including multiple contemporary composers. While the orchestra repertoire will feature works by Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, and Charles Ives, we’ll also hear from genre-defying electroacoustic duo ARKAI, which features MAW cello alum Philip Sheegog; recitals with Mosher Guest Artists Stephanie Blythe, Zlatomir Fung, Jeffrey Kahane, and Jennifer Koh; multiple premieres and other works by living American composers, including guest composers Jasmine Arielle Barnes, Christopher Cerrone, Kevin Puts, and Mosher Guest Artist Missy Mazzoli, among dozens of others.
The Academy commissioned some new pieces and has programmed things like Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” conducted by Gemma New with narration by (Montecito-based actor) Christopher Lloyd. That concert also features Jasmine Arielle
Barnes’ “American Lament” performed by mezzo-soprano and Lehrer Vocal Institute Co-Director Sasha Cooke Alan Louis Smith’s “Vignettes: Ellis Island,” with mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe and Academy fellows, features songs that new immigrants may have heard as they entered NY Harbor – and America – for the first time. This year’s opera is Puts’ Elizabeth Cree, a one-act piece that’s only a decade old.
“It’s a focus on this new American sound, the best of the current American composition world,” said Shauna Quill, MAW president & CEO. “We’re putting our stamp on what we think the American sound is and the importance of the voices of American artists… The “Lincoln Portrait” is about democracy, which is very timely given this crucial moment where it’s really important to appreciate who we are as a nation, but from the perspective of these incredible artists.”
The newest aspect of all at MAW is a significant change in the young musicians who are here to learn and perform. Indeed, as the Music Academy contemplates turning 80, it’s also getting younger via the new High School Intensive program that makes up the bulk of the first two weeks of the festival.
“The need to expand the pathways to connect the Music Academy to a greater population was really something that strategically the organization was looking at after I arrived,” said Quill, who took over as president & CEO in the fall of 2023 on the heels of running the Grammy-winning New York Youth Symphony. “High school is a crucial time when these students are making decisions about who they want to be, which path they want to go into, whether it’s music or something else. Providing a way for them to interact with our
Music Fest Page 214
SEPTEMBER 26, 2026 Play it forward.
Join us for a festive evening celebrating the power of play and possibility.
Together, we can open doors for thousands of children and families, expanding access and igniting a lifelong love of learning.
Come play with us. Become a sponsor.
Sponsor MOXI@Night to secure your tickets and champion vibrant local education. Explore opportunities at moxi.org/give/moxi-at-night or contact development@moxi.org. Special thanks to Co-Chairs Lily Hahn Shining + Belle Hahn.
by Jeff Wing
“At Bakersfield College in the ‘70s, Charles put together and choreographed a whole program of those songs that had made Sinatra famous. The marching band played it at the football game on Friday nights. Everybody went to those football games.”
Charles Wood III – jazz fiend, music educator, instrumental proselytizer, and a catalyzing match tossed into the creative tinderbox of youth for some 60 years – passed away in March of this year. Joanne Wood is his widow.
“I’d always known he was doing a great job,” she says. Throughout our conversation she is glassy-eyed, but animated and
given to teary bursts of light laughter. She chants the serial kudos that attend a successful career. “‘Yes, congratulations. Good job, good job, good job.’ And then when he died,” she says with a mildly stunned expression, “…all these accolades started coming in. ‘He did this and he did that and he was such a mentor…’”
A treasured and beloved ambassador from The Time Before Art-Destroying Algorithmic Appliances Began Attacking Humankind’s Expressionist Wellspring (not to mince words), Wood’s life – a many-splendored jazz symphony spun out over some 90 years – was largely spent gifting the incandescent joy of music to young people.
Educator, composer, trumpeter – at Wood’s formal retirement in 2010 he was Director of Bands and Jazz Studies at Santa Barbara City College, and taught a popular jazz appreciation class – Wood’s conducting chops would find him energetically waving his arms at jazz combos, chamber wind bands, concert bands, tuba-hoisting marching bands; the gentleman liked bands. In the ‘70s he would find himself conducting backup combos for Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and a fellow trumpeter named Miles.
“We would have been married 38 years on July 1st,” Joanne says wistfully, and goes on to explain her Charles, whose nickname in the space became Dr. Jazz.
Dr. Charles Wood – Dr. Jazz – was a force in the music community, a tireless jazz missionary, educator, and exemplar.
Beings & Doings Page 254
Richard Schloss, John Wullbrandt, Hillary Hauser, Karina Johnston, and Roy Lee
by Richard Mineards & Friends
Art, conservation, and a fresh perspective on one of the South Coast’s most beloved landmarks converged Wednesday evening at Santa Barbara Fine Art Gallery, where an ocean of guests gathered for an open-house reception benefiting Heal the Ocean. The evening’s centerpiece was a donated painting of Rincon Point by renowned landscape artist John Wullbrandt of The Oak Group, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Heal the Ocean. Carrying a $7,000 reserve, the work has already attracted considerable interest
from collectors. Better yet, 10% of gallery sales from the show will also flow to the cause – rather a lovely case of art doing its bit.
Even gallery owner and acclaimed painter Richard Schloss was momentarily stumped by the work’s unusual perspective.
“I didn’t recognize Rincon! I had to ask where it was!” he laughed. “It’s a beautiful bird’s-eye view that we’ve never seen before, a fresh new perspective. That’s part of the genius – artists see things that you don’t normally see.”
Nestled in Santa Barbara’s historic Arts District near the Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara Fine Art Gallery provided a fitting backdrop for the gathering.
Hosted by Richard Schloss and his lovely lass, wife Julie, the reception drew artists, collectors, environmental advocates, and civic leaders, including Hillary Hauser, Luisa and Mark Hyatt, Roy Lee, Julie and Eric Friedman, Dr. Gary Van Deventer, Arturo Tello, and Jonathan Wygant
The subject of the painting held special significance for Hauser, founder of Heal the Ocean. She noted that the organization’s first campaign, launched in 1998, was called Liquid Corners and focused on protecting Rincon Point.
Miscellany Page 344
by MJ Staff
First Picnic is on Saturday, June 13, 2-4:30 pm. Sit back and enjoy the soulful sounds of Brian Kinsella, a jazz and blues guitarist. Pack your lunch, bring a cozy blanket or lawn chair, and settle in amongst the lush landscape. WellBeing Wednesday will feature a Sound Bath Meditation with Fabio Rambelli on Wednesday, June 17, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.
The Mental Wellness Center celebrated a successful Wellness Weekend, raising more than $500,000 to support free mental health services throughout Santa Barbara County. The fundraising effort centered on the organization’s second annual One Shining Night gala at Alma Rosa Winery, where 245 guests gathered for an evening themed, “The Power of Connection.” The following morning, more than 225 participants took part in the 7th Annual Peace of Mind Walk, winding through Alma Rosa’s vineyard-covered estate in support of mental health awareness and advocacy. The gala honored the Kelly family as Rising Star Honorees and recognized sisters Belle Hahn and Lily Hahn Shining as Shining Star Honorees for their longstanding commitment to the organization. Guests also heard inspiring remarks from speaker Gabriella Taylor and personal stories highlighting the importance of connection, family support, and community resources.
Kim Colby Davis, executive director of CASA of SBC, has been appointed to the 2026 National Leadership Council of the National CASA/GAL Association for Children, a prestigious group that helps guide and strengthen CASA programs across the country.
The council represents local CASA organizations nationwide, elevating their perspectives to national leadership while fostering collaboration and advancing advocacy efforts for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Davis, who has led the Santa Barbara County program since 2009, has overseen remarkable growth, expanding services from approximately 125 children annually to more than 500 children each year. Today, CASA of Santa Barbara County serves roughly 85% of eligible children in the county.
Cottage Health has appointed Dr. Jane Varner as medical director for the Cottage Center for Women’s Health, a new model of coordinated women’s care for the Santa Barbara region. Their press release states, “She’s a strong advocate for women’s health and health equity and brings a bold vision to her new leadership for advancing women’s health in our region. Cottage Center for Women’s Health will offer a new model for the women’s healthcare experience. It will put women at the center of their health care journey, with care backed by research and innovation.”
Tourism leaders, elected officials, media, and hospitality professionals gathered at Rosewood Miramar Beach for Visit Santa Barbara’s Annual General Meeting, where the organization unveiled new data highlighting the visitor economy’s growing impact on the South Coast. The event, themed “Powered by Tourism: Supporting Our Community,” emphasized the far-reaching benefits of tourism beyond hotels and restaurants, from local farmers and artisans to cultural institutions, wineries, retailers, and small businesses.
According to Visit Santa Barbara, visitors spend more than $2.2 billion annually on the South Coast, supporting over 15,000 jobs and generating nearly $83 million in tax revenue. The organization also reported strong momentum in the hospitality sector, with spring hotel occupancy, average daily rates, and revenue all showing significant gains over the previous year.
The meeting highlighted upcoming opportunities, including preparations for FIFA World Cup 2026, with Austria and Qatar expected to train in the region, generating thousands of room nights. Looking ahead, Visit Santa Barbara is finalizing a new three-year strategic plan focused on enhancing the visitor experience, supporting local businesses, and ensuring tourism continues to strengthen the community.
A new way to experience Santa Barbara’s coastline is setting sail this summer with the debut of Santa Barbara Sunset Sips, a monthly sunset cruise series presented by En Fuego Events, Condor Express, and Heart n Soul Mixology. Running from June through October, the intimate two-hour cruises combine live music, local craft beverages, and panoramic views of the Santa Barbara Channel.
The series launches over Father’s Day weekend on June 19, featuring live reggae from Cornerstone Reggae and a complimentary beer from Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Limited to just 100 guests, the cruises are designed to offer a more personal and relaxed alternative to large-scale festivals while showcasing some of the Central Coast’s favorite bands and breweries.
Future sailings will feature performances by The 90s Babiez, The Caverns, Maclovia, and The Vibe Setters, with themed events including a Halloween cruise and costume contest. Tickets include live entertainment, a scenic sunset voyage, and a complimentary beverage for guests 21 and older.
The Dry Cleaners at the Montecito Country Mart is still there, however Pressed Juicery has gone and the space is available for rent. The parking lot at Pierre LaFond upper village has a much-appreciated facelift with new pavement going in this week.
Executive Editor/CEO | Gwyn Lurie gwyn@montecitojournal.net
President/COO | Timothy Lennon Buckley tim@montecitojournal.net
Managing Editor | Zach Rosen zach@montecitojournal.net
MoJo Contributing Editor | Christopher Matteo Connor
Art/Production Director | Trent Watanabe
Graphic Design/Layout | Stevie Acuña
Administrative Assistant | Jessica Shafran VP, Sales & Marketing | Leanne Wood leanne@montecitojournal.net
Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Joe DeMello, Thomas Mock
Features | Jeff Wing
Proofreading | Helen Buckley
Contributors | Scott Craig Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Houghton Hyatt
Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz
Gossip | Richard Mineards
History | Hattie Beresford
Humor | Ernie Witham
Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri
Health/Wellness | Ann Brode, Deann Zampelli
Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook
Food & Wine | Melissa Petitto, Gabe Saglie, Jamie Knee
Published by: Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC
Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108.
How to reach us: (805) 565-1860; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; EMAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net
by Joanne A Calitri
n Tuesday, June 2, Montecito Fire’s Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Gamm received the 2026 Rotary Club of Montecito Public Service Award. Nominated by his peers, Gamm was recognized for his exceptional work ethic, personal integrity, and exemplary service to our community. Jared’s wife, Shannon, and his children were able to join for this meaningful moment. MFD thanks the Rotary Club of Montecito for honoring Jared’s service and making a positive impact on our community.
Montecito Fire’s Property Hazard Abatement Inspections started on June 1. They request all property owners ensure their property meets all the requirements for defensible space, roadside clearance, and gate access. If your property is found to be out of compliance, you will receive a violation notice in the mail with a date for a follow-up inspection.
South Coast Community Meeting on Wildfire Prevention & Preparedness will be on June 15 at Santa Barbara City College’s BC Forum from 6-7:30 pm, MFD’s partners from neighboring fire agencies, Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and local community organizations will participate in a South Coast Wildfire Community Meeting. Residents from Goleta to Carpinteria are invited to attend to learn how to prepare for wildfire and how your public safety agencies collaborate before, during, and after emergencies.
411: www.montecitofire.com
The Ortega Hill – N. Jameson Bike Connection Project previously listed a call for contractor bids on May 23. All bids are now due on Thursday, June 11, at 2 pm. According to the County of SB government website, pre-bids were due May 28. Further, SBC estimates the project – a new bike path and sidewalk initiative – to cost $2,040,000 and be completed in 55 days. Bidders must be registered civil engineers in California and comply with all local regulations regarding construction practices. They must also provide evidence of bonding and insurance as required by the County’s standards. Bid costs to include labor, materials, tools, and equipment necessary to complete the project.
The contractor will be required to provide services related to roadway improvements as outlined in the Engineering Design Standards. This includes:
- Submission of complete plans and specifications for public improvements, which must conform to County standards.
- Conducting plan reviews, including providing necessary documentation such as soils reports, hydrology calculations, and structural calculations.
- Implementing roadway design standards including pavement thickness based on traffic index, road widening procedures, cul-de-sac specifications, and bicycle lane requirements.
- Ensuring compliance with access control measures for intersections and approaches to County roads.
- Adhering to standard conditions of approval for construction projects as specified by the Department of Public Works.
411: https://tinyurl.com/SBC-Jameson-Ortega
With 13 off-market sales completed this year alone—representing nearly one-third of our transactions—our team knows first-hand that the right opportunity isn’t always found on Zillow or the MLS.
As part of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, we have access to the largest network of local agents, giving our clients exclusive insight into off-market and coming-soon opportunities throughout Montecito, Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. Whether you’re searching for your dream home or considering selling privately, reach out to learn more about the opportunities that exist beyond public listings.
