The Pink Palace – Creek trespasses onto a cliffside estate, confronting wealth, secrecy, and a woman whose elegance conceals unsettling contradictions, P.5
SANTA BARBARA
Future Votes – With housing, downtown vitality, and SB’s literal future at stake, the next City Council will be making truly consequential decisions, P.10
There’s still time to send in your favorite memories & pics, p.10
Steely Resolve – A massive habitat restoration in Los Padres National Forest clears long-blocked pathways for one of California’s toughest fish, P.22
Building Sanctuary
Love, Montecito
Montecito means Romance this Valentine’s Day with lovely local gifts, enrapturing meals, and lots of hand holding – the good kind, page 12
Sanctuary Centers’ eccentric evolution is a study in humane momentum. Mental health care, co-occurring disorders, the oncebottomless pit of stigma – Barry Schoer and his scrappy colleagues are on their way to antiquating the word “hopeless.” In Part One of this two-part series, Schoer’s own harrowing backstory lights the fuse. (Story starts on page 6)
Rod of Light
Rod Lathim’s nonlinear memoir mirrors his artistic life… one guided by spirit, collaboration, and a belief in light as essence, page 32
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Reads
Beings and Doings – For 43 years, Sanctuary Centers has played sherpa to those willing to lift themselves to a sunlit summit of their own making. What’s this scrappy NYC expat got to do with it?
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
28 Body Wise – From ancient medicine to modern science, the healing power of massage gets its long-overdue recognition
Library Mojo – This February send a love letter to the library with special collection boxes and postcards spread throughout town 31 Sheriff’s Blotter
reopens and more Community Voices – As housing, downtown, and finances collide, Santa Barbara’s next City Council faces decisions that can’t be delayed Tide Guide
Our Town – Montecito-unique Valentine date and gift ideas, plus recognition for service and wood chipping over at Montecito
of work, a watershed restoration opens new passage for steelhead trout in Los Padres National Forest
32 Spirituality Matters – Finding the light in spirit, art, and the life of Rod Lathim in his new autobiography 35 Elizabeth’s Appraisals – A haunted Thai spirit house, the Museum of Jurassic Technology, and the slippery line between truth, value, and belief 39 Letters to the Editor – Thoughts on solving immigration without the cruelty
44 Calendar of Events – Valentine’s passion, world-class pianists, Hollywood romance, roots legends, improv laughs, and baroque brilliance fill the week 46
Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads, in which sellers offer everything from summer rentals to estate sales
47 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles
Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here
Montecito Reads
Every now and then, a story comes along that refuses to stay put. It lingers on your nightstand. It sneaks into conversation. For us, Last Light in Paradise is one of those stories, and we’re delighted to let it loose, one chapter at a time, in the pages of the Montecito Journal. Well, at least the first six chapters for the time being – then you can purchase the book at one of our local beloved bookstores (Chaucer’s, Tecolote, and Godmothers) or from the QR code below.
This book marks a first for us… Last Light in Paradise is the inaugural book published by MJ Media Group. Yes, we’re dipping a toe – perhaps a barefoot run – into the world of book publishing, guided entirely by our belief in a novel that is as cinematic as it is soulful, as local as it is timeless.
Set against the luminous backdrop of 1930s Santa Barbara, this is a tale of love and loss, mystery and reckoning, populated by unforgettable characters and infused with the kind of atmosphere that feels both dreamlike and deeply true. We invite you to settle in, turn the page, and join us at the edge of paradise… just as the light begins to change.
Last Light in Paradise
by Michael C. Armour
Chapter 6
By eight the next morning, Creek was parked beneath the broad Cyprus trees, tucked into a sandy shoulder of the sea road where he’d been last night, halfway between the driveway and the big villa. He watched the fogbank out to sea and knew it was moving landward. Wait for the fog, he thought, and they won’t see you coming.
He stared up at the great villa, partially visible above the cliffs and the forest of giant trees surrounding it. It resembled a tiered layer cake, he thought, with a cheesy palace on top that someone had painted pink. He had no idea what he would find there, but he did know it had to begin there, with an old lady peeking from behind a curtain.
Looking seaward, Creek saw a solitary lobster boat plying the edge of the fogbank. He watched the captain throttle back, lock the wheel to a gentle circle, then move outside the pilothouse to hoist pots. In a time-honored ritual, the crabs were plucked and flung back to the ocean, the lobsters gauged, culls also flung overboard, and the keepers given to a holding tank to be banded and sold. Each trap was rebaited and shoved back into the sea. Nowhere on that boat could Creek see a means for a fisherman to lose his head.
He finished his dry beef sandwich, tried to improve the memory of it with a wash of hot thermos coffee, stepped out of the Ford, and walked down to the beach, hoping something might have caught a tide and washed up on solid ground – the other boot, the dead man’s head, a crucial piece of boat debris. Working his way toward the bluffs below the villa, Creek watched the boat slip in and out of fog as he moved shoreward. He was amused at the irony of a common fisherman plying the oldest of trades in the watery front yard of one of the most expensive villas in America.
Creek had seen how death can happen unexpectedly when big rich lives right up next to big poor and the line between them is thin. Too much taunting, and poor sometimes has to reach out and touch rich – a bauble or a diamond or a neckline – and the result was often ugly. Sometimes the rich wanted something from the poor beyond their labor and service,
Montecito Reads Page 414
Scan here for Chapters 1 - 5
Beings and Doings
Sanctuary Centers:
The
Fine
Art
of
Bootstrapping a Miracle
by Jeff Wing
This all happened some time ago, but Barry Schoer explains the episode with residual heat. “I was seeing that when people graduated from Sanctuary House they didn’t have anywhere to go. Even if I got them a Section 8 voucher, landlords didn’t want them. They’d say to the prospective tenant, ‘Where have you been living? ‘Oh, I’ve been in Sanctuary House.’” Barry Schoer pauses. “They couldn’t help but be honest,” he murmurs. “Bless their hearts.”
Civic life is of a piece. There are hospitals and courtrooms and traffic lights and storm drains and grocery stores. We don’t know by what municipal magic all this comes to be, nor do we need to know. We navigate the Everyday with the fuzzy background notion that all this beneficence is ordained through meticulous strategizing and blueprinting –the glacial, orderly processes by which the civilized world puts one elephantine foot in front of the other. Broadly true? Yeah. But there are striking exceptions.
For instance, at this writing an enormous crane dominates Santa Barbara’s downtown like an ill-conceived special effect. What’s
that doing here? The crane anchors a building project on W. Anapamu – but also represents a Proof of Concept: Not every institution is built, per se. Some are hammered together on the fly by the pugnacious.
“So the landlords just wouldn’t rent to them, and we had to find a place to house them,” Schoer continues. His Sanctuary House cohort had worked their asses off to lift themselves. He was not about to graduate them onto the streets. As can happen, a solution came from the next room. “Someone who worked for our career services owned a duplex on the west side. She said, ‘I’ll rent you my duplex.’” Schoer beams in the telling. “Each duplex had two bedrooms, we could put two to a bedroom… ‘Okay!’”
We’re in a meeting room at the building site, and I glance across the table at Sanctuary Centers’ CEO Stephanie Drake, PhD. She arches her eyebrows minutely and the message is clear. “Barry”.
11-Year-Old Runaway Lavishly Finds Sanctuary
To understand today’s Sanctuary Centers and the high-octane tenacity that has brought them to this transformative pass, you have to understand something of the provenance of Barry Schoer’s deep sense of mission and tactically combative character. Schoer had met me for our hard hat tour in front of the Sanctuary Centers’ Arlington
Apartments, adjacent to the new build. His neatly trimmed viceroy beard and tailored gray suit accurately signaled the gifted juggernaut/advocate who’d spent some four decades pulling Sanctuary Centers to this weighted moment. But there was something else about him – the cadence of his speech, his relaxed gait, the way he dropped a hand into his trouser pocket when he walked; a mild Leo Gorcey vibe, maybe. Schoer – President and effective founder of today’s Sanctuary Centers –is NYC-bred but has lived out here for 50 years or so. Still, his conversation is seasoned with relaxed expletives tossed out as casually as sweets at a parade. I’ve struck these from the narrative that
No crane no gain: big machine bespeaks big ideas (photo by Khris Drake)
Sanctuary Centers’ President, Barry Schoer. Insistent? Yup. (photo by Lerina Winters)
Montecito Miscellany
‘Evenings’
at the Ballet
by Richard Mineards & Friends
Evenings offered an inside look at State Street Ballet’s creative process, staged inside the company’s studio at the Gail Towbes Center for Dance. The in-studio setting created an intimate tone with audience members sitting right next to dancers, and wine and hors d’oeuvres getting the evening off to a pirouetting start.
The program featured nine world premieres choreographed by company dancers, each reflecting a distinct voice and approach. Some works leaned toward narrative structure, while others explored mood and musicality, but all benefited from the clarity of the space. Without elaborate production elements, the choreography stood on its own. Executive Director Cecily MacDougall described the intent behind the program, saying, “By giving dancers the freedom to create within the studio and collaborate closely
with their peers, Evenings plays a crucial role in developing the next generation of choreographers while offering audiences a rare window into the creative process.”
“With the Wind,” choreographed by Amber Hirschfield, got the show moving and from a “Love Song” to a touch of Morricone, the performers danced their way through emotions and meaning. A “Cell Block Tango” finale and Q&A with the artists brought Evenings to an end – and left the audience yearning for more.