Contact us to learn more: (805)565-4000 | info@homesinsantabarbara.com | homesinsantabarbara.com some of the best opportunities never reach the market...
by Joanne A Calitri
Hello Loves! Happy June and my bday month! Your Society Edit GF is here with all the tea for Father’s Day, celebrated on Sunday, June 21, with news on shopping sprees, dining, and yes, the Dodgers!
First up are tickets for The Los Angeles Dodgers Father’s Day “Give Away Day” home game at Dodgers Stadium on Sunday, June 21, against the Baltimore Orioles. Tickets include a gift with purchase. Renowned metal rock guitarist Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper) who plays in an upper box for fans during the game (#IFYKYK) will not be there as she and her hubby/manager Josh Villalta just had their first child on May 28, son Maxwell James!
This week jaunting around the shops at the Montecito Country Mart for Father’s Day finds, I spent a “minute” with John Quandt, store director for Orlebar Brown, which is owned by French luxury fashion house Chanel. We talked retail and what’s on for Father’s Day for Montecito. Quandt shares for our dear readers, “Please join us at Orlebar Brown at the Montecito Country Mart for a Father’s Day Sip & Shop on Saturday, June 20th, from 10 am to 4 pm. It’ll be an in-store moment focused on gifting ahead of the holiday, with light refreshments.” From there we decided on a quick photo op of their lat-
est men’s offerings, indeed their Summer Season has arrived! And oh… the designs on swim shorts, trousers, shirts and color-coordinated polo shirts are magnificent. Next up, the Montecito Country Mart’s marketing team emailed me with the message that British luxury brand Sunspel is having an in-store event on Saturday, June 13, 12-4 pm, adding: “Discover their
latest collection, enjoy personalized monogramming from their in-store embroiderer throughout the day, with drinks served as you browse. Plus, receive a complimentary Classic Boxer Short with purchases over $500.” At Sunspel, seek out the linen shirts and trousers, textured striped camp collar
Society Page 254
by Gabe Saglie
Santa Barbara’s original wine festival may also be her best.
“It’s got those classic Santa Barbara vibes,” says Winemaker Mikael Sigouin, who’s been pouring at the annual wine fête for decades – as assistant winemaker for Fess Parker and Beckmen at first, and then as winemaker for his own label, Solvang-based Kaena, which he launched 25 years ago. “The setting is beautiful, the weather is always sunny and the crowd’s always in a great mood!”
Matt Murphy, president at Presqu’ile Winery in the Santa Maria Valley, echoes the sentiments: “The setting under the oaks is beautiful, there is broad participation from the Santa Barbara County wine community, and the crowd always brings great energy.”
Wine legend Fred Brander, who just marked 50 years of making wine in Santa Barbara County, and who’s poured at the festival since its inception, agrees enthusiastically. “It is consistently our favorite event of the year to pour at,” he says. “Everyone always seems so content, enjoying a beautiful Santa Barbara afternoon in such a spectacular setting.”
The reputation of the Santa Barbara Wine Festival certainly precedes it. It’s
considered the longest running consumer wine event of its kind in town, having launched in the early 1980s. This year, its 38th iteration, is slated for Saturday, June 27th from 2 to 5 pm.
The venue is one of the festival’s main calling cards to be sure. It’s been hosted at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History from day one, a tuckedaway spot behind the Santa Barbara Mission, along Mission Creek, that’s draped by towering oaks that filter the afternoon sunlight to create a breezy, dreamy, escapist locale. It makes for a multisensory wine experience.
“Everyone always seems so content, enjoying a beautiful Santa Barbara afternoon in such a spectacular setting,” adds Brander.
“From the gorgeous location, incredible restaurant partners, to quality oneon-one time with the winemakers, this festival is a favorite for guests and wineries alike,” echoes Aly Warner, the museum’s event manager.
Beyond the rustic environment, the setting is significant for the important funds it raises each year for the dayto-day operations at the museum, a nonprofit organization, as well as its unique programming, like the locals’
by Steven Libowitz
IPCPA’s Come from Away runs from June 11-27 (courtesy photo)
Just in time, as Come from Away kicks off the final PCPA season at Solvang Festival Theater before Booher retires from his leadership role at the end of a year, bringing to a close his 27-year tenure with the organization.
“It’s a story that portrays the humanity between people in the midst of a historically tragic circumstance; something I think everybody’s really hungry for right now,” he said. “It’s about human kindness and empathy and selflessness and goodness – which we could all really use a big dose of.”
The show is based on interviews the writers did with actual Gander residents and the stranded travelers some 10 years after the events. An easily accessible folk-pop soundtrack maps to the narrative’s portrayal of strangers, forced together by sudden, extreme circumstances, transcending clashes of culture and language. The townsfolk of Gander ultimately throw open their homes, their bars – and their hearts – to the grounded passengers; a true story with a timely keynote. The cast of a dozen portray both townsfolk and marooned passengers, alternating between them in a clever bit of playwriting.
The appeal of the musical – it played on Broadway for more than five years – also meant that Booher was able to attract some of PCPA’s best, past and present, to work on the show.
“Everybody I know wanted to be involved, from the actors to the resident artists,” Booher said. “It was an opportunity to get Roger DeLaurier, our past associate artistic director, back to direct it, and actors including Karole Foreman, Karin Hendricks-Bolen, Mike Fiore, and Molly Stilliens joining basically our entire resident company in the show. So we are definitely putting our best foot forward with it and that’s really special.”
t took more than a decade for Mark Booher, Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) artistic director and dean, to get the rights to mount a production of Come from Away. That is the long-running, Tony Award-winning musical about the tiny Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11 attacks, when 38 planes carrying more than 6,700 passengers were ordered to land at the local airport. The planes’ collective grounding swelled Gander’s population by almost 40 percent, and the touching story of how the residents cared for and eventually became close with the stranded passengers became a critical and box office success.
“We knew about it long before it went to Broadway, and we immediately found the story very moving, a perfect kind of show for PCPA to produce,” Booher recalled. “But it just became available to regional theaters now.”
The booking arrangement that garnered Come from Away, which runs June 11-27, also resulted in the company snagging its second show of the summer in Disney’s Frozen – The Broadway Musical, which will also be making its regional theater debut in the area when it runs in Solvang from July 5-August 2. Concern about the company’s capacity to handle the ambitious technical aspects of the big Broadway hit convinced Booher to take on directing the production himself, a role he’s taken on but sporadically over his nearly three decades with PCPA.
“I was up for a big challenge, and it’s been a pleasure, because the musical is actually really good with a level of dimensionality in terms of the relationships, psychology, and emotions of the characters, so much so that it surprises people,” he said. “There’s a lot more going on than in the animated feature. Particularly for an adult audience, who find it moving and beautiful.”
Among the technical considerations (as the show moves outdoors under the stars
raised more than $400,000 to support mental health, family strengthening, advocacy, and basic needs services throughout Santa Barbara County.
Sharon Bradford
Zora & Les Charles
Marni & Michael Cooney
Investment Group of Santa Barbara
The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation
Anonymous
Jill & John C. Bishop
Ginny & Tim Bliss
Liz & Andrew Butcher
Susan & Jon Clark
Linda Clough Lily
Carrie Towbes & John Lewis
Sandy & Dave Nordahl
Kathy O’Leary
The Salin/Woloshyn Family Fund
by Christina Atchison
Santa Barbara County’s High Fire Season was officially declared on May 25, 2026 – signaling a heightened risk of potentially severe wildfire impacts in our local area.
Just days prior to that announcement, a pair of Montecito firefighters deployed to Santa Rosa Island where a vegetation fire quickly grew to more than 16,000 acres – the duo served as fire line paramedics, treating firefighter injuries in a uniquely remote environment.
Another crew of Montecito firefighters deployed to Simi Valley on May 18 to assist with firefighting efforts at the wind-driven Sandy Fire that prompted evacuations within hours of igniting.
Back here at home, Montecito Fire Department’s multi-tiered wildfire prevention and suppression strategy is on full display around the community this summer.
The Neighborhood Chipping Program is scheduled to wrap up by the middle of June (courtesy photo)
Ennisbrook Open Space where there are tons of stringy vines that would just get tangled in mowers and weed whips.”
Data shows that nearly 80% of wildfires in Santa Barbara County are started within 50 feet of the roadway.
Montecito Fire Department prioritizes eliminating tinder-dry vegetation along our local roads to cut back on the risk of roadside ignitions.
Beginning in April, 25 days were spent trimming back miles of weeds along Gibraltar Road, West/East Mountain Drive, Coyote Road/Ashley Road, San Ysidro Road, Park Lane/Bella Vista Drive, and Romero Canyon Road.
The Neighborhood Chipping Program has once again removed hundreds of tons of vegetation from the community. The program is scheduled to wrap up by the middle of June.
Now in its 17th year, the Neighborhood Chipping Program was offered to 1,870 residences in the community over a 10-week period.
While the final numbers of vegetation tonnage removed are still being tallied, Montecito Wildland Fire Specialist Maeve Juarez says participation has been high again this year.
“We really appreciate the community’s willingness to participate in this program,” Juarez said. “We have a lot of new residents in Montecito, whether they relocated here after the Palisades Fire or moved here for other reasons, and it’s great to see both new and longtime community members being proactive about wildfire prevention.”
As a reminder, wood chips from the Neighborhood Chipping Program are not available to community members for landscaping.
Wood chips are highly receptive to burning and can turn into hazardous flying embers that can travel several miles and cause a wind-driven wildfire to grow rapidly. By taking the chips to a recycling center, we effectively reduce the community’s overall wildfire risk.
Last month, in May, sheep were deployed across Montecito to eat away at the threat of wildfire.
The hungry herd, managed by Cuyama Lamb, is chewing through dense, flammable vegetation at seven project areas.
Nic Elmquist is also a Wildland fire specialist for Montecito Fire and routinely checks in on the sheep’s grazing progress.
“We started our grazing projects a little earlier this year and added a new project area along the old Pueblo Trail near San Ysidro Canyon,” Elmquist said.
By the end of June, the sheep will have grazed more than 70 acres of open space at the Tea Gardens, Casa Dorinda, Ennisbrook, two project areas along East Mountain Drive, Casa Del Herrero, and the Pueblo Trail.
Montecito Fire strategically uses sheep in areas where firefighter hand crews and equipment are not the most effective means of removing brush.
“We’ve had a lot of success using sheep at the Tea Gardens over the years because they are more easily able to navigate the steep terrain there,” Juarez said. “On the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of terrain, they also do a great job at the
“We focus our roadside weed abatement efforts in the northern portions of the community because history shows us that is where a wildfire is most likely to start and move south into more populated areas of Montecito,” Elmquist said.
Importantly, this work ensures we have clear evacuation routes for community members and ample access for firefighters to accomplish wildfire suppression work.
As we prepare for an active wildfire season, we ask our community members to get ready alongside us.
Ready your property for high wildfire season by maintaining defensible space, checking your structure for vulnerable areas where embers could fester and consider upgrades to harden your home against wildfire impacts.
“It can be challenging to know where to start with home hardening, but oftentimes there are simple DIY solutions that can greatly increase your property’s chance of surviving a wildfire,” Juarez said. “We are happy to come out to your property and make recommendations specific to your situation.”
To schedule a property visit by a Wildland Fire Specialist, call (805) 969-7762 or visit montecitofire.com/defensible-space.
Now is the time to review your household’s evacuation plans and emergency supplies to survive the initial days following a wildfire evacuation. Practice at least two routes out of your neighborhood, keeping in mind that street signs and landmarks may not be visible in heavy smoke conditions.
Prepare an evacuation “go-bag” with your family’s essential items such as medications, pet supplies, and extra clothing. Review the checklist provided here and customize your go-bag’s contents to sustain you for the first 24-72 hours out of your home.
A crucial step in emergency preparedness is staying connected to neighbors, loved ones and official information sources.
amazing teaching artists while improving their skillset at this early age could help determine their next steps.”
Some of the fellows, including the string quartet seminar participants, will also be on campus early, and will provide peer-to-peer instruction and support. The two-week period also includes the Academy’s first conducting seminar in many decades, led by Miguel Harth-Bedoya . He’ll also wield the baton for the Intensive’s final event, the high school orchestra’s concert at Hahn Hall on June 25 featuring Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 8.” The 14–18-yearolds will also participate in public master classes and perform in piano concerts and chamber music recitals.
The initial intensive is a pilot for the Music Academy, Quill said.
“But I’m particularly excited. It’s a different energy than our fellows, one our audiences should relish. I know from my days in New York that the energy and the joy that you get from listening to a 14-year-old discovering Dvořák for the first time versus a professional musician is incredible. It may be imperfect, but it’s so beautiful to witness in real time young people finding this music with our amazing conductor. It’s having four more years of that connection to the academy. And people who come to the masterclasses with these kids will be blown away by the extraordinary level of their talent.”
The addition also means truncating the fellows-powered portion of the festival to six weeks. But very few events have gone by the wayside, most prominently the competitions; save for the venerable Marilyn Horne Song Competition, while more performances on Mondays create more space.
“We’re really packing in the experience to make sure that it’s as educationally valuable as it always has been,” Quill said. “Some of the days off are gone, but the point has always been pedagogy.”
The new season, much like 2025’s, represents a continuing evolution in the Academy faculty, as some of the longtime teaching artists are retiring and fresh new voices – including a number of alumni – are coming to the Miraflores campus for the first time. Many of the new ones
Genre-defying electroacoustic duo ARKAI features MAW cello alum Philip Sheegog along with Jonathan Miron (courtesy photo)
will be a part of the initial High School Intensive, manifesting particularly in an abundance of concertmasters from all over the country, but several others are here for the full summer, or at least the fellows part of the festival.
“The roster hadn’t changed much in a long time, but people were starting to retire after 30 or more years here,” Quill said. “It hasn’t been a conscious effort to change the faculty at all. We’re a (relatively) small festival and a small, tightknit community, so change is hard. But with our new teaching artists there is a renewal of new voices coming in. There’s a focus on the next generation, some incredible talent that we’re bringing to Santa Barbara for the first time.”
Other notable changes for 2026 include the return of the much-beloved Picnic Concerts after a two-year hiatus. Those chamber music events join other new or recent additions in providing lots of opportunities for the fellows to program music they want to play in concert.
“Sonata Nights have our collaborative pianists playing whatever repertoire they want to play with whichever other fellows they want to play,” Quill said. “And the Salon Nights are also very-much fellow focused. It’s great to let the fellows stretch both their programmatic skills and their playing and technical skills.”
Further the forward-thinking approach, another new family-friendly
event joins the second year of Brass @ the Bandshell at Santa Barbara’s historic Plaza del Mar Bandshell, with food trucks, community activities, and unique summer fun. Look for Academy Chamber Orchestra Family Concert with Britten’s “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” and the vaudeville-inspired troupe Really Inventive Stuff.
The PercussionFest Family Matinee also features a hands-on exploration of the percussion instruments before a regular performance the same evening.
Logistically, the West Coast Premiere of Christopher Cerrone’s “The Only Way Is Through” featuring percussion fellows and members of the Sing! children’s choir, will be performed in an immersive outdoor event at Anne’s Garden at the Music Academy campus and a day later at the Santa Barbara Public Library Plaza.
“We’re excited to activate the garden,” Quill said of the space that hadn’t been used for a performance in several years. “Then having it at the plaza, which is stark and made of concrete, lets the audience notice how the music resonates differently between settings. Hopefully people will come and experience it twice.”
As always there are far too many events and people to do other than scarcely touch the surface of the summer festival. Visit www.musicacademy.org for all the details and ways to get involved, including low-cost or free community events.
“The vision this season represents for the community is that all are welcome,” Quill said. “We want to share the beauty that is music and especially music education. This year is the start of something incredible for the entire community.”
Wednesday, June 17: The first event of the summer is a Teaching Artist Showcase boasting eight faculty members, including violinist Rebecca Reale of the L.A. Philharmonic in her debut as an alum. She’ll bookend the concert playing the first movement of Edgar Meyer’s “Concert Duo for Violin and Bass” with Scott Pingel and Bartók’s “Romanian Folk Dances” with pianist Conor Hanick . The six other works on the bill feature brass, percussion, and violin. (7:30 pm; Hahn Hall; $10-65)
The cello recital by Mosher Guest Artist Zlatomir Fung, with collaborative piano chair Jonathan Feldman, features seven pieces, including the world premiere of an arrangement of Borodin’s Petite Suite by Marshall Estrin, Fung’s Eulogy for cello and piano, and Feldman’s arrangement of John Morris’ “A Transylvanian Lullaby” from Young Frankenstein. (7:30 pm; Hahn Hall; $10-70).
“
e book has some of the very best dialogue I have ever read (think Raymond Chandler), and author Michael C. Armour paints a gorgeous story with the prose as sweeping as the Santa Barbara vistas. I hope he returns with another. ” –Leslie Zemeckis Award-winning documentarian, best-selling author, actor and co-founder of the Santa Barbara Literary Festival.
at Chaucer’s Books, Tecolote Book Shop and Godmothers
by Steven Libowitz
Megan Birney Rudert isn’t one to rest on her laurels. On the last Sunday in April, the Unite to Light president & CEO received a 2026 Environmental Hero award from the Community Environmental Council. The setting was the 56th annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, where the award publicly recognized Birney Rudert’s leadership of the Santa Barbara-based nonprofit. Unite to Light (UTL) works to expand access to clean, affordable solar light and energy in off-grid communities worldwide; at this writing a tally that includes more than 80 countries.
Less than a week later, she was off to Honduras with a partner to meet directly with the volunteer nurses and others who have been distributing thousands of UTL’s solar lights and chargers in remote and hard to access areas of the country.
Then it was back to town to host “Light for a Sustainable Future,” Unite to Light’s
inaugural Illuminating Impact Summit, held on May 15, the International Day of Light. The powerful one-day symposium convened leaders in clean energy, global health, and innovation to explore what’s next in accelerating equitable access to energy worldwide.
It’s all in service of the organization’s understanding that light and reliable power are foundational to health, education, disaster response, economic mobility, and climate resilience. Unite to Light’s mission is an issue of equity that affects all of us.
UTL’s solar light, a simple device available for $10, goes a long way toward reducing the developing world’s reliance on harmful kerosene for illumination, simultaneously improving health, safety, and opportunity. Artificial light, after all, enables students to study after dark, supports safer childbirth, reduces food insecurity, and increases safety. UTL’s solar-powered battery pack provides reliable power in disaster zones.
That was the focus behind the trip to Honduras.
“When there is an accident, when somebody’s sick, when there’s a birth that needs assistance, these are the women who go to the family and connect them with the resources. We got to meet with 23 of them and hear about their work and their community. They’re the ones who provide the lights when something happens. So it was exciting to bring thousands of lights with us and meet with the folks who are on the ground, talk about how the lights work, hear what they need, and get feedback that was incredibly valuable and inspiring.”
That was also the goal and result of the “Light for a Sustainable Future” summit in May, Birney Rudert said.
“We don’t travel often because it’s much more efficient to send the lights directly,” Birney Rudert said. “They’re so effective and so efficient. We can send a solar light anywhere in the world for about $10. Those little lights are incredibly effective and are built to last from seven to 10 years, so they have a lot of impact. But we’ve been partnering with this group there for five years, so we really wanted the opportunity to meet not just the organization but the people who actually hand out the lights on the frontline.”
The group in question works primarily in the remote regions of Honduras, in mountain communities and other places that have no electricity at all, Birney Rudert said.
Join Jamie Knee, Petite Wine Traveler, for intimate wine dinners, in home wine tastings, and unforgettable wine journeys inspired by her travels through the worlds most exquisite vineyards. Uncork your curiosity- book your next personalized wine experience today.
A panel exploring the intersection of health, gender equity, and access to light included representatives from UCSB’s Institute for Energy Efficiency, World Telehealth Initiative, Direct Relief, and Schneider Electric. A seminar titled “Local Innovation, Global Impact” featured people from Dragon Q Energy, SimpliPhi Power and others. Also highlighted were impact partners representing those who are directly advancing sustainability, humanitarian aid, healthcare access, and community resilience around the world. That list included the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Solar Sister, Winko Solar, Red Cloud Renewable, World Central Kitchen, Community Power South, and Santa Barbara’s own influential Safe Parking Program.
The seminar-closing panel discussion – California’s Clean Energy Playbook – featured, among others, the chair of the California Energy Commission and Governor Gavin Newsom’s Tribal Affairs secretary, among others.
“The level of people in that room was truly phenomenal,” Birney Rudert said.
“I’ve been doing this work for 10 years and it was truly a Who’s Who of people working in light and humanitarian aid around the globe. Having all those people come together and talk about their work, their impact, and about how we can continue to expand access to light and power was really inspiring and energizing.”
Among the highlights, she said, was Josh Cox of Community Power South, a nonprofit solar development organization
building resiliency centers throughout New Orleans, with a goal to ensure that at least one center lies within a 15-minute walk of everybody in the city. Olasimbo Sojinrin of Solar Sister shared how her organization trains female entrepreneurs in last mile communities, the folks who live in hardest to reach areas on the planet.
“Bringing solar light and power to people without it does so much, including creating economic opportunities within these regions that don’t often have much,” she said.
Equally inspiring was hearing from Akonkwa Mubagwa of Winko Solar, a for-profit company that is equipping hospitals and clinics across Africa with what is essentially a microgrid, Birney Rudert said.
“It’s a solar battery that can cover the most important things, refrigerators for vaccines, ventilators, and at least the lights in the operating rooms. It’s modular and it’s scalable so a hospital can buy what they need now and then add as they grow.”
The bottom line is recognizing that working together – nonprofits side-byside with private for-profit companies –is not only at the core of Unite to Light’s work – it’s in their name.
“It takes all of us to light the world.”
Visit https://unitetolight.org for more info
by Elizabeth Stewart
Aremnant called “Ramona’s Chain” presents a fantastic range of possible histories. The explanatory card beneath four links of ancient chain reads: “Rusted and Corroded Chain from a Pirate Ship Washed up on the Shore of Isla Mujeres in the Caribbean: found by Ramona while beachcombing in 1963.”
Was this a component of a pirate ship?
The Golden Age of Piracy, primarily meant to undermine Spanish or English authority in the West Indies, was from 1650-1680, enduring until the 1820s. The Caribbean was the hotbed of privateering from 1628-1638, with the peak at 500 ships raided or destroyed.
Why privateering in the 17th century? Firstly, the illegal but lucrative slave trade was a battle on the seas. Secondly, major seafaring nations, Spain, England, and the Dutch, vied for Colonial power in the Caribbean. Thirdly, monarchs underhandedly encouraged pirates who undermined competing nations. The English King Charles II knighted Welsh privateer Henry Morgan, for example, because Morgan sank and sacked Spanish property and ships. Morgan would die a peaceful death as Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.
Thus, if this chain originated on a pirate ship of the Caribbean, we would assume it was from the mid-17th to 18th centuries. If captained by a 17th-century pirate, the likelihood is that ship was a frigate, the premier fast ship of war.
What heft of iron chains were carried onboard a frigate in the 17 th century? Seventeenth-century frigates carried iron anchors connected to massive hemp rope cables; chains were not standard in the mid to late 17 th century. Looking at the heft of the chain found by Ramona in 1963, could this chain
have borne the weight of an anchor?
Typical anchors on a 17 th-century frigate ranged from 150 lbs. to 800 lbs. However, a “chain stopper” secured the anchor to the ship. Or Ramona’s chain may have been an element of the chain pump common on 17 th-18 th century frigates: chain, wheels, and plates were turned manually to remove water from the bilge, discharging through the scuppers.
Ramona’s links are not strong enough for a heavy anchor, hoisted up through the sea floor. Unless Ramona’s chain entered the sea later than the 17th or 18th century, only a modern high grade alloy chain could survive for 400 years; chains made from standard steel likely had a shorter lifespan.
Chains were used in the 17th and 18th centuries for “boom defenses;” a huge chain would be stretched across a body of water to deter enemy ships’ passages; these chains were massive, some 600 yards long, composed of iron links 2 feet in length; each link weighing 140-160 lbs. each.
Ramona’s chain might be a lighter heft hand-forged 17th-or 18th century chain. Which frigate? Which commander?
Two pirates plied the waters around Isla Mujeres in the late 17th and early 18th centuries: Firstly, Henry Morgan (1635, Wales to 1688, Jamaica), the most famous of the plunderers of Spain’s Caribbean colonies. He seized Jamaica from Spain in 1655; he gained Dutch colonies for England; in 1668, he captured Cuba; he raided Venezuela and captured Panama as the captain of 36 pirate ships.
The other pirate active in the area in the late 18 th to early 19 th century built a home on Isla Mujeres. Fermín Antonio Mundaca y Marecheaga was a slave trader to Cuba and a privateer of foreign ships. He built a 16-hectare plantation and gardens
of stone, “Vista Alegre,” in 1854. The farm encompassed 40% of the island. When he fell in love, the land was dedicated to his paramour, dark eyed Martiniana Gómez Pantoja (b. 1862), 37 years his junior. The stone entry gates of his estate proclaimed, “La Entrada de la Trigueña” – The Entrance of the Dark-Haired Beauty – though in fact the brunette never entered. She married a young local, and Fermín began to lose his mind. He carved a stone mausoleum in the island’s cemetery, with one façade showing a skull and crossbones, and the other a likeness of La Trigueña, and his epitaph to her: “As you are, I was, and as I am, you will be.”
However, his remains are not inside!
This empty tomb is a fitting end to a saga of the feminine spirit present on the island so aptly named in 1517 by Spanish explorer Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, “Isla Mujeres.” On arrival the captain had been stunned by Mayan female statues dedicated to Ixchel, the goddess of the moon, fertility, and medicine. Devotees made the pilgrimage to the temple and lighthouse on the southern tip of the island.
The aggressive, masculine world of buccaneers, pirates, frigates, conquest and plunder; all have sunk. What remains is the Island of Women – and a rusted chain.
Elizabeth Stewart, PhD is a veteran appraiser of fine art, furniture, glass, and other collectibles, and a cert. member of the AAA and an accr. member of the ASA. Please send any objects to be appraised to Elizabethappraisals@ gmail.com
Miss Daisy Downsizng & Relocation Total Estate Clearance t Packing t lnventoryt Movingt Floor Plans &- New..-Home Setup.
Auctions Privatet respectful, low..-impact-no invasive crowds or parking issuest no rushed two..-day sales. no leftovers-just fairt competitive bidders from local and national buyers.
BY DUNCAN MACMILLAN WITH JONNY DONAHOE DIRECTED
SULLIVAN
Enjoy petite pastries, tea sandwiches, and freshly brewed tea, served on the patio at Lilac Montecito. Tuesday through Sunday, 3 to 5pm.
by Zach Rosen
Between conversations, croquettes, and glasses of bubbly, a crowd gathered for the UCSB Arts & Lectures 2026-2027 Season Reveal party at the Hotel Californian. After a touch of cavorting outside, the guests moved into the Alhambra Ballroom to see what is in store for the world-class set of performances and speakers that audiences have come to expect from A&L.
New this season is a presale window exclusively for Producers Circle members, giving Arts & Lectures’ most dedicated supporters an early crack at coveted seats before subscriptions open to the public. The season also leans heavily into commissions and milestone performances, including a major new work from Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra during Marsalis’ final tour as artistic director, plus a co-commissioned composition by Reena Esmail performed by violin superstar Hilary Hahn. Several acclaimed artists make their Arts & Lectures debuts, among them Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović and Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, while audiences will also have the chance to witness artistic farewells, including the final international tour of the Akram Khan Company and the last work of legendary Butoh choreographer Ushio Amagatsu. Returning favorites remain at the heart of the season, from the beloved Great Performances and Word of Mouth series to the always-popular Americana, Jazz and Family Time offerings, proving that Arts & Lectures continues to balance tradition with discovery.