XL Super Bowl LX Party
There were 130 million viewers of Super Bowl LX and a good number of them ended up at retired technology executive Howard Cannon’s Montecito pad to view the game. Guests brought their favorite dips, dishes, and everything in between to complete the spread with
Miscellany Page 374
musicians, and audience gathered for an intimate time with
Performers,
State Street Ballet (photo by Priscilla)
State Street Ballet staff and supporters mingled with the guests (photo by Priscilla)
The dancers reveling in the audience’s applause (photo by Priscilla)
We’re Goodwin & Thyne Properties
At Goodwin & Thyne Properties we follow a simple, yet powerful principle when representing real estate buyers and sellers- always do what is best for you, our client. We are an integrated team of clientcentered, comprehensive, connected, collaborative, and committed Realtors®, Brokers, and Attorneys servicing Santa Barbara, Ventura, Ojai, the Central Coast, LA and beyond.
We take pride in hearing our clients say we treat them like family, because – we do. It’s at the core of what makes us different.
Operating from that place means there’s nothing we won’t, and can’t, do to get you the property, deal, and overall outcome you’re looking for. No matter how big or small, complex or simple, we’ve seen and done it all. We look forward to working with you.
Goodwin & Thyne Properties
Re altors ® / Broker s / Attorney s
News Bytes Help Celebrate Lucky’s 25th!
by MJ Staff
Maybe it was a touch of brioche French toast and some morning laughs on a lazy weekend, or a Saturday prime rib before the big show… or remember the time the whole family got burgers after the hike?
As surely as the unforgettable meals they serve, Lucky’s – “Montecito’s Second Living Room” – is endeared to our collective memory. The beloved classic steakhouse has now been group-hugging our community for 25 years.
We know you have plenty of cherished memories of Lucky’s; we do, as well. And we would be grateful for the privilege of sharing your memories with our readers. Help us celebrate our friends’ 25th anniversary by sending in photos and stories of your Lucky’s memories.
Lucky’s birthday bash is tentatively set for the end of February and will bring together their loyal longtime staff, legendary founders, and devoted patrons. Let’s all share what we love about Lucky’s!
The deadline to submit photos and stories is Sunday, February 22. Please send them to letters@montecitojournal.net
Panel on Black History Month
SB Black Culture House will host this panel at The Hub (1219 State Street) on Sunday, February 15, at 1 pm titled, 100 Years of Black History Month: A Living Legacy, on the work of educator Carter G. Woodson’s efforts to institutionalize “Negro History Week” on February 7, 1926, later expanded to “Black History Month” in 1976. Panelists include
Help us celebrate Lucky’s style like this 91-year-young boy!
“Coffee with A Black Guy” founder James Joyce III; former District Director for State Senator and onetime candidate for mayor of Santa Barbara, Hannah-Beth Jackson ; and Aaron Jones, Director of the Educational Opportunity Program at UCSB. Darrell McNeill, co-founder of Santa Barbara Black Culture House will moderate. Topics focus on Woodson’s work, the importance of Black History Month, and what Black History means in the context of open hostility against diversity, equity and inclusion.
Cottage Health Careers Academy
Cottage Health and SB Unified School District formed the Cottage Health Careers Academy, currently located at San Marcos High School, open to students grades 10-12, with grade 9 commencing fall 2026. This
News Bytes Page 344
Community Voices
The Bill Comes Due in 2026
by Monte Wilson
Whoever is elected this fall will immediately confront decisions that will shape housing, downtown vitality, and the city’s financial stability for decades to come. With four of seven council seats up for election, Santa Barbara is not choosing a direction for the immediate future, but it is choosing whether it will remain in control of its future at all. The decisions around housing, downtown, and finances all come due to the people elected in this next ballot.
Housing is the most obvious example. For years, Santa Barbara has talked about the need for more housing without producing enough. That approach is no longer sustainable. When cities fail to meet state housing requirements, the consequences are real and increasingly unavoidable. If we continue to fail to deliver new housing, we will see more consequences, such as the Builder’s Remedy projects and forced housing from Sacramento. If residents are surprised or frustrated by recent housing proposals like the Mission project or Grand Avenue, they should understand that these are symptoms of inaction, not overreach from Sacramento. If we want to protect what makes Santa Barbara special, we need to take responsibility for shaping growth rather than having it imposed on us.
Unfortunately, the city’s current approach has made that harder, not easier. Layering on red tape, discretionary approvals, and delay has not produced better outcomes. It has produced fewer homes, higher costs, and growing frustration. Many cities and counties, including Santa Barbara County, are moving toward more objective standards and streamlined approvals to enable housing to move forward in a predictable and orderly way. The
Montecito Tide Guide
City of Santa Barbara has been slow to engage in that discussion. Modernizing the planning process is not about cutting corners. It is about making decisions clearer, processes and timelines shorter and more reliable, and outcomes more consistent.
Downtown Santa Barbara faces an eerily similar problem of inaction. We have spent years debating the future of State Street without committing to a long-term direction. The next City Council will not be able to avoid hard choices. Whether State Street reopens, is redesigned, or remains closed needs to be resolved once and for all. So do questions around retail and residential balance, public safety, parking, cleanliness, and enforcement. These issues are interconnected, and indecision has a cost. A downtown without a clear plan struggles to thrive. Put yourself in the place of business owners and retailers. Would you invest in something that could dramatically change before you even open your doors? The next council
Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Joe DeMello
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
Our Town Valentine’s Day Montecito Style
by Joanne A Calitri
It’s that love time of year, where romance, bromance, and galentines are calling everyone to reach out with love this month. Truly a much-needed experience at this time! Shop and dine local with that special person, including treating yourself!
Gifting and Flowers:
- For the romantic: Carolina Bucci’s Cuore Collection of heart-shaped rings and pendants in 18k gold, handmade in their Florence, Italy atelier
- For the sentimental: Emily Joubert Home & Garden has heart shaped mirrors
- For the table: Hudson Grace’s “Ti Amo” [I Love You] Appetizer Plate in white with red painted rim and center heart
- For teenage girls: Poppy Store’s Meri Meri x Liberty London print heart suitcases
- For the fashionista: Clare V’s Grande Heart Fob, a bright red heart-shaped accessory
- For male besties: Orlebar Brown’s bulldog swim shorts
- For the kids: On February 13, Poppy Store has Heart Cookie Decorating and Valentine Making from 2-5 pm
- For the Flower Lover: Hudson Grace’s roses and bouquets, or Mesa Produce Stand has fresh flowers every Thursday
- For the BFFs: Visit The Porch Summerland on Feb. 14 from 11 am to 4 pm for a pop-up with Ojai Wild, Jessica Foster Confections and Jodi G Jewelry
Dining:
- San Ysidro Ranch: Visit this romantic setting with live music and curated menus. Stonehouse Restaurant is offering a four-course menu with wine pairings set by Executive Chef Matt Johnson and featuring live guitar and harp music. The Speakeasy at Plow & Angel is a cozy and intimate lounge with special Valentine’s Day libation offerings and live music. Reservations required. www.stonehouserestaurant.com
- Rosewood Miramar Beach: Caruso’s Valentine’s Day Tasting Menu features an eight-course menu with wine pairings and complimentary champagne. The Revere Room will have a four-course prix fixe and wine pairing. Visit the The Manor Bar for cocktails and live music with a view. https://tinyurl.com/ RosewoodValetine
- Lilac Restaurant: The quaint Coast Village eatery will feature a Special Valentine’s Intimate Dining prix fixe menu, reservations limited. www. lilacmontecito.com
- Bettina’s Pizza: Eat in or take out a heart shape pizza, available Feb. 12-16, pre-orders recommended. www. bettinapizzeria.com
Montecito Fire Team Recognitions & News
On Friday, February 6, Montecito Fire District Chief David Neels honored three fire fighter team personnel for their dedicated service. They are Division Chief of Operations Anthony Hudley for his five years of service with Montecito Fire, as well as Battalion Chief Shaun Davis and Captain-Assistant Fire Marshal Bob Galbraith, who both celebrated 15 years with the department. Their families were present for the ceremony by Neels who said, “We are
Our Town Page 184
You wouldn’t mistake a Montecito Valentine for any other in the world (courtesy photo)
Fire Chief Neels and Division Chief of Operations Anthony Hudley
On Entertainment
Her Name Is Vega: Singer-songwriter Returns
by Steven Libowitz
with
Sparkling New Album
In her four decades as a recording artist, singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega has displayed a remarkable knack for creating songs that sound at once deeply personal and utterly universal, a true gift given that almost all of them are written from the first-person point of view. The observational pieces date to her early days with such enduring fan favorites as “Tom’s Diner,” “Luka,” and “Marlena on the Wall,” songs that largely steer clear of metaphors to find meaning in the prosaic moments Vega chooses to bring to our attention. Somehow, even though inspiration can arrive from almost any place at any time, every word rings true.
“I think it’s just the way I see the world,” Vega said over the phone last week. “I see things, notice details that a lot of people miss, and things interest me that other people don’t see. I must have been born with it because ever since I was a child, I remember having to explain myself constantly to everybody, to my parents, to other people. It helps that I’ve got a long, long attention span.”
Never has that breadth of curiosity over such a wide variety of topics been as evident as on her new album, Flying with Angels, which was released last year to strong critical praise. “Speakers’ Corner” addresses both the pandemic and threats to freedom of speech. “Last Train from Mariupol” was sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On the other end of the spectrum, “Rats” addresses, yes, the rodents that rampage all over her hometown of New York City. In between, there’s “Love Thief,” a familiar topic made remarkable by its ‘70s soul sound, plus two songs inspired by her relationships with two of rock’s great poets: Bob Dylan in “Chambermaid” – which barely disguises his classic “I Want You” while relaying a brief encounter with Dylan on tour – and “Lucinda,” a tribute to Lucinda Williams, even borrowing words from Williams’ memoir for some of the lyrics.