The Great Performances series once again serves as the season’s crown jewel, bringing together some of the world’s most celebrated classical musicians. Audiences can look forward to appearances by Lang Lang, Yuja Wang, and Leif Ove Andsnes, while Wynton Marsalis’ highly anticipated commission promises one of the season’s defining cultural moments.
For listeners who prefer conversations to concertos (or perhaps enjoy both), the Word of Mouth series assembles a remarkable lineup of public thinkers and cultural commentators. Scott Galloway opens the season with his signature blend of candor and humor, while Anne Applebaum, Christopher Wray, Kara Swisher, and astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi tackle topics ranging from democracy and national security to technology and humanity’s place in the universe. Think of it as a frontrow seat to some of today’s most fascinating dinner-party conversations.
The Americana and Jazz series continue
to celebrate musical exploration. Punch Brothers, Lyle Lovett, and Rosanne Cash carry the torch for roots music, while jazz fans can journey from Terrace Martin’s genre-bending Los Angeles soundscape to Stanley Clarke and Hiromi’s tribute to Chick Corea. Don Was even brings a jazz-infused reimagining of the Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah, proving that no musical road map is too strange or too fun to follow.
Elsewhere, the Dance series offers everything from contemporary movement to breathtaking ballet, including two programs from the Joffrey Ballet, the final international tour of Akram Khan Company’s GIGENIS: The generation of the Earth and Ushio Amagatsu’s final work with Sankai Juku, KŌSA – Between Two Mirrors. The Global Sounds series spans continents and traditions with performances by the Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma, and the electrifying Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović and his ensemble Double Sens. Hear & Now introduces audiences to rising stars in more intimate settings, including acclaimed pianist Clayton Stephenson and violinist Randall Goosby. Speaking with Pico pairs celebrated guests with the endlessly curious Pico Iyer, while Vanguard showcases boundary-pushing theatrical experiences such as Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein. Family Time invites younger audiences—and the young at heart – to enjoy imaginative adventures like Ada Twist, Scientist, and the gravity-defying acrobatics of Cirque Kalabanté. Taken as a beautifully indefinable whole, the season forms a cultural buffet where curiosity is the only requirement, and there is always something unexpected waiting on the next plate.
As Miller McCune Executive Director Meghan Bush gave her introduction to the crowd, she stated: “At its heart, this work is about an invitation to gather to listen, to be surprised, and to experience things together that we might not encounter anywhere else.” The audience then got to watch a sizzle reel with the upcoming season’s highlights garnering oohs and aahs from the room (especially at the announcement of Margaret Atwood speaking with Pico).
Judging by the reactions in the room, the season’s mix of household names, artistic risk-taking, and cultural conversation has already struck a chord. And if Bush’s invitation is accepted, the coming year promises no shortage of opportunities to gather, be surprised, and discover something entirely unexpected along the way.
Subscriptions are already on sale for Producers Circle members, with the general sale beginning June 15. Single tickets available beginning August 7. Visit https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
In the days, weeks, and months since his departure, the composed and improvised notes of Wood’s lifelong service to art have cohered into a retrospective melody whose peaks more than occasionally hit Double High C. The murmured stories keep coming. This Sinatra thing, for instance. Wood’s having put together this Sinatra set for Bakersfield College’s Friday Night halftime show?
“There happened to be an employee or assistant to Frank Sinatra in the stands one Friday night, someone whose kid was in the college concert band,” Joanne says. “This man went back to Sinatra and said, ‘Boy, you should have heard this wonderful program with your music at the football game the other night!’” Joanne pauses to arch her eyebrows and shake her head in wonder, as if to say “You know, Jeff?” “No, I don’t,” my eyebrows answer.
“My husband was meeting with the band the Monday morning after the game, doing the usual post-performance analysis of how things went.” The band room phone rang and Wood excused himself and picked up. One can imagine both the Chairman’s booming voice on the line and the color leaving Wood’s stunned expression.
“Charles, I heard about your wonderful Sinatra halftime program. Thanks for putting it together!”
The Charles and Joanne Wood story, like all such unions, is unlikely. A lady from Casper, Wyoming, and a gentleman from Athens, Ohio, cross paths in a distant California desert, join hands, and are led by the fates to a swinging grotto called Santa Barbara. Whose gonna believe that treatment?
“We met in Bakersfield through mutual friends,” Joanne says. “I was living in Riverside at the time and newly divorced, and Charles was in Bakersfield, also recently divorced. A friend of mine in Riverside moved to Bakersfield and Charles actually became her music teacher at Bakersfield College.” Her friend spoke well of her instructor.
By the time Charles and Joanne met, he had long since been tempted by and happily succumbed to the sirens of Jazz, having completed his BA of Education at Ohio University (where augmenting ROTC coursework would later find Captain Wood nervously awaiting resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis while conducting a soldier’s chorus at Ft. Dix in NJ), his MA in Performance and Conducting at Columbia, and his PhD in Music Education at UCLA. He would spend some time at Juilliard
just to sprinkle some grace notes into his score. But back to Joanne’s matchmaking friend.
“She says, ‘I think you should meet.’ And so I drove to Bakersfield with my kids and we had a blind date. He’s 15 years older than I am, and I thought, I don’t know…my mom would say ‘no, no no.’ But there was a band and we danced after we had dinner. And he was just cutting the rug!”
Over the course of that evening, she would fall into Charles’ orbit, certain personal deets emerging like odd but compelling chromatic stops between more familiar notes. “I thought, ‘this guy’s pretty cool.’ And he was very athletic and in very good shape,” she notes appraisingly. “He was a bodybuilder too, you know. He was a Mr. America contestant once.” The guy had even gone to Ohio U. on a track scholarship – a pole vaulter, of course.
Finding his footing in Bakersfield, Charles would be Bakersfield Symphony’s principal trumpet for 14 years and ultimately Director of Bands at Bakersfield College for 24 years, swinging by Santa Barbara and UCSB as a Visiting Associate Professor in the early ‘70s and getting a taste of Shangri-La. Then came Joanne.
Joanne’s feelings for Charles were complicated. On the other hand, everyone has an Achilles heel. “I fell in love with him when I saw him conduct the Bakersfield symphony in his tuxedo for the first time. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to have that guy!’”
The two dated long distance for a year. All the while, Charles wanted Joanne to leave Riverside and join
Beings & Doings Page 344
shirts, cotton mesh polo shirts, and their “holy grail cotton boxers” for the special man in your life.
Hudson Grace sent me a lovely evite detailing their gifts for dad, and a nod to the World Cup coming up. For Father’s Day they offer Aromatic Nougatine Truffle Chocolate Cigars, Tratto Ribbed EcoCrystal Old Fashioned glasses, crystal and sterling silver cocktail shakers and decanters in sets, a Jean Dubost BBQ set, cookbooks like A Man and His Kitchen and The Backyard BBQ Bible, plus scented candles.
Strolling through Emily Joubert, I found their display of dad gifts featuring leather flasks, various period piece photo frames, shoehorns, and “Montecito” embroidered baseball caps.
You know for certain that Matt Albiani and Ron Brand’s shop Mate Gallery has all the curiosity finds for dad, from vintage Miramar matchbooks, leather photo frames, fish-shaped brass bottle openers to a bit of clothes done Boston style.
Do dash over to The Post Montecito for Father’s Day shopping, where the Post peeps recommend The Optimist, which carries over 60 brands from around the world, Save Khaki United, Velvet, and Eleventy. And of course, Ojai Ice Cream weekend popups!
The Los Angeles lifestyle brand, Period Correct, brings its “Pitstop Car Show” to The Post on Sunday, June 14, 9 am to 12 pm. All car makes and models are welcome! Hosts include The Optimist, and special espresso drinks from Little King.
There is the “DAD’S DAY COOKOUT” at The Post Montecito, Saturday, June 20, from 12-2 pm, with food by CHX Sandwiches – the Los Angeles’ boutique fried chicken food truck serving fried chicken sandwiches – Breadtop hot dogs, beer, ice cream, and more TBA.
On Sunday, celebrate Father’s Day at San Ysidro Ranch with a special brunch at Stonehouse Restaurant featuring a refined three-course menu, free-flowing champagne, Bellinis, mimosas, and Bloody Mary’s, and live music for Dad to groove to. Guests will enjoy a live cigar-rolling experience throughout the event, with
expert rollers handcrafting cigars tableside in the traditional Cuban style. Attendees can watch the full rolling demonstration, select from mild, medium and full-bodied blends, and choose from a variety of cigar shapes. Cigars will also be cut onsite for guests to enjoy immediately, with each one finished with a custom San Ysidro Ranch band for a personalized touch.
Reservations required. Pricing starts at $250 for adults, $125 for children 12 and under.
411: www.opentable.com/stonehouse-at-sanysidro-ranch
Also on Father’s Day, at Rosewood Miramar there will be dining as always in Caruso’s and… weather permitting, the chance to take an ocean swim to The Miramar Swim Raft, as one of Miramar Beach’s most storied traditions.
411: www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/miramarbeach-montecito
Don’t forget to swing by Rori’s Ice Cream on Sunday, June 21, where they will be offering a buy one scoop and dad’s scoop is free. Remember to book that round of golf for dad at Ty Warner’s Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course at The Montecito Club. Bored? There are hiking trails to be explored, mountain biking, and more… but wait, that Dodgers’ game…! Till next week my loves! Xx JAC
by Sigrid Toye
Ahoy, Santa Barbarans! Have you noticed the presence of Santa Barbara’s Official Tall Ship, the Mystic Whaler, docked in the protective waters of the Santa Barbara harbor? She returns to Santa Barbara from the Ventura harbor where she hosted a series of marine related educational programs and dock tours for young people and guests. After spending the entire month of April with us, Mystic Whaler has returned and will be here from June 1-13. In her role as the central coast’s floating classroom, Mystic Whaler travels up and down the coastline presenting innovative hands-on educational experiences on board for young people. You’ll see her two 83 feet tall masts along the harbor walkways, the breakwater and, of
by Scott Craig
Wcourse, on the water. You might want to take a closer look… I certainly do!
For now, allow me take you aboard for one of Mystic Whaler’s educational adventures that took place during her previous stay here in April: A hands-on, immersive sailing experience for a group of 5th grade students from Franklin Elementary School. This particular program was an example of the best our town has to offer, a philanthropic and educational partnership formed by Mystic Whaler’s nonprofit organization, Mystic Ocean Adventures (MOA), the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM), and the Franklin School. For many (if not most) of the 5th graders, this was their very first time on the Channel, a short four miles from school!
In discovering more about this successful partnership and how it came to be, I’m reminded that in the not-so-distant past, the tall ship model had been established by a previous program offered by the Maritime Museum. The earlier version took place aboard The Spirt of Dana Point, a tall ship berthed at Dana Point Harbor that sailed north to Santa Barbara once a year. Sadly, in 2020, the Spirit was called home due to the sinking of its sister ship, also an educational platform, ending a popular and well-attended program. Through the generosity of long time SBMM supporters, Sarah and Roger Chrisman, a new tall ship, Mystic Whaler, was found and brought from the East Coast through the Panama Canal to the South Coast as the education platform of Mystic Ocean Adventures, a
Mystic Whaler Page 314
estmont hosted an exclusive community training session for Qatar’s national football team June 4 on Thorrington Field. Having arrived on campus the prior Sunday to begin their closed training block, the event marked the team’s first and only public session before the tournament begins.
The event brought together more than 400 local community members, including enthusiastic students from Franklin Elementary and Santa Barbara High School. Attendees were treated to a dynamic 4-on-4 soccer-tennis exhibition by the Qatar players, who generously concluded the session by autographing and handing out jerseys and scarves to young fans.
Tommy Azury, who works for Mercer Advisors, brought his son, Luke, to the workout. “This is an awesome experience to see some of the best players in the world right here in our backyard, and it’s great to see a bunch of kids out here as well,” Tommy said.
Pedro Guillen, a 6th Grade teacher at Franklin Elementary School, was wearing a Paris Saint-Germain FC jersey with Qatar Airlines emblazoned on the front.
“This is a valuable opportunity for not only myself, but for the students who are here to see how this team plays and how each player performs,” he said.
Pietro Nascente Tessari, a standout on the Santa Barbara High boys soccer team, was interested in watching Qatar defender Lucas Mendes at the practice. “They have experience because they played in the last World Cup, and they have an easier group compared to other teams,” Tessari said. “They can definitely get out of their group.” Dos Pueblos High School goalie Isaac Jimenez, who has committed to play men’s soccer at Westmont, said he had looked up the players online before the workout and was excited to meet them in person. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and a big moment for the community and the college, knowing that we have facilities similar to pitches in the big cities,” he said.
Kershaw Rupp had a chance encounter with several of the Qatar players the day before at Target in Goleta. “It said Qatar on the back of their shirts and they looked like soccer players, so I said, ‘Are you from the Qatar national team?’ And they said, ‘Yeah,’ and I said, ‘I’m going to see you practice tomorrow,’” said Rupp, who brought a small Qatar flag for the team to autograph.
As an official team base camp training site for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Westmont is proud to bridge global sports culture with our local Santa Barbara community. The Maroons will kick off their World Cup tournament
and
Exchange contact information with neighbors and talk about how you may be able to help each other when disaster strikes.
During the Palisades and Eaton fires, many people were first alerted to the fires by their neighbors. Neighborhood connection can make a lifesaving difference, especially for residents who have mobility limitations, large animals, or other circumstances that may delay their ability to evacuate.
Reach out to friends and relatives in nearby counties where you might be able to stay for a few nights after evacuating.
Add presets to your car’s radio tuned to Montecito Fire’s AM 1610 and Santa Barbara County’s AM 530. During emergency incidents, these AM radio stations broadcast official information and provide a reliable means to transmit incident updates when other communication methods may not be operational.
ReadySBC Alerts is the County of Santa Barbara’s official emergency alerting system. For new residents, sign up today at readysbc.org
If you are already registered, log into your account to verify that your contact information is correct. Avoid using abbreviations such as E. Mtn. Dr. for East Mountain Drive, which may prevent the alert from reaching you.
In partnership with local public safety agencies, Montecito Fire Department invites our community to attend a South Coast Wildfire Community Meeting on June 15, 2026. The event will take place at Santa Barbara City’s College’s BC Forum from 6-7:30 pm. Attendees should enter at the West Campus entrance. Parking fees will be waived. Fire officials from the U.S. Forest Service, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire, Montecito Fire, Santa Barbara City Fire, and Santa Barbara County Fire will discuss our local wildfire risk, how to prepare, and how our agencies collaborate during an emergency. Local law enforcement, Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, and community resource organizations will also be on hand to share information and answer your questions.
- Shelf-stable food i.e. protein bars
- Medications
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio
- Flashlight
- First-aid kit
- Pet supplies (food, water, medications, bedding)
- Extra batteries
- Whistle
- N-95, surgical &/or cloth masks
- Leather gloves
- Safety goggles
- Extra clothing & sturdy shoes
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
- Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
- Manual can opener (for food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
- Important documents – make copies & secure them in a password-protected digital space
- Any other essential items your family may need while evacuated or sheltering in place for several days
This hungry herd is doing their part to help reduce flammable vegetation at seven project areas (courtesy photo)
Connie Lindberg, 72, of Santa Barbara passed away peacefully on May 12th, holding the hand of Carl, her beloved husband of 39 years. Connie was born on February 16, 1954, in Chicago, IL. Before beginning school, her family moved west to Alamo, CA, where she spent her childhood. She graduated from San Ramon High School in 1972 and went on to receive a BA from Santa Clara University.
After college, Connie developed a passion for art and architecture. She took up watercolor painting and attended the University of California at Berkeley, in a Master’s degree program in Architecture and Environmental Design. It was in a freehand drawing class there that she met Carl, with whom she would spend the rest of her life.
They married and settled in Summerland in 1986. Two children, Lindsay and Sam, soon followed. It was as a young mom that Connie thrived. She baked cookies and drove carpools. She jumped feet first into activities for her children, including taking on a leadership role at All Saints preschool, and as the president of Parents for Crane at Crane School. She also served on the Vestry at All Saints-by-the-Sea and was a cherished member of the church community. The family moved from Summerland to Montecito in 1994, to a house that Carl rebuilt into the home of Connie’s dreams, and there they settled.
Summers were especially treasured times with family and friends for Connie, at her beloved summer house in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. She was her best self there. She swam in the lake, cooked delicious meals, watercolor painted, celebrated sunsets, and had the time of her life.
As her kids grew up, Connie did as well. She opened a catering business under the name Cucina Connie and ran a weekly supper club meal delivery. Eventually, she parlayed her catering business into another food adventure, Olive Street Table, making her own line of galettes in a commercial kitchen and traveling to food shows and grocery stores to demo her product.
Connie took pride in everything she did, from baking a simple dessert to organizing an entire country fair for the community. She was tireless and driven and will be sorely missed by those who loved her.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and John Knight. She leaves behind her husband, Carl, her brothers, Thomas and Steven, her children, Lindsay (Kris Fuentes) and Sam (Ashley Lindberg), her seven nieces and nephews, and her five grandchildren. There will be a memorial service at All Saints-by-the-Sea, 83 Eucalyptus Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, at 2 pm on Friday, June 12. Please join her family in a celebration of her life, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Cabin Fund, the trust preserving her beloved Wisconsin cabin in the woods, where she was always at her best, and where her memory will live on for generations to come.
Nutrient-dense, Mediterranean-inspired meals made with organic,
fave Butterflies Alive! exhibit that runs Memorial Day through Labor Day each summer. One hundred percent of net proceeds stay at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.
“This year, we know many families are feeling the effects of a challenging economy,” says the museum’s Director of Philanthropy, Caroline Baker. “Because of the support generated through the Santa Barbara Wine Festival, we can continue offering camp scholarships, discounted admission through the SNAP/Cal Fresh access program, and free or reducedcost school field trips. These programs ensure that children and families throughout our community can experience the Museum, connect with nature, and engage with science regardless of their financial circumstances.”
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 8:00AM - 11:30AM
& Dinner 12:00PM - 9:00PM 805.969.2646
7:30 AM - 12:00 PM MONTECITO’S BEST BREAKFAST
Tickets to the Santa Barbara Wine Festival are priced at $135, or $185 for early entry.
The roster of wine personalities slated to attend this year is impressive, as is the stuff they’re pouring. Brander, for one, promises “to bring out some rare wines, as the guests are always so engaging and curious about what is in the glass!” The Presqu’ile table is a no-brainer stop for some of the best chardonnay and pinot noir wines on the Central Coast. And look for a flashy flower-patterned shirt to find Sigouin, an Oahu native whose love for his native Hawaii inspires the images on his Kaena labels, his syrah and grenache wines are some of the best in the state.
Other must-visit wineries include Whitcraft, for some amazing, handcrafted pinot and chard. Winemaker Drake Whitcraft first attended the festival as a baby,
Saturday, June 27th from 2 to 5 pm
his dad, the late great Chris Whitcraft, poured; he and his wife welcomed their own second child just last week. “I am going to the festival, though!” he promises. Zaca Mesa, Paul Lato, Foxen, Folded Hills, Carr, Andrew Murray, Margerum, Au Bon Climat, Hitching Post and Lucas & Lewellen are also standard-bearers not to miss!
“This festival is also unique for the principals it brings out,” says Sigouin, giving patrons a unique opportunity to chat, mingle and engage one-on-one with winemakers, themselves.
The festival “is a wonderful chance to see old friends in the industry and catch up with faces we don’t get to see often enough,” adds Brander. Winemakers mingling with each other, actually, gives this event a special sense of camaraderie and community.
The 90 vendors will also include some of the county’s top food purveyors, like Bob’s Well Bread, The Lark, Finch & Fork, Jessica Foster Confections and The Berry Man. There’s live music all afternoon, too.
Mark your calendars! And for tickets, go to sbnature.org/winefestival. Cheers!
Gabe Saglie has been covering the Santa Barbara wine scene for more than 15 years through columns, TV, and radio. He’s a senior editor with Travelzoo and is a leading expert on travel deals, tips, and trends.
after a winter run in Santa Maria) was figuring out how to have the myriad projections that set the scenes in the snow and ice be visible when the sun hasn’t yet set for part of the opening act. The solution was employing LED screens, which are much brighter than projections.
“That was easy. What’s great is when you have to make magic on stage, and really have to pull out all the stops,” Booher said. “The multimedia element is something unique and has never been seen done on the Festival Theatre stage to this level. We have snow machines so it will snow outside, which will be lovely. And there are parts of the scenic and costume design that make for magical moments, like having Elsa completely change her costume on stage in front of the audience in less than a second, and in Solvang, where there aren’t trap room mechanisms. It’s been a lot of fun.”
The PCPA Solvang season finishes with Beehive – The ‘60s Musical, which plays July 23-August 2 at the Festival Theatre. Booher said the vibrant, high-energy tribute to the generation-defining women in pop, from sock hops to soul to social change, is more than a typical jukebox musical song cycle.
“The ‘60s were an amazing time of change in America, certainly for women, so the musical looks at both the pop music aspect of what was going on and what was happening socially and politically at the time. It shows how pop music was reflective of the change in people’s lives. So it’s got both a great sort of sparkly joy on the surface, and some wonderful substance.”
Looking back as his departure from PCPA looms, Booher said he was proud of all the connections he’s made over more than a quarter-century at the central coast theatrical institution, both with colleagues and students.
“It’s been very exciting to have had a piece of advancing the careers of the students of the conservatory,” he said. “So many have gone on to be very prominent while others have contributed significant work in the theater.”
Facing forward, Booher said there’s some trepidation that’s outweighed by anticipation of what’s next.
“The frightening thing about retiring from here without retiring is not knowing. It’s been my job to know what comes next over 18 months for 150 plus people and 50,000 people in the community. I’m excited to open up space to do more creative work, unencumbered by the non-artistic strictures and structures of having to run an institution.”
Booher already knows what’s in his immediate future after December: Directing an adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ 1945 novel The Great Divorce for a national tour with Fellowship for the Performing Arts, who produced Lewis’ Screwtape Letters for the theater.
“We rehearse in New York and then start a tour in North Carolina in early 2027 and run through into the summer of 2028. I’ve been parked here on the Central Coast for most of my directing career over the last 25 years. So this will be a great new adventure.”
Visit www.pcpa.org
Anna Ziegler’s A Delicate Ship, the second production from local company HappySad Theatre (founded in 2025), is about memories, nostalgia, and the nature of interpersonal relationships. The show is particularly about growing from childhood to mature adult and imagining the future. The same dynamic could be applied to aspects of company co-founder and Ship’s Director Robert Rodarte
A native of Santa Barbara, Rodarte dove into theater at Dos Pueblos High and SBCC before moving on to New York, where he studied at Circle in the Square. There he met his wife Riley, co-founder of HappySad Theatre, and star of the play. Launching a company to perform contemporary theater was already a goal,
even then. Back in town since last year after a decade away, Rodarte sees Ship as the kind of contemporary play he wasn’t able to find during his time in town before.
“The story delves into the nitty-gritty of what it is to become an adult and what that means to different people – how one day we’re children and the next we have to grow up,” he said. “What do we have to let go of or involve in our life? There’s just such a gray area in how to do that. The show asks that question and forces you to look at yourself and wonder, am I still a kid at heart, or have I let that go?”
A Delicate Ship – inspired by W.H. Auden’s poem “Musée des Beaux Arts,” which itself references the painting The Fall of Icarus – takes place in a single night. The setting is in an apartment where a young couple, Sarah and Sam, are on a Christmas Eve date. When Sarah’s childhood best friend shows up – he was and is in love with her – it forces Sarah to confront issues she’d long since pushed down. Way down.
“It’s something of a love triangle, and things are revealed to, or kept from, each other in different ways,” Rodarte said. “It’s about dealing with love and loss, and how a single moment can really shape the rest of your life. There’s the dichotomy of what we decide to follow with our heart, and what gets buried deep beneath – forever.”
The young couple having a three-year-old boy of their own added vividly to the play’s resonance for Rodarte.
“I think a lot about the past and my own childhood, and about the future now that I have a physical clock in front of me, which is my son,” he said. “I’m always aware of time and aware of my own mortality. The play handles each of those in its own way. But these kinds of works and stories have always called to me.”
Theater friends from New York and Los Angeles – Brayden Myrick, who plays Sam, and Lior Selve as Nate, Sarah’s childhood friend – round out the cast for A Delicate Ship, which is also in line with Rodarte’s goal for HappySad as it progresses.
“The pipeline dream with this company is to have it become a staple here in Santa Barbara, an opportunity for actors to play roles in important contemporary works,” he said. “What we’re doing is something different from what’s already in town.”
HappySad Theatre’s A Delicate Ship performs 7 pm on June 12 & 13, and 2 pm on June 14, at Center Stage Theatre. Visit https://centerstagetheater.org
For the past five years, former Indy arts editor D. J. Palladino and writer/publisher Jim Buckley (not to be confused with our former publisher) have teamed up to produce Bloomsday Santa Barbara, a celebration of James Joyce’s Ulysses on June 16, to coincide with the international celebrations of the iconic novel – whose entire main action takes place on that date in 1904. Other places have over-the-top celebrations
Entertainment Page 334
by Steven Libowitz
The UCSB Gauchos flamed out in the regionals of the NCAA baseball tournament late last month, although once again, ace pitcher Jackson Flora was fantastic in his only outing. The decision was made to save him for Game 2 against likely opponent Texas, the No. 6 ranked team in the country, but the plan went awry when UCSB lost to Tarleton State (yes, the same team I wrote “Who?” about two weeks ago). It would have been a blast
to see Flora face Texas’ high-powered offense, but it wasn’t to be.
But baseball is far from over in town. Not with the Santa Barbara Foresters having already launched their summer ball season last weekend. In fact, two of the Gauchos pitchers are part of the squad, along with players mostly drawn from the ranks of colleges around the country. Given that the California Collegiate League, which the Foresters have ruled for decades, is considered among the Top 5 summer programs in the country, you’re even more likely to see future major leagues over the summer than anywhere else in town anytime.
Most natural history museum collections are organized by the evolutionary relationships between species. Many drawers provide an in-depth view of a particular species or genus. This drawer is different: it’s what curators call a synoptic collection because it provides an overview of something – in this case, moth species found in Ventura County. These moths collected and beautifully organized by Tom Dimock are among the hundreds of thousands of prepared specimens overseen by Schlinger Chair of Entomology Alex Harman, PhD, at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. An enlarged composite photo of the drawer is on exhibit as part of the Museum’s newest Maximus Gallery exhibit, The Collectors: A Life in Lepidoptera. The Butterfly Pavilion is now open at the Museum, too, but don’t expect to see any Ventura species there. It’s full of a thousand Costa Rican butterflies representing about two dozen tropical species.
A
“We get more guys drafted than anybody,” said Bill Pintard, the Foresters’ longtime coach. “We have 25 (former Foresters) playing Major League Baseball right now.”
Among those are such big names as Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox hurler who finished as runner-up for the Cy Young Award, former All-Star third baseman Josh Jung, former batting champ Jeff McNeil and one-time coveted slugger Ryan O’Hearn. With names like those, no wonder the ‘Sters won the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita 10 times between 2006-2022 and are aiming to end their current title drought with a strong team this year.