“That song was one of the leftovers I always have when I start writing a new album, which was during the pandemic,” Vega explained. “Lucinda” took longer than any other song I’ve written. I scribbled some things in my notebook that rhymed after seeing her in the early 2000s; just verses about her hair, her makeup, how she dressed, what she looked like. Then I read her biography, and it made me want to go back now that we know how she really feels, what it’s like for her inside. So it was almost 25 years.”
Which stands in sharp contrast to “Tom’s Diner,” which – one pass and done – has become her most famous song, one that’s been sampled repeatedly over the years.
“The melody got stuck in my head and I wrote it in a half hour or so,” Vega recalled. “I never expected it to turn into what it did.”
Vega had some help putting together Flying with Angels via producer and longtime guitarist Gerry Leonard, who arranged musical settings for the songs and much more.
“We have a very playful relationship where I can throw in pretty much any idea, whether lyrical or musical, at him and he serves it back to me like tennis. We see what bubbles up to the surface, what feels alive, which influences what songs get finished. That’s what makes for an interesting collection and different feel to the songs. We just had a lot of fun, and that’s the way it came out.”
Vega originally wanted to call the album Survival of the Fittest, she said, before giving in to advice to pick something more palatable.
“I thought of it at first because we’re all fighting. We were fighting COVID, we’re
VIVALDI: Concerto in E-flat Major, Op. 8, No. 5, RV 253, “La tempesta di mare”
VERACINI: Sonata No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 2, No. 12
TARTINI: Concerto in A Major, D. 96
LOCATELLI: Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 3, No. 2, from L’arte del violino
VIVALDI: Concerto in G Minor, RV 157
VIVALDI: Concerto in D Major, RV 208, “Il Grosso Mogul”
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026, 7:30 PM
VENICE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
Rachell Ellen Wong, violin soloist | Giacomo Catana, orchestra leader
A VENETIAN DUEL OF BOWS – In Celebration of Carnevale VENETIAN MASKS AND CLOAKS ENCOURAGED!
Celebrate Venice’s glittering Carnivale with the Venice Baroque Orchestra and violinist Rachell Ellen Wong. Their spirited program, “A Venetian Duel of Bows,” rekindles the rivalry and virtuosity of 18th-century masters—Vivaldi, Veracini, Tartini and Locatelli— transporting you to a world of fiery cadenzas, shimmering strings and dazzling showpieces.
Reproduction of the Presumed Portrait of Antonio Vivaldi, Unknown painter in the circle of Giuseppe Maria Crespi, c. 1723. Courtesy of Il Museo internazionale e biblioteca della musica di Bologna, Inv. B 38490
Spend Valentine’s Day at the Lobero with Suzanne Vega (courtesy photo)
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fighting politically, we’re fighting for our identities and our survival. But Flying with Angels ultimately is where we want to be. We want to have the protection of our better selves.”
Where we all want to be on Valentine’s Day, February 14, is at the Lobero Theatre, where Vega will be accompanied by Leonard and cellist Stephanie Winters.
“She can play melodic parts, rhythmic parts, sweet sounds or distorted and funky. We are very creative as a trio, so it’s really lovely.”
The audience can expect a career-spanning set that covers the favorites over the years, and a generous selection of songs from Flying, Vega said.
“It’s more fun now to put together a set than it used to be because we have a wealth to choose from and I’m not scraping things together,” she said. “It’s about keeping ourselves interested and the audience amused.”
That former part isn’t as challenging as it might seem – despite having to play those early songs every night for the better part of four decades.
“I love singing them,” Vega said. “I’m a Buddhist and so I do my prayers twice a day, so I’m able to have a present moment relationship with the songs. I do them wholeheartedly. I love the response I get from the audience. It’s fantastic.”
Visit www.lobero.org
A Grand Night for Lovers
Elsewhere in music, the Grand on State gets into the groove on Feb. 14, with Valentine’s Night at the Grand featuring two different sets of live jazz with romantic songs, jazzy tunes and delightful appetizers, desserts and wine. Keyboardist/co-owner Brian Mann tickles the ivories both for singer Cora Wonderland’s early set and saxophonist Colin Richardson’s late show.
Visit www.thegrandonstate.com
Super-Select Highlights from SBIFF
Last week, we said we weren’t going to tally up the total number of current Academy Award nominees coming to SBIFF this year. But I couldn’t resist reporting on the deluge of such Oscar-decorated actors and others who showed up on a single day last Sunday. We got to hear from the producers of all 10 Best Picture hopefuls, the directors of all five of the nominees for Best International Feature, and six performers up for Oscars in the four acting categories as part of the Virtuosos. That matched Saturday’s total, adding up the participants for the Women’s and Casting panels and Artisan’s Awards. That’s 42 in all. Yikes!
SBIFF’s nod to the new Oscar category of Casting Director via a panel was a welcome addition to the slate, as we heard a number of fascinating behind the scenes stories about things like writer-directors changing scripts to incorporate talents of actors that brought something they hadn’t expected (e.g. the final scene of Hamnet), and just how far and wide the casting heads will go to find someone to play a role, including well beyond normal auditions. Such was the case with Sinners’ Francine Maisler, who “discovered” Miles Caton due to a directive from director Ryan Coogler for an unknown to play blues guitarist Sammie. But it was odd that One
Entertainment Page 264
Teyana Taylor turned all the heads in this stunning dress (photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)
Special Double Bill
Taj Mahal and Patty Griffin
Tue, Feb 17 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
“A multi-instrumentalist wizard… While often described as a blues musician, he’s more of an international griot.” Datebook on Taj Mahal
“Sometimes with tenderness, with family and loss, sometimes with fierce poignant critique, her wordplay is profound, challenging and unrivaled.” – Robert Plant on Patty Griffin
Celebrating 34 Years in Santa Barbara Two Nights! Two Programs!
Tue, Feb 24 & Wed, Feb 25 / 7 PM / Arlington Theatre
Curated and hosted by Roman Baratiak, A&L Associate Director Emeritus
Experience the world’s best mountain films at larger-thanlife scale as the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns for two nights of thrilling outdoor adventures.
“[Jlin creates] something frenetic and physical but also heavy with emotion, like chamber music breaking out on the dance floor.” Stereogum “Third Coast Percussion is blurring musical boundaries and beguiling new listeners.” NPR
Thu, Feb 19 / 8 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
Sat, Mar 7 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
Icons of Afro-Cuban jazz and founding members of the legendary ensemble Irakere, reunite for an electrifying new collaboration that celebrates their rich musical heritage.
grateful to all the family members and loved ones who joined us to celebrate – none of our members’ achievements would be possible without the support they receive at home! Congratulations to all, and thank you for your commitment to our community!”
Additionally recognized with the traditional MFD brick ceremony is new Administrative Assistant Coral Godlis
for completing her probationary period successfully. Neels explains, “The brick ceremony is noted in the entryway of Fire Station 91, where each employee has an engraved brick laid in the floor with their name and date of hire. It is a symbol of the significant accomplishment of passing probation and becoming a permanent part of our department’s foundation.”
17th Annual Neighborhood Chipping Program
411: www.montecitofire.com/neighborhoodchipping-program Our Town (Continued from 12)
The chipping has begun February 9 and will continue throughout the year. It is offered to 1,870 residents in Montecito’s Very High Fire Severity Zone. Reducing the volume of flammable vegetation creates more defensible and survivable space around a property and increases the entire community’s resiliency to wildfires.
Postcards were mailed to Montecito residents with the dates pertinent to their neighborhood, and instructions. During the Neighborhood Chipping Program, fire department personnel will identify low-hanging tree branches and tag them for removal to prevent limbs from obstructing first responder access.
Residents are asked to stack cut vegetation on the curb to be chipped and hauled to a recycling center by our designated contractor, Frontcounty Tree Care Inc. Montecito Fire Department’s Wildland Fire Specialists are available to provide guidance to residents on optimal ways to trim back vegetation along driveways and roadways to create safer evacuation routes for the community and clear access for first responders.
Fire Chief Neels and Battalion Chief Shaun Davis Fire Chief Neels presents Coral Godlis with her brick
Captain-Assistant Fire Marshal Bob Galbraith
Joanne A Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com
1640 La Vista Del Oceano Drive, Santa Barbara
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China Flat Road , Santa Barbara
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Sycamore Canyon Road , Santa Barbara
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Your Westmont Raymond Shares Life Lessons
by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott
Jeff Raymond shares snapshots of personal stories and lessons learned from nearly four decades in college athletics in a new book, Lessons Learned While Running in Circles
Raymond, Westmont’s sports information director for seven years until 2004, has served as the college’s athletics compliance administrator since 2021. He says the book offers wisdom to guide our lives whether we’re athletes or not.
“I use my background in track and field to frame the direction of the book, but use examples from several sports and events as well as the Bible to make the material relatable to a broad spectrum of readers,” Raymond says.
He examines five areas that can help all of us honor God in sports and life.
1. Little tasks are the building blocks of big accomplishments.
2. Strive to be your best, not to win a prize.
3. Don’t pass up today’s opportunities for tomorrow’s dreams.
4. Don’t lose sight of your goals when clouds get in the way.
5. The race is never run alone.
“Instead of simply saying to an athlete or coach: ‘You need to take care of details,’ or ‘You need to be a good teammate,’ I wanted to use short stories or examples to make that point in a unique and memorable way,” he says.