How do the ‘Sters secure such a star roster?
“I’ve been coaching for a long time, and I have good rapport with college coaches, including a number of my former players who are now college coaches,” Pintard said. “They know that we’re going to help their guys get better out here in the summer, because we teach and we coach them and we get after it.”
Indeed, Pintard said, a major league scouting director showed up to a game and told the coach that he’d never seen a summer baseball team play so hard.
Even though some of their top college players have yet to arrive because they’re still playing in the College World Series in Omaha, potentially as late as June 22, the team crushed its first two opponents last weekend by a combined score of 27-1. The schedule is home diamond heavy in the first month, with local games Thursday-Sunday, June 11-14, plus nine more in the following two weeks. All games take place at Santa Barbara High’s Eddie Mathews Field.
But while the ‘Sters take things very seriously, the games themselves are lowkey fun for spectators. Tickets are set at $7 for the bleachers, $12 for reserved, although all are within four rows of the field, with discounts for season tickets. The snack shop is less expensive than the 7-11, and a food truck donates 20 percent of purchases back to the team. Maybe most fun of all? If you snag a foul ball, you can return it for a free drink from Blenders in the Grass.
Visit https://santabarbaraforesters.org
It turns out that the World Cup team from Qatar, the country that hosted the previous quadrennial football (aka soccer in the US) championships, is not only training in Montecito at Westmont College for the June/July tournament, they’re also staying here. Contrary to widely-published reports that had the team and its entourage staying at the Courtyard Marriott in Goleta, the players, coaches, training staff and others are hunkering down at the ultra-luxurious Rosewood Miramar, even swankier
digs than Austria’s big bucks bunks at the Bacara Resort (and more expensive, although that’s not an issue for one of the wealthiest countries in the world due to its massive reserves of petroleum and natural gas). Anyway, maybe that’s why the new gates and guard house were added recently to the Miramar’s main entrance?
Also contrary to reports, Qatar did hold a somewhat open practice session/ meet-and-greet at Westmont last weekend, with about 400 soccer-loving kids and families in attendance. And Austria’s similar session at UCSB’s Harder was about eight times larger, with 3,000 folks watching the drills and then getting autographs and selfies.
Will that mean some of our locals might have split affections when it comes for who to root for once the games begin? Shouldn’t be an issue, as neither the U.S. nor Mexico is slated to play Austria or Qatar in the preliminary round of 48. While Austria, with Real Madrid star David Alaba as its captain, is expected to reach at least the round of 32, Qatar is the lowest ranked team in the history of the World Cup based on ELO, although experts say they still might advance out of the weakest group in World Cup history. So who knows?
No word, as yet, whether any other sessions will be open to the public, although that seems highly doubtful at this point. But word keeps arriving on ways to watch some of the games in fun public places, including the Towbes Plaza at the downtown Public Library, which will host a free family-friendly event with the U.S. vs. Paraguay game live streamed on a state-of-the-art LED screen on Friday, June 12. Astroturf will be laid on the Plaza for the event, so bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics as early as 5 pm. Same goes for June 25, when Team USA takes on Turkey. Or you can head down to So-Fi Stadium for the match as more than 100 tickets remained available as of Monday, with thousands more on the re-sale sites, with some seats going for around $700, more than 30 percent off the original price. That’s only half of what a night at the Miramar runs on the slowest days.
against Switzerland on June 13 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara held its annual scholarship award ceremonies, awarding $8.4 million in scholarships to 2,300 students, including a record 75 Westmont students, at the Sunken Gardens at Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
Jose Olvera, financial aid and advising programs coordinator for the foundation, says the partnership, including Westmont hosting the annual Affording Your College Dream event, has been instrumental in helping students complete college applications and maintaining scholarships.
“Westmont has been generous by providing its campus for our annual counselor breakfast events, and being a great partner year-round, promoting our programs and sharing our financial aid resources with the community,” he said.
Westmont senior Ethan Camp, who is majoring in business and economics, was at the event to receive a scholarship through the South Coast Business and Technology Awards. He plans on leveraging his degree and EMT certification to contribute to local policy or management within the business sector. “I want to stay close to Santa Barbara, the community that’s supported me my whole life,” he said.
Daniel Serrano, an incoming freshman and the first generation in his family to pursue higher education, wants to
study nursing at Westmont. “When I was injured at a young age, I really admired how compassionate the nurses were and how helpful they were,” he says. “And ever since then, I wanted to do something along those lines and give back.” He values the scholarships from the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, which helps alleviate financial burdens and allow him to focus fully on his education.
Brianna Torres and Ashley Garcia, both first-year students from the San Marcos Health Careers Academy, share a passion for healthcare and helping people. Torres plans to major in biology with an interest in the fast-track nursing program to become a nurse practitioner.
“I love helping people, I love healthcare, and I like doing the clinical tasks,” Torres said. She received the Malcolm and Louise Archibald Memorial Scholarship and the Dr. William E. Sanson Memorial Scholarship. “We have a big family and college wasn’t a priority, but now it can be,” she said. Garcia intends to major in kinesiology and then pursue nursing, aiming to specialize in oncology. She received the Roy and Thelma Pitts Foundation scholarship, which will alleviate financial stress for her parents.
Incoming freshman Gianna “GiGi” Hernandez, another San Marcos graduate, is excited about pursuing kinesiology for pre-nursing at Westmont. “I’ve always had a love for helping people, and there are a lot of nurses that run through my family,” she said. Hernandez was also the first student-athlete to commit to Westmont’s new STUNT team as a member of the main base and a tumbler.
“I throw people up in the air and make sure they get caught, and then I also just do a lot of flips and stuff. It’s so fun,” she says.
The foundation has been providing scholarships and financial resources for 64 years, giving more than $167 million to about 66,000 students countywide. A recent study with UC Santa Barbara from the class of 2017 showed that 92% of the foundation’s scholarship recipients graduated within six years, far above the national average of 62%. “Our recipients are not only going to college, but graduating and coming back to make this community a better place,” Olvera says.
501(c)(3) philanthropic organization. Mystic Whaler not only served to reinstate the museum’s tall ship program, but MOA now conducts its own marine education opportunities for the benefit of schools and organizations up and down the coast.
After treating myself to a Latte at Dart Coffee located on the Maritime Museum’s patio, I was able to dive a little deeper in Franklin School’s April adventure thanks to Jason Statucki, SBMM’s education coordinator. “We have a long-standing relationship with Franklin’s 5th grade teaching team,” he explained. “A father-son duo; James Coronado and his son. Pretty unique!” Statucki added with a laugh. “The kids call them ‘Mister C’ and ‘Mister C-A’ so as not to get them confused.” The father-son team had participated in the SBMM’s Marine Science programs and decided they wanted to try the Tall Ship Program this year. “I have to say it has really been a great partnership, was great to work with them and serve these kids from our neighborhood’s working families… and to have the funding to make it happen!” Statucki noted that once the Franklin School, and others they serve in the community, have been exposed to SBMM’s ocean related immersion programs, on and off the water, it changes their overall perspective permanently.
Aboard the Mystic Whaler, the Franklin School’s 5th graders were transported into the world of a sailor during the 1800s by way of “Echoes of a Merchant Mariner,” an innovative educational program based on Richard Henry Dana Jr.’s chronicle, Two Years Before the Mast. Dana’s memoir, published in 1840, was an authentic portrayal of the seafaring lives of ordinary merchant seamen under often extreme conditions, the inspiration for the adventurous, hands-on “Echoes” program. This exciting educational adventure exposes kids to seamanship, history, and literature, and serves to deepen and strengthen understanding of newly learned concepts. Sailing and navigating a traditionally rigged tall ship teaches nautical skills that involve science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM), plus the social and emotional challenges of handling a 110foot vessel in real time.
Stepping out of their comfort zones, these 5th grade mariners learned effective communication, teamwork, courage, and self-discipline without the benefit of modern technology. “Being out in the open sea – most had never been on a boat – was super exciting!” shared teacher James Coronado (aka: Mister C). “They had to hold on with the current, go with the wind, something the kids learned on board as a new experience… not only for them but for us too.” Especially surprising to Coronado was that his students instantly complied with the mustering and assignments given by First Mate Frank, who informed them that one person who doesn’t do their job could endanger the safety of the entire crew, not to mention the ship itself. The Captain of Mystic Whaler, Christine Healy, reviewed the history of tall ships and explained to the newly minted crew that in the 1800s there were no modern conveniences… like a boat engine! Or a cell phone! Judging by the kids’ responses, fair winds and calm seas sparked imaginations as to sailing life back in the day, so missing an engine and a cell phone went Back to the Future!
Founded in 2022, Mystic Ocean Adventures, one of the newer philanthropic organizations based in Santa Barbara, is well on its way to fulfilling its educational mission of environmental stewardship, teamwork, self-confidence, nautical skills and the study of marine life, the ocean and its biodiversity. What’s exciting is that Mystic Whaler is a most unique educational platform with a promising future. On or below deck, kids have real life, hands-on adventure, developing skills by the ‘old fashioned’ method innate to all of us as humans – Experience! Mystic Whaler’s traveling classroom allows for a broader range of young people to participate in marine education and experiential learning, not only in Santa Barbara but all along the Southern California coastline. “Mystic Whaler offers young people a unique and inspirational platform that truly provides long lasting personal and academic benefits,” exclaims Captain Christine Healy. “In keeping with our mission we are happy to bring Mystic Whaler here for the SBMM Tall Ship Program and other venues up and down our coast.” And an important mission it is for our present time and for generations to come.
For more information visit Mystic Ocean Adventures at www.mysticoceanadventures.org
Sigrid Toye is an Educational and Behavior Therapist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology, a freelance writer, and a storyteller. She loves all things creative, including her two (adult) artist children.
MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2026 9:30 A.M.*
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of Montecito Water District to be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 9:30 A.M., the Board will hold a public meeting to consider the adoption of the following Resolutions:
1. Resolution No. 2324: A Resolution of the Board of Directors of Montecito Water District Adopting a Schedule of Miscellaneous Fees and Charges for Fiscal Year 2027 Miscellaneous Fees and Charges are imposed by the District for specific services to recover the District’s costs for providin g those services.
2. Resolution No. 2325: A Resolution of the Board of Directors of Montecito Water District Establishing Capital Cost Recovery Fees and Connection Fees Effective July 1, 2026 Capital Cost Recovery Fees and Connection fees are paid to become a customer of the District and include: (a) the actual cost s of physically connecting to the District water system (Connection Fees) and (b) charges to fund a proportionate share of the Dis trict’s facilities (Capital Cost Recovery Fees).
Information concerning the fees and charges is available for public review at https://www.montecitowater.com/
At the public meeting, oral and written presentations may be made and/or heard concerning the fees and charges under Resolution No. 2324 and Resolution No. 2325
*The public meeting will be conducted in person at the District office located at 583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Remote participation information will be available on the meeting agenda posted at the District office, on the website www.montecitowater.com, and by calling 805-969-2271.
Run, MJ Public/legal notices section, June 4 & 11, 2026
MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON WATER AVAILABILITY CHARGE
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2026, 9:30 A.M. 583 SAN YSIDRO ROAD* SANTA BARBARA, CA 93108
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of the Montecito Water District (District) to be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 9:30 A.M., the Board will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of Resolution 2319 to continue an existing Water Availability Charge for the purpose of funding water distribution system improvements. A written report, detailing the description of each parcel of real property and the amount of the charge for each parcel for the year, is on file and available for public review at Montecito Water District’s Office located at 583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108 For information on a specific parcel’s acreage and proposed charge, owners may call 805.969.2271 or email info@montecitowater.com
The District is proposing to continue the existing charge as it was established in July 1996 and with such exceptions as have previously been granted by the Board, with no increase in the charge or change in the methodology by which it is calculated. The District will continue to collect such charge on the tax rolls, as in previous years.
At the Public Hearing on June 23, 2026 the Board of Directors will hear and consider objections and protests to the written report and application of the charge Any objection or protest must be presented to the District on or before the close of the June 23, 2026 Public Hearing
*The public hearing will be conducted in person at the District office location referenced above. Remote participation information will be available on the meeting agenda posted at the District office, on the website www.montecitowater.com, and by calling 805 -969-2271.
Run, MJ Public/legal notices section, June 4 & 11, 2026
where fans dress in Edwardian period costumes to retrace the steps of the novel’s protagonist Leopold Bloom across Dublin, some with pub crawls and traditional Bloomsday breakfasts of liver, sausages, and tea.
But they don’t have the James Joyce Pub, the lower State Street bar which has hosted the marathon reading of sections of the novel by local actors, writers, and others since the event began.
Now, it’s moving away from the namesake watering hole and its peanut shelladorned floors. It’s hoped that mounting the literary event in the Alhecama Theatre will yield a more theatrical experience of the novel, whose (at times) arguably obtuse themes touch on the far reaches of the human experience as embodied in a single Dublin day. “We are taking a one-year break from our home at the James Joyce Pub to spread our wings on the stage,” said Buckley. “We have chosen readings and actors who will bring a new sense of space and movement – and fun – to the text.”
Even without the pub locale, Guinness will still be poured, along with other drinks, and appropriately-themed food will also be available. But the idea for the move is “to help everybody better concentrate on the music coming from this rowdy book,” Palladino said.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as:
MONTECITO MONOGRAM, 1187 Coast Village Road, Montecito, CA 93108. GENERAL WORKSHOP CORP, 1187 COAST VILLAGE RD SUITE 1-151, MONTECITO, CA 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on May 26, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.
Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0001380. Published June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GALLERY JOSEPHINE, 133 E. ANAPAMU ST., Santa Barbara, CA 93101. JOSEPHINE DESIGN LLC, 133 E. ANAPAMU ST., Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on May 20, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the
County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.
Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0001344. Published June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ROSE STUDIO, 525 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, SUITE D170, Montecito, CA 93108. KATHERINE ANDERSON, 525 SAN YSIDRO ROAD SUITE D170, Montecito, CA 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of
The event remains free to all, although donations will be requested to support the Santa Barbara Library Foundation’s ongoing mission of making sure all books are available for all readers. Performers include regulars Henry Brown, Rachel Jordan Brown, James Claffey, Bill Egan, Roger Durling, Michael Katz, James McCarthy, Matt Tavianini, and James Read, with newcomers Billy Higgins, Susan Keller, Clare Carey, Emma Jane Huerta, and others. Doors open at 6 pm.
Ojai Art Center Theater’s big summer musical revisits a Sondheim favorite in Company, which runs June 12-July 12 at the historic theater. Winner of multiple Tony Awards and widely recognized as a landmark in American musical theater, the comedy follows Bobby, a single man celebrating his 35th birthday while observing the marriages, friendships, and complicated relationships of the people around him through a series of witty and poignant vignettes that explore the joys and challenges of human connection. Adding a touch of real-life romance to the production, Kyle Caldwell and Darrienne Lissette Caldwell, who portray Bobby and April in the community theater production, are husband and wife offstage. Visit www.ojaiact.org.
Santa Barbara County on May 19, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0001326. Published June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GREEN SEASONS LANDSCAPING, 1625 LAGUNA ST, 4, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. SIMON RAMIREZ, 1625 LAGU-
NA ST 4, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on May 11, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0001243. Published May 21, 28, and June 4, 11, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NURTURE WITH CARE, 5151 TABANO WAY, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. CAROYLN M IBRAHIM, 5151 TABANO WAY, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on May 6, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of 2the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0001215. Published May 21, 28, and June 4, 11, 2026
MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN and WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN UPDATES TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2026, 9:30 A.M.*
Montecito Water District (District) is currently preparing update s to its Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and Water Shortage Contingency Plan in compliance with the California Urban Water Management Planning Act.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors of the Montecito Water District (District) will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. to consider input regarding proposed updates to the UWMP and Water Shortage Contingency Plan
The proposed updates to the UWMP and Water Shortage Contingency Plan are available for public review as of April 30, 2026 at the District Office, 583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108 and on the District web site at: www.montecitowater.com/uwmp
If you are unable to access the information via this link, or need accommodations to review the document, please contact:
Adam Kanold
Montecito Water District 583 San Ysidro Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108 akanold@montecitowater.com Phone: 805.969.2271
Written comments can be provided to the contact above up until the date and time of the Public Hearing.
*The public hearing will be conducted in person at the District office located at 583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Remote participation information will be available on the meeting agenda posted at the District office, on the website www.montecitowater.com, and by calling 805-969-2271.
Run, MJ Public/legal notices section, June 4 & 11, 2026
him in Bakersfield, where they would marry. “And I said, ‘I need to think about that.’ And then he got that SBCC gig. And I said, ‘Well, I can do Santa Barbara!’”
They moved to Santa Barbara in 1988, marrying on the way (their legal witness, her five-year old daughter if she could but sign her name...) and Charles began making waves at SBCC, in time founding and directing the celebrated Monday Madness and Lunch Break Big Bands there. Before long another school in the area started hankering for an opportunity to enlighten the student body.
“I was the school secretary at Montecito Union School in 1990,” Joanne says, “and Bronte Reynolds was superintendent and principal. At that time they had a choral program, but they didn’t have a band program.” One day Principal Reynolds was musing aloud about the possibility of starting a band at Montecito Union. “My husband could do that!” Joanne offered reflexively. Wood and Reynolds would meet to hammer out the details, with everlasting effect.
James Mooy, himself a legendary fixture in town, is conductor of the SBCC Symphony Orchestra and the Lunch Break Jazz Ensemble. He is a Music Academy alum, and longtime pal of Dr. Jazz.
“Chuck Wood left his mark on music education,” he says, “and the music scene in general. He not only brought legendary musicians to work with his students, he trained the very musicians who would go on to become professional musicians and educators themselves. His passion and enthusiasm for the music and those who made it was infectious.”
The intrinsic value of Wood’s mentorship of literally thousands of young people over the course of his life – it can’t be overstated. The energy of that mission seemed to permeate Dr. Jazz’ final laying to rest.
“Trumpet was his primary instrument. He had to have trumpeters at his funeral.” Joanne laughs lightly, eyes clouding. “So I reached out and I said, ‘I need a trumpeter.’ And I ended up having four trumpets and two trombones. It was a sextet of brass. It just… blew everybody away. They’re like, ‘What? You have a band?!’”
Did they ever.
“We had a 30-voice choir, and a seven-piece brass ensemble, and we had the two vocal soloists. I mean, it was fit for a king.” Because Charles had served in the military, he was due a degree of formal military sendoff, and that martial tradition sounded its own sweet note at Charles Wood III’s final leave-taking.
“At the funeral,” Joanne says, “a Montecito Union band parent stood and talked about Chuck, how wonderful he was at teaching kids at the elementary level. I thought others would also get up and talk, but later on they told me that they were too torn up.
“But this MUS band parent, Lizzie, got up and talked about education, young minds and music. She talked about how instrumental my husband was making musicians out of the kids at Montecito Union.
“Because Charles had been in the military, they had a military service at the grave site, too, where they played taps and they presented me with a flag. Well, Jim had learned that the “Taps” that they were going to play was to be a recording.
‘Absolutely not,’ Jim said. ‘We’re not playing a recording for Chuck. I’ll play my trumpet.” Joanne tears up in the telling.
“And so Jim went and stood under a tree a short distance away from the grave site and played ‘Taps,’ all by himself out there.”
Following a literal lifetime of gifting priceless jazz to anyone and everyone, Charles Wood exited the stage to the strains of a trumpet, “Taps” wafting across the sundrenched lawns. Joanne gathers herself and smiles with sudden brilliance. “There was not a dry eye in the place.”
Jeff Wing is a journalist, raconteur, autodidact, and polysyllable enthusiast. He has been writing about Montecito and environs since before some people were born. He can be reached at jeff@ montecitojournal.net
Adding a delightful local twist, guests enjoyed Rincon Brewery’s aptly named Liquid Corners ale, donated by Luisa and Mark Hyatt. The beer’s name was coined by Rincon Brewery brewer Eric Drew, creating an unexpected connection to Heal the Ocean’s historic campaign. Wines donated by the generous Gretchen Lieff of Lieff Winery completed the coastal pairing.
Hauser beamed, “I’m so honored that these legendary artists have come together. I’ve always admired them so much! Come down to the gallery to see these amazing ocean paintings for yourself and admire the incredible beauty created by these artistic geniuses!”
Rincon – and the ocean – never looked better. Quite the point, really. by Lisa
Duncan
A warm summer evening, a glass of wine on the terrace, and a theater experience unlike any other welcomed guests to opening night of Every Brilliant Thing at Ensemble Theatre Company’s New Vic Theatre.
Directed by Jenny Sullivan, narrated by Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper, the production is staged in the round, allowing the audience to engage, react, and collaborate throughout the performance. Sullivan describes the experience as a communal event where the script remains flexible and each evening takes on a life of its own.
“It’s a wild ride!” She laughed. “It’s unbelievable – a new show every night.”
Running through June 21, the acclaimed play by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe transforms the traditional relationship between audience and performer into something far more personal. Before the show begins, audience members are invited to become part of the story itself, if they so choose, helping shape characters, moments, and memories as the evening unfolds.
According to Scott DeVine, executive director of Ensemble Theatre Company, that’s precisely what makes the production so special.
“The exciting part is the audience participation,” he explained. “Selected audience members are handed slips of paper before the show and asked to fill in a character – like the narrator’s dad,
for example. It creates this amazing back-and-forth engagement. It’s never the same show twice!”
As the story unfolds, the list at the heart of the play no longer belongs solely to the narrator, and the audience no longer remains behind an invisible wall. Instead, the performance becomes something created together, one brilliant thing at a time.
Before the curtain rose, guests mingled over wine on the patio and terrace, including visionary sponsors Dana White, Lara Spencer, and Geof Wyatt, who brought along his lovely mother, Deborah Wyatt. Also enjoying the warm summer evening were Nancy and Fred Golden, Tricia Dixon and Howard Jay Smith, and Mahri Kerley of Chaucer’s Books, who certainly knows good writing when she sees it. One left with a smile, a story, and perhaps a speaking part. A brilliant thing. by Lisa Duncan
For Santiago “Santi” Von Wernich and Teo Von Wernich, Sunday’s match in the ongoing USPA Intra-Circuit Cup at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club was more than another polo game in our Eden by the Beach. It was a family milestone decades in the making. Sunday marked the first time cousins Santiago “Santi” Von Wernich and Teo Von Wernich had ever lined up as teammates on American soil, despite years of playing together in their native Argentina. Their team, Carbenella, emerged victorious behind
the strong play of Segundo Saravi, the Von Wernich duo, and Ben Soleimani
Fresh off the victory, Santi was quick to redirect the spotlight.
“The important one is Teo!” he laughed in his unmistakable Argentine accent. “I’m old! He is the star!”
The younger Teo saw things differently.
“Never have we played on the same team in the States!” he said with a grin. “It was fantastic.”
The Von Wernich family’s roots run deep on a multigenerational farm west of Buenos Aires, where horses are a way of life. They learned to ride before they could walk, guided by fathers, uncles, and generations of horsemen, including a relative who achieved polo’s exceedingly rare 10-goal rating. Yet while Sunday polo in Montecito often comes with champagne and luxury, the Von Wernichs remain devoted to the traditions of the Argentine campo, happiest in the barns with their horses, grooms, and a shared maté after the final chukker. As Gaston Von Wernich, who helped establish the family’s California polo presence, has often said, the ultimate dream of a Von Wernich isn’t just a victory, but the chance to play alongside the next generation.
The opposing team, Mrs. Momma Bear, put up a spirited fight, led by real heroics from Santi Torres, with a smashing two goals straight out of the gate in the first chukker,
while the afternoon delivered its share of polo drama, including a toppled goalpost courtesy of Mike Azzaro and a pony-collision mishap involving Lee Evans Lee. Supporting the day’s action were Bentley & Land Rover Santa Barbara, sponsors of Sunday’s match and the next two Sundays on the polo calendar.
For the Von Wernichs, Sunday’s victory was about far more than the final score. It was about sharing a field, a memory, and a family name.
From the Argentine campo to the California coast – not a bad day’s work, really.
By Lisa Duncan
Jennifer Aniston making headlines on the red carpet with Reese Witherspoon and looking chic in a sleek dark green Victoria Beckham dress… Cameron Diaz in NYC amid buzz about the new Charlie’s Angels film in early development… Oprah Winfrey tapped to narrate the campus audio tour along with Tom Hanks, for the new Obama Presidential Center… Ellen DeGeneres winning approval to build horse stables at her Cotswolds estate.
From Richard and friends to all of you… Pip! Pip!
Suspicious Sidewalk Drawing / 2325 Lillie Ave
Tuesday, May 26, at 13:59 hours
The Reporting Party (RP) stated that there was a stick figure drawn on the sidewalk of a person with what appeared to be a gun in its hand.
Stolen Check / 1200 block Coast Village Road
Wednesday, May 27, at 08:52 hours
On 5/19/26, the RP of a foundation said he discovered that a $3,000 check made payable to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art was cashed, but the Santa Barbara Museum of Art never received the check. Bowman immediately notified the Montecito Bank and Trust since that is where the account is held. The Montecito Bank and Trust told the RP that he needed to file a police report for the bank to proceed further in their investigation and decide if they will reimburse the foundation. The check was written in January 2025 and cashed in February 2025.
Insurance Fraud / 600 block Cowles Road
Wednesday, May 27, at 15:17 hours
Deputies responded to the victim who stated they had been paying for a new home insurance policy but had never received a policy. The victim was told that she was dropped by the new company and will be issued a refund. Now she cannot reach anyone from the company and believes it was all fraudulent. The victim is gathering several documents and information for the report, and follow-up will be done once she gathers the information.
Transient at House / 2200 block Banner Ave
Thursday, May 28, at 21:58 hours
RP witnessed an unknown transient walking down the porch steps of her residence as she drove up the driveway. Transient subject was last seen walking westbound on Banner towards Evans. RP checked her cameras and could see transient knocking on the door and saying “Hello” while opening the front door which was left unlocked. The transient then left the property. RP checked the inside of her residence for any missing belongings. Nothing was missing or out of the ordinary according to the RP. RP and her housemate were advised to lock her doors and windows. RP requested extra patrols in the area during the night. A search for the subject was unable to locate them.