Raymond has included questions at the end of each chapter to spur introspection from the readers, such as: What motivates you to be successful? Name a goal you set but never achieved. Are you able to remain patient when challenges arise? Would others consider you a good teammate?
“We’re all traveling through a life filled with opportunities, challenges, mountain tops and valleys,” he says. “No two people travel the same path, but we can all learn from our experiences if we take the time to reflect on how we moved from one point in life to another. I hope and pray that the lessons in this book encourage readers to examine their experiences – from the everyday to the life-altering – and find the nuggets of
truth that spur their growth and keep them moving toward whatever God has planned for them.”
Raymond previously served as the athletic director and head track and field coach at Trinity Christian College in Illinois (2004-10) and as the assistant athletic director and head track and field coach at Grace College in Indiana (2010-21).
Last year, he published two Christian fiction novels, The Medici Quest: Search for Redemption and The Alcuin Letter: Quest for Faith
Environmentalist Shares Career Journey
William Morris, a faith-based climate activist, shared his journey – from growing up near an oil refinery in Torrance to his current work in environmental justice. The lecture was the first of a new series about careers in environmental studies hosted by Sustainable Westmont and stemming from the college’s new environmental studies major.
Westmont Page 334
The definitive biography of one of the most influential and innovative figures in the history of American finance who revolutionized Wall Street and whose story reads like a real-life Great Gatsby.
“ENTERTAINING... THE BARON OF WALL STREET HELPS TO RECLAIM A MAJOR AMERICAN FINANCIAL FIGURE FROM THE SHADOWS.”
–THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Written by local author William R. Loomis Jr., a retired investment banker and a former chief executive of Lazard.
Jeff Raymond
Knoll-top California hacienda on approximately 5 acres. This custom-built, gated, and private retreat is just minutes from town. A dramatic great room greets you upon entering the home from the front courtyard. Additional features include alder hardwood floors throughout, vintage French tile floors in the kitchen and family room, a wine room, media library, and an office or flex space. The primary suite is on the main level with direct access to the pool and spa. Several covered loggias, including one with a fireplace, spill out to the terraces and gardens. Stunning pool and spa. This home offers the ultimate indoor-outdoor California lifestyle. Dramatic views include coastline, white water, islands, harbor, mountains, valleys, and polo fields.
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Far Flung Travel A Watershed Moment
by Chuck Graham
It might only happen once every several years. A steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus leaves its ocean realm, forges an aquatic path up a river mouth, navigates a flood plain, and eventually swims up a boulder-choked creek to lay its eggs in a pool of loose, sandy soil – the gentle ebb and flow of the creek inviting for this endangered anadromous fish.
For steelhead trout, this nuanced terrain is increasingly difficult to come by. The aquatic passage is daunting to say the least. For the roughly 187 steelhead trout left in the wild in Southern California – a true trout species that swims against the grain from the ocean to their spawning grounds in creeks of coastal ranges and forests – the ideal habitat is at a premium.
Much of the steelhead trout’s historic habitat has been wiped out by agriculture and urban sprawl. Harbors, break walls, culverts and dredging also contribute to a list of impediments that go on and on.
However, the partnering of nonprofits –like South Coast Habitat Restoration and Ojai Valley Land Conservancy – with the U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife and others, provides hope of steering a dif-
ferent course. It’s a passage requiring a lot of years of heavy lifting, requiring the removal of barriers, rerouting creek flows, and native plant restoration to enhance the steelhead’s survival.
Just above Ojai, along Highway 33, 13 miles of the North Fork Matilija Creek and adjacent Bear Creek in the Los Padres National Forest have just received an aquatic facelift. It took 18 long years from the early development stages to habitat restoration in the boulder-strewn runnels to the last native flora planted in the project area, but the Wheeler Gorge Aquatic Organism Passage Project is complete. It now offers a sliver of hope to one tough fish.
“This is a watershed moment how this project came together, the partners and passion that carried this project through,” said Kim Winter, supervisor for the Los Padres National Forest. “This will be a lasting result that people will appreciate for years to come.”
Of course, conservation isn’t free. The project cost $6 million, and was funded by Wildlife Conservation Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Los Padres National Forest, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Patagonia.
“We’ve been working on steelhead projects for two decades,” said Mauricio Gomez, director of South Coast Habitat Restoration. “We’re thankful for our partners, and happy to complete this restoration to improve habitat for steelhead.”
One Steely Fish
What a switch hitter means to a Major League baseball team, also applies to steelhead trout within their aquatic realm. An anadromous fish such as salmon, lamprey, sturgeon and steelhead trout are migratory species where its life cycle commits most of its time to the ocean but returns to freshwater streams to spawn. Although steelheads and salmon share many traits, steelheads can spawn many times, whereas salmon only spawn once.
Far Flung Page 304
Conservation groups and Los Padres National Forest personnel gathering on the new bridge over Bear Creek
Steady flow on the North Fork Matilija Creek
follows. It was either that or the word “fiddlesticks” all over the place.
“I was a runaway at 11 years old. That was the 10th time I made the attempt. First time I ran away, I only got as far as the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. This time I hitchhiked to Northern California where my cousin lived on a commune.”
For the past 50 years, Schoer has advocated, hollered, and (figuratively) bunched lapels in his shaking fists in the name of humane and effective mental health care. The guy came by his inclinations the hard way. As is frankly described on the Sanctuary Centers site, Schoer’s mother was tormented by mental health issues. His scarifying childhood experiences would form Schoer’s future personhood and sense of mission. At the time, of course, the kid couldn’t understand the ink-dark shadows enveloping his mom. He just knew he had to leave.
A serial runaway, Schoer was often accompanied on his sprints by one or another pal with a similar truant wanderlust. He and another kid had in fact tried the Escape to California scheme once before. They quit the city and got as far as Ohio, where his buddy’s crying jag put the kibosh on their shared dream and they headed back home. “So I decid-
Straight Outta Syracuse U –newly-minted steamroller in his vestments (courtesy photo)
ed to go by myself,” Schoer says, not unreasonably. Having by now perfected his Greyhound Houdini act, the kid made it to California.
When the 11-year-old cross-country argonaut arrived, his surprised cousin showed him around. “It was a commune above Walnut Creek in a little town called La Honda,” Schoer says. His cousin had dropped out of Northwestern following a windfall. “He played the stock market on the side, made a fortune, dropped out of school, and then found drugs.” It’s worth noting here that at 11 years old, Schoer had already been introduced to the vicissitudes of precarious mental health and co-occurring disorders – the latter a keynote in Sanctuary Centers’ present
revolution-in-progress. The commune was an eye-opener.
“They were all heroin addicts but they ran a bread baking business,” Schoer says. “They sold to all the bakeries in Walnut Creek and Berkeley. They were renowned for their baking, but their breads were subsidizing their lifestyle.”
The 11-year-old Barry nevertheless reveled in his time at the commune, as one would. His cousin had other ideas.
“After four months we got up one morning and my cousin said, ‘Here.’ I said, ‘What’s that?’ He said, ‘It’s a bus ticket. If you don’t do anything else, finish high school. You’re going home today.”
Lobbying and Lobotomies
The firmness of his cousin’s directive (and later an engaged H.S. counselor) saw Schoer to his next chapter. He was studying Law at Syracuse U. when an elective psych class waylaid his Atticus Finch, and he ended up graduating with a degree in Psych and Social Work. His post-grad intro to the profession included vertiginous highs and lows.
He worked for a nonprofit that took him along to the state capital of Albany to witness a lobbying effort aimed at changing public intoxication from jail time to treatment time. “I got to go to Albany and that was cooler than
IS IT A COLD...
anything. Watching all these legislators, that’s really what made the shift,” Schoer says.
A later stint at then-infamous Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital gave Schoer’s determination horrified ballast and momentum for the contentious journey ahead. “The staff carried cattle prods. Probably 50% of the patients were in four-point or six-point restraints at any given time. They were still doing partial lobotomies. They were doing hundreds of electroconvulsive therapy treatments a week, and I had to assist on all of those. What I saw at Bellevue was everything I came to abhor about mental health treatment.”
Next week: Barry Schoer and Stephanie Drake, PhD explain Sanctuary Centers’ implausible past and paradigm-tweaking future
OR IS IT MOLD?
Unexplained allergies? Persistent fatigue? Stop guessing with your family’s health.
hides behind walls.
The Active Verb Form: bossy directive fronts Sanctuary Centers’ Outpatient Services Building – to great effect (photo by Lola Ban West)
“Last Light in Paradise is drop-dead perfect. In all my years of investigating for the United States and the President–this is the kind of novel you go to for truth, heart, and the deep pleasure of a master storyteller.”
– Richard C. LaMagna
Former Director of Counternarcotics White House National Security Council and former Deputy Chief of Intelligence DEA HQ
– Fannie Flagg
Now available at Chaucer’s Books, Tecolote Book Shop and Godmothers
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Entertainment (Continued from 16)
Battle After Another’s Cassandra Kulukundis’ early line about “We want people to know what we do,” wasn’t accompanied by any kind of explanation of what it is that casting directors actually do.
The Virtuosos tribute is invariably the best event at SBIFF year after year ( Roger Durling called this year’s edition, which began about an hour after the Super Bowl ended, “SBIFF’s halftime show”), and Sunday’s show was no exception. Not in the least due to Teyana Taylor , the One Battle After Another actress who not only wore the most astoundingly gorgeous dress in the history of the SBIFF’s tributes but simply stole the show with her responses and sheer presence, beginning with her kicking the gown’s long train out of the way in order to sit down for the interview. She then handed interviewer Dave Karger a piece of the fabric that had fallen off, telling him it even smells like her, before the host sniffed it and stuffed it in his coat pocket.