Welfare Check / Hot Springs/Oak roads
Sunday, May 31, at 19:19 hours
Deputies were dispatched to a welfare check of a possibly disoriented subject in the area of Hot Springs and Oak roads. When located, the subject fled up a driveway in the 1200 block of Mesa Road, going through the yard and property. Subject was then called in by multiple other reporting parties to be trying doors and gates on the block of Middle Road. Sgt. Banks, who was in the area, located the subject, who failed to stop when so direcrted. Sr. Deputy Brady tried to detain subject and a short foot pursuit ensued. Subject fled south on Middle Road and into the property where he was arrested in the back yard following a continued resistance on his part.
by Steven Libowitz
The Witcher Hour – The great progressive bluegrass/modern roots fiddler Gabe Witcher is the special guest with a special configuration of the already spectacularly talented John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band to kick off SBAcoustic’s 10 th season in town. Jorgenson, who plays acoustic guitar and mandolin, and banjoist/acoustic guitarist/singer Herb Pedersen were founders (with Ojai’s Chris Hillman ) of the formative country rock group Desert Rose Band. Jorgenson went on to found the Hellecasters, tour with Elton John ’s band for six years, and play on recordings with country star and part-time Montecito resident Brad Paisley , earning a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental. Pedersen was also a member of legendary bluegrass band The Dillards and the bluegrass super-group Old and In the Way (Jerry Garcia, Peter Rowan ) who has worked with a laundry list of laudable singer-songwriters and folk-pop musicians including Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris , Tony Rice, Dan Fogelberg, Stephen Stills , Linda Ronstadt , Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Jackson Browne , and John Denver. The virtuoso violinist is also a producer, composer, and arranger, and was a founding member of the genre-bending acoustic quintet the Punch Brothers, winning the 2019 Grammy for Best Folk Album. Rounding out the quartet is bassist Brian Netzley , the stand-up spe -
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Focus on Film – Eco-consciousness is the catchword for the 2026 GreenScreen premiere event that showcases four student-produced films about the environment. The premiere is the culmination of a hands-on, project-based environmental media production program at UCSB where students in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences work in teams to leverage their collective production skills and environmental knowledge. The teams work in collaboration with local environmental organizations on critical issues that affect Santa Barbara County… Back in town, SBIFF will be showing A Mosquito in the Ear at its new Film Center on State Street, screening the adoption dramedy set in India and based on the Italian graphic novel of the same name by Andrea Ferraris. The movie not only served as the rare well-received opening night film at the annual festival last February, it also claimed the coveted Panavision Spirit Award winner for Independent Cinema and has gone on to earn strong reviews. Co-writer and Director Nicola Rinciari will be on hand for a Q&A session after the film’s screening tonight.
WHEN: 7 pm
WHERE: Pollock Theater, UCSB campus (GreenScreen); SBIFF Film Center, 900 State St. (Mosquito)
COST: free / regular admission
INFO: (805) 893-5903/www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu/pollock (GreenScreen); www.sbiff.org
Texas Swing still ‘Riding High’ – Asleep at the Wheel’s stats – 56 years, 32 albums, more than 100 musicians having passed through the ranks of its members – tell only part of the story. More impressive is the fact that founding lead singer-songwriter Ray Benson still runs the ensemble. Best of all, AATW has not only kept alive the Western Swing sound of Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys but extended the rich musical heritage with tentacles in many other musical genres while maintaining the spirit, soul, and energy of the original outfit. With Austin-raised vocalist and fiddler Ian Stewart now serving alongside Benson, the group continues to draw from newer generations who leap at the chance to play with one of the most respected bands in the region. Expect an evening of timeless tunes, top-flights musicianship and toe-tapping energy as Asleep at the Wheel brings its iconic Texas sound back to the Lobero stage. WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.
COST: $50 & $65 ($95 premium tickets includes preferred seating and a pre-show reception with complimentary drinks and light bites)
INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.org
cialist in demand in the gypsy jazz scene. Expect SOhO to sizzle with fiery and tasty licks. The remainder of SBAcoustic’s series of six concerts features premier musicians from across the globe covering fingerstyle, singer/songwriting, country, gypsy jazz, boogie-woogie, ragtime, jazz, blues and more. Visit www.sbacoustic.com.
WHEN: 6:30 pm
WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street, upstairs in Victoria Court COST: $39 ($99 includes full dinner and preferred seating in first four rows) INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
SATURDAY, JUNE 13-SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Limitless: Master Chorale Matinees – The Santa Barbara Master Chorale says farewell to its longtime Artistic Director Dr. David Lozano Torres with a special concert called Limitless: The Sound of Becoming – Music That Defies Expectation and Reaches Beyond . The program recognizes that, throughout history, great composers have not simply followed tradition but rather stretched and reshaped it, reimagining what music could express. From the radiant energy of “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi to the joyful spirit of “Missa Brevis in F Major” by Joseph Haydn, the music reflects a theme of defying constraint and reflecting a vision of faith filled with vitality, light and possibility, an ethos that continues in the works of today’s leading choral composers represented on the program. “I Thank You God for Most This Amazing Day” and “Shalom” by Dan Forrest capture a profound sense of wonder, gratitude, and peace with music that opens the heart and expands the soul, while Elaine Hagenberg ’s “Measure Me, Sky!” brings the journey to its fullest expression, lifting one’s gaze toward the infinite and reminding the listener of the boundless potential within each of us. The Limitless concert is a send-off for Torres, celebrating his long commitment to what will his legacy will surely carry forward: an offering of gratitude, a
Laughs at the Lobero – Iranian American comedian Max Amini was born in Tucson, Arizona, to Iranian parents who left their country after the 1979 revolution, although they brought him back to Iran from the ages of 8-17. Asini has been performing stand-up since before he graduated UCLA in 2004, but he experienced explosive growth in popularity in 2025, when Deadline named him one of its comics who “won” the year. According to Deadline, he did 150 shows in 19 countries last year, selling over 200,000 tickets, and saw his latest special, Randomly Selected, draw 16 million views on YouTube, making it the top-performing special of the year across all platforms. He’s now the mostwatched comedian globally on Instagram, and has even surged on Facebook. He sold out The Forum in Los Angeles, headlined Madison Square Garden, and has a huge audience overseas. Now he’s coming to town with a fresh set of comic commentary brimming with his trademark wit and charm in tackling some of life’s occasionally rancorous absurdities.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.
COST: $60.50-$185.50 ($310.50 for premium seats in the “roast-free” zone)
INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.org
shared moment of connection, and a reminder that music, like the human spirit, is never confined.
WHEN: 3 pm June 13-14
WHERE: Trinity Lutheran Church, 909 N. La Cumbre Rd.
COST: $25 general, $20 seniors 55+ and disabled, $15 students. free for children 18 and under
INFO: www.sbmasterchorale.org
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Vance Vamps on Victoria St. – Having been introduced via several gigs during the soft opening of the Grand on State restaurant-jazz club in April and May, vocalist Leigh Vance now heads across the street to SOhO for her debut with the Santa Barbara Jazz Society’s monthly shows. Vance – who has worked in professional theater, sung 1940s big band standards in Las Vegas with her siblings, and ventured into R&B, funk and Motown classics – follows her heart to interpret Great American Songbook classics with her sultry style and wide vocal range. The side men for the show are SBJS and Santa Barbara favorites, including guitarist Brad Rabuchin , keyboardist Koji Ono , bassist Randy Tico , and drummer Kevin Winard
WHEN: 1-4 pm
WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street, upstairs in Victoria Court COST: $10-$25
INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
Singer-songwriter Heaven – Basking in the early summer sunshine as it segues into sunset at the Santa Barbara Bowl is sensational on its own. But tonight that comes combined with seeing and hearing three of the most influential folk-inflected singer-songwriters of the last 60-plus years together on the same stage on the same night. Bob Dylan needs no introduction; if you’re not familiar with the legend who even boasts a Nobel Prize for Literature, well...stop reading here. Add Lucinda Williams, the country-rock guitarist/singer and songsmith who the New York Times just called one of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters. Top it off with opener John Doe, co-founder of the seminal, critically acclaimed punk band X who has always had his heart in folk and country. This round, Doe will be playing with his folk trio.
WHEN: 6:30 pm
WHERE: SB Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St. COST: $63-$243
INFO: (805) 962-7411 or www.sbbowl.com
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Fiesta Ranchera – We’re still almost seven weeks out from the start of Fiesta, the extravaganza celebrating Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara in early August. But today’s festive evening at the beautiful Rancho La Patera gardens on the grounds of the Stow House has become an annual tradition that not only wets the whistle and whets the appetite for the full five-day festival, but also serves as a special event on its own. Guests get to sample appetizers, wine and beer from local restaurants, wineries and breweries in a horseshoe-shaped buffet set up in front of the Stow House entrance. Then heading over to the grassy area yards away they’ll enjoy performances by the 2026 Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta, musical entertainment by flamenco guitar specialist Tony Ybarra and friends, and then dance the night away under the stars, with funk/party band favorites Area 51. The proceeds are split between Old Spanish Days and the Goleta Valley Historical Society, which owns and runs Rancho La Patera. Viva!
WHEN: 5-10 pm
WHERE: Stow House/Rancho la Patera, 304 N. Los Carneros Road, Goleta
COST: $100 (in advance only)
INFO: (805) 962-8101 or www.sbfiesta.org
This entertainment calendar is a subjective sampling of arts and entertainment events taking place in the Santa Barbara area for the next seven days or so. It is by no means comprehensive. Please also see my feature stories elsewhere in this issue for more events. In order to be considered for inclusion in this calendar, please submit information – including hi-res photos –by 12 noon Wednesday eight days prior to publication date. Email: slibowitz@yahoo.com.
Your Trusted Choice for Estate Sales, Liquidation & Downsizing
Moving Miss Daisy’s providing comprehensive services through Moving Miss Daisy since 2015. Expert packing, unpacking, relocating to ensure your new home is beautifully set up and ready to enjoy. Miss Daisy’s is the largest consignment store in the Tri-Counties - nearly 20K sq.ft.- always offering an unmatched selection of items. We also host online Auctions. Glenn Novack, Owner 805-770-7715 www.missdaisy.org info@movingmissdaisy.com
TRESOR
We Buy, Sell and Broker Important Estate Jewelry. Located in the upper village of Montecito. Graduate Gemologists with 30 years of experience. We do free evaluations and private consultation. 1470 East Valley Rd Suite V. 805-969-0888
Tell Your Story
How did you get to be where you are today? What were your challenges? What is your Love Story? I can help you tell your story in an unforgettable way – with a book that will live on for many generations. The books I write are as thorough and entertaining as acclaimed biographies you’ve read. I also assist with books you write – planning, editing and publishing.
David Wilk Great references. (805) 455-5980 www.BiographyDavidWilk.com
We Buy Classic Cars Running or Not. Foreign/Domestic Chevy/Ford/Porsche/Mercedes/Etc. We come to you. Call Steven - 805-699-0684 Website - Avantiauto.group
Storage, sheds, garages & deliveries Licensed and insured Call (805) 963-6909
Stillwell Fitness of Santa Barbara In Home Personal Training Sessions for 65+ Help with: Strength, Flexibility, Balance Motivation, and Consistency
John Stillwell, CPT, Specialist in Senior Fitness 805-705-2014 StillwellFitness.com
GOT OSTEOPOROSIS? WE CAN HELP
At OsteoStrong our proven non-drug protocol takes just ten minutes once a week to improve your bone density and aid in more energy, strength, balance and agility. Please call for a complimentary session! Call Now (805) 453-6086
Do you need to get away for a weekend, week or more? I will house sit and take care of your pets, plants & mail. I have refs if needed. Call me or text me. Christine (805) 452-2385
Carpet Cleaning Since 1978 (805) 963-5304
Rafael Mendez Cell: 689-8397 or 963-3117
Openings now available for Children & Adults. Piano Lessons in our Studio or your Home. Call or Text Kary Kramer (805) 453-3481
Foothill
Seeking a guest room or
It’s simple. Charge is $0.04 per character, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $12 per issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email Classified Ad to classifieds@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860. All ads must be finalized by Friday at 2pm the week prior to printing. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)
ByPeteMuller&FrankLongo Foreachofthefirstfiveminicrosswords,oneoftheentriesalsoservesaspartofa five-wordmetaclue.Theanswertothemetaisawordorphrase(sixlettersor longer)hiddenwithinthesixthminicrossword.Thehiddenmetaanswerstartsin oneofthesquaresandsnakesthroughthegridverticallyandhorizontallyfrom there(nodiagonals!)withoutrevisitinganysquares.
Across 1 It smorethanalightnap
5 MesaintheSouthwest,e.g.
6 LikethechordC-E-G,but notA-C-E
7 It sveryhotforawhile
8 HomeoftheB-52s,for short?
Across 1 Tablesaltiscomposedof these
5 Gaitoutofthegate,maybe
6 Greedy,Grouchy,orGutsy
8 Havingshippedout
9 Sortwhohasrecently decidedtostopbeingsuch aLuddite,say
Down 1
Down 1 With3-Down,crywhile throwinginthetowel 2 "Women&Money" podcasterSuze 3 See1-Down
Across 1 Wordafterglass,iron,or steel
6 Additiontoadayplanner, say 7 ___JethroGibbs(Mark Harmon s"NCIS"role)
8 DemonstrateDixiediction 9 Mesa-to-Moabdir.
2014TaylorSwiftsong whosetitleissomething "wenevergooutof"
Across 1 See5-Down 4 Whatwasonceyours? 6 Badluckcharms?
7 Rosewater sfirstnamein KurtVonnegut s"GodBless You,Mr.Rosewater"
8 Litterlocalesinaforest
Down 1 Single-gearbicyclewithno freewheel
2 Situationafterasinglehit
3 Chillsout,sotospeak
4 Firstwordofall236 "Friends"episodetitles 5 With1-Across,waitedona phonelinetospeakto
Howmanyconfidentpoker playersgo 2 Changetoshowasale price,perhaps 3 Nutcrackers nutcrackers 4 Org.offeringfloodmaps 5 Maketracks,inaway
arugula, radicchio, endive and sauteéd
Sliced Steak Salad, 6 oz.,
arugula, radicchio, shrimp, prosciutto,
Prime Filet Steak Frites, 6 oz.
Mixed Vegetable Frittata w/ Gruyere
tortillas, melted cheese, avocado and warm salsa
Huevos Rancheros, two eggs any style
Corned Beef Hash & two poached
Prime Filet 6 oz. Steak, & two
with avocado
Home Made Spanish Chorizo Omelet
Wild Mushroom and
Smoked Salmon
julienne
Classic
choice of hash browns, fries, sliced
toasted bialy or bagel, cream cheese, olives, tomato & cucumber • Eggs and Other Breakfast
Cambridge House Smoked
Waffle with fresh berries, whipped
with fresh berries, maple syrup
Brioche French Toast
Fried Calamari with two
Lucky Chili with
Matzo Ball