While Hollywood is surely a youth-oriented town – and at the Virtuosos, save for the great Amy Madigan (Weapons) – we had a trio of big-name octogenarians occupying stages and red carpets on SBIFF’s first full day last Thursday. Uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, 82, (Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.) dished with Durling after a special screening of F1; Jane Fonda, 88, returned to town less than two years after being honored by the CEC at Earth Day, to discuss the enviro-film Gaslit, and Dustin Hoffman, 88, was the surprise presenter of the Modern Master Award to Adam Sandler.
The honoree, by the way, expressed gratitude to In-N-Out Burger’s “Flying Dutchman” in his acceptance speech. True to his word, Sandler then eschewed hanging with the hoi polloi at SBIFF’s post-party at the Tamsen Gallery (which is exhibiting Jeff Bridges’ Widelux-camera images) to chew on a late dinner at our In-N-Out on Turnpike Road with some of the festival’s volunteers. A man of the people!
Coming Attractions at SBIFF
Although most of the celebrity tributes, filmmaker panels, and major movie premieres took place over the festival’s first eight days, there’s still lots more to come before SBIFF 41 wraps on Saturday, February 14. On the marquee, SBIFF’s Outstanding Performer Award goes to Michael B. Jordan, who had dual roles as the twin brother protagonists in Sinners. That film set an all-time record for Oscar nods with 16 on Thursday night, while Kate Hudson, nominated for Song Sung Blue, accepts the Arlington Artist Award on Friday night. Saturday morning brings the final panel of the year in the always illuminating “It Starts with the Script” writers, this year featuring six scribes, three from each category (two others were part of Tuesday’s Directors Awards.
On the film front, Brishkay Ahmed ’s In the Room , which has its U.S. premiere February 12-13 – one of several films from our northern neighbor making stateside debuts at SBIFF this weekend – shares resistance stories from five Afghan women who come together to bear witness to acts of defiance, sisterhood, and the enduring fight for women’s freedom in Afghanistan. Five celebrities of the Afghan diaspora will be on hand for Q&A sessions, including Nelofer PaziraFisk , award-winning Afghan Canadian author, journalist and filmmaker who
Entertainment Page 364
Laughs and leisure on stage at the Virtuosos Awards (photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for SBIFF)
Wed, Feb 18 / 7-8:30 PM Granada Theatre
FREE (registration required)
In anticipation of Tiler Peck’s March performance at the Granada Theatre, take a deeply personal look at one of ballet’s most celebrated artists as she faces a career crossroads.
A Joyce Theater Production
Tue, Mar 3 & Wed, Mar 4 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre -FREE FILMTiler Peck: Suspending
Body Wise
Let’s Get a Massage!
by Ann Brode
n January, California officially recognized certified massage therapists as “health care providers.”
The unanimous vote by the entire state legislature to extend professional status to massage professionals was an overdue acknowledgement that hands-on therapy is, indeed, a healing art. This has been a long time coming, hopefully leading to insurance coverage in the near future.
- Healing injuries and long-term pain relief.
- Reduced muscle tension, better postural alignment, and enhanced flexibility.
- Improved circulation and better sleep.
- Decreased stress and better focus.
Luxury Facials
Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing known to humankind. Throughout the centuries, it has been an essential part of health care in every culture. Way back in 3000 BCE India, massage was an Ayurvedic medicinal practice used to restore balance, heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent/cure illness. Ancient Egyptians are credited with developing reflexology (foot massage) for healing specific ailments. When Buddhist monks brought massage to Japan in 1000 BCE, they were instrumental in developing a variation called Shiatsu. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates (460-377 BCE), was one of the first to advocate for massage as a legitimate, scientific medical practice to treat joint pain, injuries, and athletic fatigue. He famously advised that physicians should be experienced in many things, “but assuredly in rubbing.”
Fast forward to the 20 th century. Since the 1970s, massage and bodywork have been part of an accelerated pursuit of whole person well-being. This is when basic Swedish massage evolved to include the deeper transformative bodywork of Ida Rolf, Judith Aston, Joseph Heller, and Bill Williams. This is when Jon Kabat-Zinn began teaching mindfulness-based stress relaxation, and Peter Levine developed body-oriented techniques for healing trauma. This is when Fritz Perls influenced the rise of Gestalt and somatic practice. And when the evidence-based results came in from all this exploration, it legitimized the practice of mind-body medicine. Experientially, this all makes sense.
As anyone who’s received a routine massage at a health spa or a chair massage in the airport can attest; massage decreases tension and increases relaxation. It can also quiet the mind, affording a respite from endless chatter and churning worry. Going further and signing on for regular bodywork with a specialist trained to address individual needs offers even more physical and mental health benefits. These include:
But the bottom line is this: no matter what level of hands-on care you receive, it just feels good – physically and emotionally. Being cared for. In these stressful, distracting, and disturbing times, an hour or two dedicated solely to being cared for makes a lot of sense. Once you’re lying on the massage table, all you need to do is let go and let yourself receive. This can be tricky if receiving is difficult, or your mind is full of non-stop verbiage. Here are a few tips for wholly being there – in mind and body – to soak up all the wonderful benefits of hands-on healing:
- Let your practitioner know what you need/want and feel free to give feedback to get it just right.
- This is about your body. So, tune in. Either focus on your body breathing – in and out, in and out – or center your awareness on where you’re being touched. “This is my neck, this is my foot” and so forth.
- Don’t despair if your mind slips in and carries you off to planning, worrying, or ruminating. Once you notice that happening, just come back to your breath and the sensation of touch.
- Feel your tension soften. Let your weight sink into the table. Open fully to receive not just the physical caring but the intention of healing it conveys.
- Savor each moment. This is a gift you’re giving to yourself. And be sure to leave time afterwards to linger a bit before jumping back into the fray.
Why not schedule healing time for yourself soon? To find a good practitioner, ask a friend for a recommendation. “Who’s doing great massage/bodywork in Santa Barbara?” You can also find a whole array of offerings and practitioners through the directory of our local massage school by googling “affiliatesSanta Barbara Therapy Institute” (www. sbbti.com/find-local-therapists.html). Or sign up for a treatment at Le Reve Spa downtown (https://le-reve.com), or a whole day of rejuvenation at the San Ysidro Ranch (www.sanysidroranch. com/spa-and-salon). Take it from me: one of the best things you can do for overall health and well-being is to find a good massage or bodywork therapist and book once a month.
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Library Mojo
Tell Us Why You Love Your Library!
by Jace Turner
I love that the library has books I can take home and read. I check out lots of books!
Dear Library, thank you for always smiling and saying “hello” to me when I visit. It puts me in a good mood.
I didn’t know that the library offered free help for people looking for jobs. I love my library!
The I Love My Library campaign, initiated by Library Support Groups, invites the Santa Barbara and Montecito communities to visibly and collectively show support for its public libraries and library staff. From February 1-14, Valentine-themed collection boxes will be placed at participating local businesses and schools throughout Santa Barbara and Montecito. At each location, pre-printed postcards will be
available to make participation easy and accessible for all ages. Library Support Groups will use these messages in ongoing advocacy efforts to demonstrate broad public support for libraries.
“Using your public library and sharing your support are powerful ways to advocate for libraries,” said Brandon Beaudette, Santa Barbara Public Library director. “Through our collections, free programs for all ages, and community partnerships, we’re committed to offering services that are open to all and strengthen community connections.”
That community support has a tangible impact, and the Montecito Library is a great example. Last year, community advocacy helped lead to several enhancements, including new book returns, a revitalized Reppy Reading Room, and refreshed paving outside the library. Beloved programs such as Knit ‘n’ Needle and the Montecito Book Club continued to see dedicated attendance, while new offerings drew record participation. In 2026, library staff are building on community input by bringing back the Montecito Poetry Club and are introducing special crafting events, such as Love
at First Sniff. Through the continued efforts of support groups like the Friends of the Montecito Library and dedicated library staff, the Montecito Library remains an accessible, welcoming space where residents can gather to read, learn, and connect.
Where can you find the I Love My Library Collection Boxes?
Alpha Resource Center
Art and Soul Gallery
Art From Scrap
B’nai B’rith Congregation
Brass Bear
Carrillo Recreation Center
Cathedral Athletics SWELL
Chaucer’s Bookstore
Community Arts Workshop
Franklin Neighborhood Center
Friendship Center
Gallery 113
Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara
Grant House Sewing Center
Hope Elementary School
Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
Laguna Blanca School (Upper & Lower)
Lama Dog Tap Room + Bottle Shop
Louise Lowry Davis Center
MacKenzie Park Lawn Bowling
Maravilla Senior Living
SANTA BARBARA AUTHOR ELIZABETH UPTON
Mesa Books
Monte Vista Elementary School
Montecito Public Library
Montecito Village Travel
Montecito Bank & Trust
Mosaic Locale
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation
Roosevelt Elementary School
Rori’s Ice Cream (all locations)
Samarkand Retirement Community
Santa Barbara Art Museum
Santa Barbara City Hall
Santa Barbara Eastside Library
Santa Barbara Public Library
Santa Barbara Visitor Center
Santa Barbara YMCA
SBCC School of Extended Learning
Shalhoob’s (all three locations)
Storyteller Children’s Center
Tecolote Book Shop
The Crafters Library
Trinity Episcopal Church
Unitarian Society
Vices and Spices Coffee
Vieja Valley Elementary School
Vista Del Monte
This column is written in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Montecito Library, Friends of the Santa Barbara Public Library, Members of the City Library Board – In partnership with the Santa Barbara Public Library.
Gritty. Suspenseful. Intense.
“In a city ruled by the mafia, an unlikely trio confronts sinister forces, navigating a perilous path of betrayal and redemption.”
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Steelhead trout is a subspecies of Oncorhynchus mykiss, which encompasses all rainbow trout species. This biological relationship allows steelhead and rainbow trout to spawn together. Once their offspring are swimming, each fish makes that life choice to remain in shaded freshwater creeks as a rainbow trout or venturing out into the ocean as a steelhead trout. Fortunes favor the bold.
road that crossed over several vital channels of North Fork Matilija Creek, were entirely removed.
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Equipped with their torpedo-shaped, streamlined bodies, steelheads are strong swimmers and are gifted with specialized kidneys allowing them to make a seamless transition between saltwater and freshwater creeks. Their sleek frames reduce drag during their migrations. Adults typically measure 24-36 inches and weigh 6-20 pounds, though some exceptional steelheads have exceeded 40 pounds.
“They are the cockroaches of aquatic systems,” said Kristie Klose, fisheries biologist for Los Padres National Forest. “They are tough fish, real badasses, going back and forth, to and from the ocean.”
Consider that steelhead trout within the Los Padres National Forest have also endured many recent wildfires followed by heavy rains and debris flows. Combine that with a lot of manmade hindrances, and steelheads are certainly up against it.
“We can preserve habitat above, in the forest,” continued Klose, “but not down below in urban areas. There’s so much agriculture and urbanization.”
The project was finished in December 2025, two weeks before significant rain arrived. During those heavy downpours the region received 35 inches. It was a great test to see how the newly restored site stood up against the elements.
Following those storms, Klose did stream surveys in both the North Fork Matilija and Bear creeks searching for steelheads in the project area. There were no fish found, but in a nearby side stream she discovered steelheads.
Recreating Riparian Habitat
Reconstructing stream channels posed the biggest challenges to the project. Four barriers, which was also the old
“We removed the whole road in Site 2,” said Gomez. “When you have road crossings in creeks it doesn’t allow fish to swim upslope. Riparian habitats are like kidneys. They have higher oxygen content.”
A new sturdy bridge was built over Bear Creek to accommodate steelheads and other aquatic species such as rough-skinned newts and Pacific green tree frogs. Federally and State-listed species like Bell’s Vireo, California redlegged frog, and southwestern pond turtle could also benefit from restoration efforts. The bridge was built to withstand a 100-year flood, and it also enhances recreational usage in the Wheeler Gorge Campground.
Seed collecting was also vital to the project. Over 1,000 native plants were planted while recreating habitat. In all, 30 different species of native flora are found throughout the 13 stream miles of restored habitat. Some of those include white and black sage, mugwort, alder berry, willows, oak and sycamore trees.
“Plants were already established when planted,” said Sophie McLean, a native plant specialist with Ojai Valley Land Conservancy. “It’s so important to plant natives in a project like this. It helps with erosion, but it takes time to collect seeds and to recreate a canopy.”
Conservation takes many years to complete. When one project ends, another begins. Matilija Dam anyone?
Chuck Graham is a freelance writer and photographer based in Carpinteria, where he also leads kayak tours and backpacking trips in Channel Islands National Park
A rough-skinned newt climbing out of the creek
Southwestern pond turtles enjoy the rocky creeks and shady canopies in Los Padres National Forest
Photo courtesy of Jones Snowboards
SHERIFF’S BLOTTER M
Trespasser with Weapons / Birnam Wood
Tuesday, January 27, at 13:30 hours
Deputies responded to Birnam Wood Golf Course to investigate a report of a subject, later identified, trespassing and threatening people with a baton/billy club. Subject barricaded himself in the fitness director’s office inside of the club house prior to deputies’ arrival. The subject ultimately exited the office and was taken into custody. While deputies began to search his person, he turned and spit on one of the deputies’ faces. A search of his vehicle was conducted, and deputies located two swords, two fighting sticks, and a loaded pistol. While in the back of a patrol unit, the subject made multiple threats stating he would use a firearm to shoot and kill deputies on scene. Subject was ultimately arrested for being in violation of 69 PC, 417 PC, 243(b) PC, 22210 PC, 602(m) PC and 25400(a)(1) PC. A search warrant for his house was granted and deputies seized numerous firearms, swords, knives, magazines, ammunition and a safe.
Sexual Assault / San Ysidro Road
Wednesday, January 28, at 11:43 hours
The victim reported a sexual assault to STESA (Standing Together to End Sexual Assault) that had occurred on 10/24/2025. Victim reported that an old friend of hers sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. Report documented and forwarded to detectives.
Meth / 900 block Romero Canyon
Wednesday, January 28, at 01:48 hours
Deputies contacted the driver because he and his vehicle matched the description of a reported suspicious vehicle in the area. Upon contact with the subject, who was sitting in the front seat of his vehicle with the keys in the ignition, deputies noticed several empty beer cans in the bed of his truck, a red “whip it” (nitrous oxide) container on his lap, and signs of intoxication. A consent search of the vehicle revealed two methamphetamine pipes with a usable quantity of methamphetamine, 158 grams of marijuana, and two butane “whip it” containers. Subject provided a urine sample which tested presumptive positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, THC, MDMA, and alcohol. Subject was transported to and booked in the main jail without further incident.
Misdemeanor / Tracks Depot Road
Friday, January 30, at 15:54 hours
Two subjects were called in by a neighbor. One of the subjects was arrested and booked on four misdemeanor warrants.
ierre-Joseph Redouté was among the great flower painters of any age. During Napoleon’s reign he was commissioned to paint the roses in Empress Josephine’s garden at Château de Malmaison, her villa outside of Paris. She was devoted to horticulture and filled gardens with both native and exotic roses. Redouté’s fine detailed watercolors were translated into stipple engravings by the best printers in Paris in order to reach a wider audience. The plates were etched with small dots rather than lines. Redouté refined the process to best capture the subtle effects, luminosity, sheen and dimensionality. They are perhaps the most frequently reproduced of all botanical illustrations.
If you are a fan of classical botanical and nature art like Les Roses, be sure to visit the Maximus Gallery at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
Les Roses, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Paris, 1817–1824. Gift of Josephine Arader
Spirituality Matters
Rod Lathim’s Light-ening Rod for Life
by Steven Libowitz
Santa Barbara native multi-hyphenate Rod Lathim has just published a memoir, but don’t expect it to read like typical autobiographical efforts. Finding The Divine Child: A Journey of Spirit, Light & Art is a bit like Lathim’s life in the arts – where his endeavors include serving as an actor, director, producer, photographer, singer, writer and fine artist – in that it’s not exactly a linear narrative or simply a first-person accounting of his accomplishments. Rather, the book includes interviews with others, along with recollections of his 60+ years on the planet, all with a similar spiritual theme.
lives?” he said.
I’m sculpting with light. I really believe that at our core, we’re light and energy.”
Fast forward a few years, and Lathim’s neon wonders are the solo focus of L.I.T. –Love, Illumination, Transcendence, his largest art show to date, which opened earlier this month and runs through March 2 at Art & Soul Gallery, 1323 State Street.
Unlike the typical artist, Lathim has penned lengthy passages posted next to each of the 36 pieces that make up the exhibit, so visitors can catch up on the details of what came through him to inspire the creation of the works, many of which depict musical instruments.
“I enjoy sharing what motivated me to get to that point,” Lathim explained. “I’ve gotten such good feedback from people already.”
The art has been connecting with others, even those who simply wander in while waiting in the queue for the tributes held nightly at SBIFF, as the Arlington Theatre is just steps away.
Estates... states... Gardens... ardens...
“A regular autobiography would be boring to me,” Lathim explained. “So I jumped from when I was 15 to the present day and then back to college. But really the thread is based on a quote that a dear friend of mine, Maryellen Kelly, once said about me – ‘I think there’s a divine child in Rod that helps other people’s divine child come out into the universe and play.’ I used that thread to talk about my work in the arts and my work through spirit.”
Indeed, Lathim said, spirit has been the guiding light for his choices and inspirations for almost half a century. A sampling of his humane adventurism would include creating Access Theatre – which morphed from an all-volunteer community theater to the first fully accessible professional theatrical touring ensemble, perhaps most memorably for Storm Reading, which played around the world; writing and directing Unfinished Business, a play about his mother passing over to the other side; directing War Shirt; embarking on endeavors in visual art; and even producing concerts by local musicians Amanda McBroom and Gil Rosas as benefits for the Center for Successful Aging.
“It’s not just doing the work. It’s very much about, how does it impact people’s
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There are also lengthy sections about his long association with the Big Yellow House, the iconic historic building in Summerland, the seaside village founded as a spiritual community. That was the spark that set Lathim on his spiritual life. It’s a path he’s still traveling decades later.
“I believe that we all have a team around us, looking after us and helping steer us and guide our path as our lives intersect with people, places, opportunities and enlightening, educational moments,” Lathim writes in Finding the Divine Child “I have long had an ongoing relationship with my spirit guides, my ‘posse’ or team.”
Putting the spotlight on other people is one of the major connective tissues in Lathim’s life, which is why there are so many conversations with associates running through the book.
“My role, part of my mission on the planet, is to work with people and encourage them to express themselves, tell their stories, have a voice, have a venue, whether it’s a palette or a book or a stage,” Lathim said. “My life has been a series of wonderful events and experiences, often made rich by my interaction and my collaboration with other people, with other artists, other writers, other visual artists, actors, directors, writers to create work that has an impact on the world.”
Without a doubt, though, Lathim’s latest endeavor, his work with sculpture fashioned out of neon-filled tubing, is mostly a solo endeavor. Also without a doubt, the artist credits something beyond himself with getting started in the field. Surrendering to spirit is also what led Lathim to working in neon as a medium.
“I was literally guided to start doing neon,” he said. “Although when these images started coming down from my muses, I thought, ‘Whoa, whoa, hold on. I don’t even know how neon works. But they just kept showing up. A few years ago, I got it. I had that aha moment that it’s the ultimate medium for me because
Their reactions have underscored his purpose in creating the sculpture.
“One of the most common comments I’ve received since the show three days ago has been, ‘This uplifts me and it makes me happy.’ Bringing light into someone’s life is a big goal of mine, and something we need now more than ever.”
Finding The Divine Child is available exclusively at the Art & Soul Gallery through February, including at a special event on February 21 when Lathim will discuss both the book and the art exhibit.
Making Light of Spirit
Longtime Santa Barbara practitioner Dr. James Kwako, who has often led one-off workshops at his offices over the years, is inaugurating a new monthly series called The Light of Healing to take place on the second Saturday of each month, beginning February 14 with “How to Build a Practical Spirit-Based Life.” The event explores practical ways to work with our innate spirit while living fully in the human experience. The concept is that while fear, distress, and pain can easily dominate our attention, the life of spirit, which is a higher function of our hearts and minds, is always available to support us through even the most difficult challenges.
The gathering, slated for 10-11:30 am, is designed to be grounded, accessible and directly applicable to everyday life. Attendees can expect to receive practical ways to increase awareness of the presence of spirit; guidance on working with spirit to support learning, growth and healing; exploration of spirit’s gifts, including wisdom, compassion, courage, creativity, resilience and loving service; and tools for building a more balanced, supported and gratifying life.
Kwako’s office is at 3015 State Street, Suite B. Admission is free, but reservations at (805) 565-3959 are strongly recommended.
Neon Nocturne by Rod Lathim
Morris’ love of nature and creation began on family trips to state and national parks in California. “It instilled a sense of wonder and awe at what I was seeing,” he said. “I grew up going to church, but oftentimes I feel like creation is where I experience God’s presence the most.”
In between trips, he’d often watch PBS shows such as Nature and Nova to learn more about nature and science. He also learned about nearby homes that were being damaged because of methane building up underground that would eventually explode and cause the floors to break apart.
“I got interested in the climate and environmental issues not just because of the science, but because sometimes the justice aspect gets ignored,” he said. “We talk about bringing down emissions or how many degrees the Earth has warmed, but this is what it means to the people who live around it. It means poisoned air, water and land with children growing up surrounded by toxins.”
Morris, who graduated from Humboldt State University, has held a number of freelance environmental jobs and serves as a fulltime faith organizer for Greenpeace. He emphasized the importance of faith-based climate action, citing his work in Kenya, Chad, and Indonesia, as well as his role in advo-
cating for fossil fuel divestment within the United Methodist Church.
“There were young people in the denomination who said investing in the fossil fuel industry didn’t line up with their faith and values,” he said. “If we say we care about creation and our neighbor, why are we putting church money into investing in those things?”
He also discussed various career paths in environmental studies, including policy work, media, and interfaith organizing.
Organizer Christine Seibert, assistant director of environmental studies, pointed out there’s a wide variety of courses in the major. “This is an interdisciplinary field, which means you can go into a lot of different careers with a degree in environmental studies,” she said. “The purpose of this series is to highlight people in different environmental careers so you can see how they got there, how they found an internship and how they made the tough decision between taking a job or going to grad school.”
Baseball Pitches a Sweep
Westmont baseball swept the season-opening series against CSU San Bernardino, 14-3, 9-7 and 8-7, at Carr Field. The Warriors entered the new season ranked No. 13 nationally in the American Baseball Coaches Association Preseason Poll, No. 17 in the DII Baseball Top-25 Ranking, and No. 24 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America Preseason Poll.
PacWest Conference competition begins against Azusa Pacific in a doubleheader Friday, Feb. 13, at 11 am at Carr Field.
Ventura native Tanner Beltowski hit 6-for-9 with two doubles and a home run in the young season. Junior right-handed relief pitcher Josh Hickey of Yucaipa threw four and two-thirds scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
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Josh Hickey kept the Yotes hitters off balance all weekend
partnership’s mission is to create a new educational pathway for students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare. Scott Wester, President and CEO of Cottage Health, explained in a press statement, “By expanding access to educational pathways and engaging students early, we’re helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals and strengthening care across Santa Barbara.”
Dare Holdren, principal at San Marcos added, “We couldn’t be more proud of this partnership with Cottage, the premier health organization in our community. The new facility will allow us to expand our program with new curriculum and internships, preparing even more students for healthcare careers in Santa Barbara. It sets the stage for students to build their lives and families right here in the community where they were raised.” With that, SMHS is working with Royal Pride Foundation to fund a dedicated building on campus for the academy with a target timeline of 2027.
First Pediatric Support Center Near Cottage
Two Santa Barbara-based nonprofits have joined forces to establish the tri-county’s first comprehensive Pediatric Support Center just steps from Cottage
Hospital. Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) has signed a partnership agreement with Hearts Aligned to share space at TBCF’s newly purchased property at 2323 De La Vina Street, expanding support for families facing childhood illness. The center will offer a safe, welcoming place for respite between treatments, for private conversations, and access to resources such as a no-cost food pantry. Planned renovations include caregiver rooms, a sibling recreation area, therapy spaces, and quiet areas for rest.
“Everyone benefits when nonprofit organizations pool their resources,” said Brittany Avila Wazny, TBCF’s executive director, noting the value of locating such a haven close to the hospital.
Vivian Solodkin, executive director of Hearts Aligned, added that sharing the space will expand both organizations’ reach. Together, the partnership will serve families navigating both cancer and non-cancer pediatric critical care needs across Santa Barbara County.
NeuroField Appoints New Director
Santa Barbara-based NeuroField has named Meighann A. Helene as its new director of marketing and head of strategy & growth, bringing to the
company Meighann’s more than 20 years of executive experience spanning technology, communications, and nonprofit leadership. A cognitive scientist by training, Helene previously worked at IBM, translating complex AI and data science concepts for global audiences, and most recently served as a producer with The Burning Man Project. In her new role, she will lead brand strategy, marketing communications, and growth initiatives across NeuroField’s hardware, software, education, and clinical platforms. CEO Dr. Tiff Thompson praised Helene’s rare blend of scientific fluency, creativity, and strategic vision as the company enters a new phase of expansion and visibility.
New Mammalogy Curator at SBMNH
The SB Museum of Natural History announced this week that Ally Coconis Ph.D. has been appointed the museum’s new curator of mam -
malogy. She will bring her expertise to the museum’s collections, artifacts, and documents, supported by her experience in museum work and specimen collection in the field. Her expertise is in woodrats, and she explains in her press release, “I’d like to help people understand the roles that mammals play in an ecosystem. Woodrat nests have been dubbed centers of biodiversity where microclimate conditions create great homes for many arthropods, lizards, other small mammals, and even snakes. Small mammals have fast reproduction and life cycles, and that constant turnover makes it easier to see the effects of rapid climate and land use change, which are ever more apparent in this century.” Dr. Coconis previously worked for the Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City and completed her doctoral degree with research on woodrats at the University of Nevada in Reno.
Free Senior Days at Botanic Garden
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is welcoming community members ages 60 and better with six Free Senior Days scheduled throughout 2026, offering complimentary admission and special programming during its Centennial year. The free-admission Wednesdays will take place on February 18, April 15, June 10, August 19, October 14, and December 9, and include a docent-led tour at 11 am highlighting California native plants and the garden’s history. Now in its 12th year, the popular program encourages seniors to connect with nature, celebrate special occasions, and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of outdoor exploration. The initiative is generously sponsored by Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels, whose ongoing support has sustained
News Bytes Page 374
Meighann A. Helene (courtesy photo)
Dr. Ally Coconis (courtesy photo)
Elizabeth’s Appraisals Spirit Homes & Curio Cabinets
by Elizabeth Stewart
Spurred on by the other week’s article about the scorned lover who broke up a birdhouse with a claw hammer, and her successful donation of the hammer to the Zagreb Museum of Broken Relationships, GG has a miniature haunted spirit house that he wants to donate.
But where?
I suggested the Museum of Jurassic Technology on Venice Blvd. in Culver City, a museum dedicated to “incongruity in the face of unfathomable phenomena,” as stated on their website.
Do they accept objects as donations? Submit a proposal in writing to the curatorial staff, who seek small unique curios and specialized dioramas. GG will write a compelling narrative, a provenance, and references, the more obscure the better, tongue-in-cheekily scientific and scholarly.
You have concluded that the Museum of Jurassic Technology is not the kind of museum you expect. It is not a mainstream institution with a huge public presence. It is a hole in the wall Culver City storefront where truth, illusion, and collecting mania is on display. A favorite spot: when I brought my mother Elinor, her mathematician’s logical brain exploded with annoyance. “This isn’t real; none of this is true – and this is supposed to be a Museum. It is not rational, it makes no sense!” she said of the display of Horned Ants, the display of tiny wizards’ hats, and 10th century ossified tears.
GG’s haunted spirit house might fit in well: a hand carved teak san phra phum, a miniature temple in which reside good spirits who come out to battle the bad spirits. The good spirits are fed with flowers and sweets; propitiated, they will protect. The dragons on the multitiered roof come to life at night – hear them roar – but of course they are not “real,”
hauntings are not truth. Or are they? What is the truth? Is it fluid, subjective? What is a ‘real’ presentation? And in fact, what is a spirit, and what is a museum?
The Museum might sell the house in the Jurassic Technology Museum Shop, which is unlike any other. It is an extension of the museum, in all its absurdity and scientific jargon. Objects for purchase are couched in premodern alchemical terms: strange and beautiful, eerie and absurd. You can choose from the shop’s collection of books of eclectic creators, unheard-of artists, pseudo-scientists, “real” people who never made the mainstream; idiosyncratic and defying categorization. The gift shop has works created by the founder of the museum David Hildebrand Wilson. Pick up a brilliant book, Lawrence Weschler’s finalist for the Pulitzer Prize: Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and other Marvels of Jurassic Technology.
GG’s question is simple: “What is Jurassic Technology? Wasn’t the Jurassic period about 200 to 175 million years ago?” The time when dinosaurs and places like the Colorado Plateau of Southeastern
Utah were forming? The Museum website unabashedly states the institution is dedicated to relics from the LOWER Jurassic eras, those of curious and unusual technological qualities, significant to the scholar and to the general public. The emphasis, as I read it, is on an ancient mythical time before categories, before the world was a composite of systems separating science from art, imagination from fact. Here’s an example: The website states that the theme for the museum is the most complete museum of natural history the world has ever seen, and invokes not only Noah’s Ark, but the reputed First Museum, a 3rd century BCE “great institution” and community of scholars, whose compound included apartments, a botanical garden, zoological park, astronomical observatory, and of course the famed Library of Alexandria itself (as if a storefront museum in Culver City is second only to Alexandria! And that Noah’s Ark not only existed but is itself a museum).
It is true (if we can use that word) that in the 16th and 17th century wealthy men built Wunderkammer – cabinets to house curios and strange objects gathered to impress, or baffle, or amuse: the world’s first museums. These wonder cabinets were absorbed in the new concept of a public institution to promulgate truth in nature. Artist Charles Willson Peale established the famous Philadelphia Museum out of his family home in 1784, calling it “A Repository for Natural Curiosities.” This was the Nation’s first natural history museum. Peale was a follower of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (17121778), but by the 20th century, noble ideas such as those which founded Peale’s museum culminated in American tawdriness, such as the displays of tattooed ladies and Tom Thumbs by PT Barnum.
Thus, we have found a home for the Thai Spirit house: a donation value of $2,000 for this work which is neither spirit nor matter. Visit the Museum of Jurassic Technology: do not bring your logical mother. (Reader, I can always help with a donation, for which I can write a valuation to take “against” your income taxes, in many cases.)
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This hand-carved teak san phra phum could find a home at the Museum of Jurassic Technology’s gift store
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starred in the film Kandahar (2001), and Mozhdah Jamalzadah , an Afghan Canadian singer, actress, talk show host and women’s rights activist who was known as “The Oprah of Afghanistan.”
Also up for viewing: Not Made for Politics, about Belarusian women challenging a dictatorship that has lasted for nearly three decades; and Shakti, about a single mother and her daughter seeking redemption while fighting for justice in the aftermath of trauma in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Three of the shorts programs – with themes of “Fallouts & Frailties,” “Perilous Journeys,” and “Festival Circuit Faves” – debut on Thursday, with second screenings on Friday. The latter program is comprised of shorts that have been notably lauded by prior festivals’ test audiences. That roster includes Watching Walter, with all-time fave character actor Stephen Tobolowsky portraying an elderly Holocaust survivor who experiences a series of haunting memories when a customer drops off a pocket watch for repair. The Mitch Yapko-directed short has won a dozen awards in its myriad previous festival dates.
Two of the three Montecito-connected world premiere features have their second screening still to come, including Kerrilee Gore’s experimental enviro children’s film Stand By, Mother (9 pm, Friday) and Dale Griffiths Stamos’ Imbalance (9:20 am, Thursday), which stars Sharon Lawrence and Nicholas Gonzalez, the latter of whom starred in one of the better-reviewed Super Bowl commercials for e.l.f. Cosmetics opposite Melissa McCarthy Eternal Stoke, Joshua Pomer’s tribute to Santa Barbara surfer Chris Brown, screens both days.
Note to Reader… My mess up in the Montecito at the Movies department: We neglected to write about two short films that have members of the Zemeckis family involved. Committee Animal is directed by Robert Redfield (of the Spencer the Gardener doc More Than Just a Party Band), and stars our MJ book columnist Leslie Zemeckis, while son Rhys directed Nuns with Guns. Both have finished their respective runs. Sorry. Unless…
Be sure to check the schedule updates, as many of the most popular movies and/ or jury award-winning films will screen again on Saturday, February 14, when the majority of the 32 daily slots have yet to be filled. Among the films already slotted are a reprise of opening night’s charmer, A Mosquito in the Ear, and the very worthy closing night film Laundry Of special note is this year’s 10-10-10 Student Shorts, slated for 2 pm Saturday at the Arlington. PLEASE NOTE: The already-highly-regarded screening – 10 films created by 10 teams of professionally mentored writers and directors, each film 10-minutes in duration – has now been augmented. By what? By 10 composers’ respective original scores. We’re sure to see some future SBIFF professional returnees among the entries.
Some See-worthy Productions
A giant inflatable set of shark jaws serves as the portal to enter the New Vic, where Ensemble Theatre is producing the West Coast premiere of The Shark is Broken, set during the Jaws shoot in the waters of Martha’s Vineyard more than half a century ago. The theater sits directly across the street from 28Vic, the new gathering space that serves as HQ for SBIFF’s daily happy hours. Now comes word that the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is partnering with ETC for more ocean-centric storytelling, a series called “From Sea to Stage” starting February 12 with, what else, a film screening.
Row of Life, which played last year at SBIFF, follows renowned ocean rower, Marine Corps veteran, 3x Paralympian, and 14x Guinness World Record holder Angela Madsen as she attempts to row solo and unassisted across the Pacific Ocean. Madsen, director Soraya Simi, and a member of the SB Coast Guard will participate in a post-screening Q&A. Two weeks later, the museum shows David Attenborough’s most recent film, Ocean, which features local commercial fisherman Ray Kennedy and a segment on the Channel Islands. Kennedy and comrades will do a Q&A session following the screening.
Row of Life kicks off the “From Sea to Stage” series at the Maritime Museum this Feb. 12 (courtesy photo)
the program for more than a decade. “Our hope is that older members of our community feel welcomed, connected, and supported,” said Melissa Patrino, the Garden’s director of development. Advance reservations are required.
Historic First for SBTHP
The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation has elected Cody Makela as president, marking the first time a father and son have both served in the role. Makela follows his father, Craig Makela , continuing a family legacy deeply rooted in Santa Barbara history.
Free
Cody has volunteered with the Trust for a decade, joined the Board in 2018, and previously chaired the Audit and Development committees while serving as Secretary and First Vice President.
“It’s a real honor to serve as president of the Trust, especially following in my dad’s footsteps,” Cody said. A partner at Arlington Financial Advisors and a Certified Financial Planner™, Makela brings financial expertise to the nonprofit’s stewardship work. Craig Makela, a longtime Trust supporter and lifetime director, is an eighth-generation Santa Barbaran, with Cody representing the ninth. The Trust preserves historic sites and stories through the Presidio Research Center and yearround programs celebrating the region’s diverse heritage.
Rincon Surf Shop Slated to Reopen
In a surprise family purchase of the building at 650 Linden Avenue by Scott Smigel, the father-in-law of Rincon Designs owner Matt Moore, it has been announced that the locally owned surf shop is reopening in May of this year. The building was up for sale in 2024, and Moore closed the shop in 2025.
Moore – alongside his son Ryan, Ryan’s wife and three kids – will keep the shop in the family going forward.
Miscellany (Continued from 8)
Williamson, Denile Cooley, Susanne Jonsson, and Steve Brillhart lending a helping hand. It was Howard’s ninth time hosting this Super Bowl soirée and while balls flew and commercials crooned, the sports-hungry crowd noshed on the mélange of food and conversation. Drinks were flowing at Howard’s garden bar (a Bad Bunny may have even been spotted hopping about) and the
A Note from Richard
“I am improving quickly and hope to be back soon… Had a catastrophic stroke…
I miss you all and wish to see you all soon at the top of my game!”
sends his thanks for your many cards and good wishes, they are deeply appreciated. He reports that he’s improving every day, though there’s plenty of therapy ahead. Please continue sending your news and updates to his ever-helpful sidekick, Priscilla (805city@gmail.com).
Cody and Craig Makela (courtesy photo)
Enjoy
Senior Days at the SB Botanic Garden (courtesy photo)
Kim
real winners this year were everyone who attended.
These sports enthusiasts came to win (photo by Priscilla)
The food bar… where the real action takes place! (photo by Priscilla)
Howard Cannon (center) in a time out (photo by Priscilla)
Richard
NOTICE OF PENDING ACTION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE, CONDITIONALLY APPROVE, OR DENY A COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
This may affect your property. Please read.
Notice is hereby given that the Director of the Planning and Development Department intends to take an action to approve, app rove with conditions, or deny an application for a Coastal Development Permit for the project described below. At this time it is n ot known when this action may occur; however, the earliest this action may occur is on the eleventh day following the date of this notice indicated below.
PUBLIC COMMENT: A public hearing will not be held on this matter. Anyone interested in this matter is invited to submit written testimony in support or opposition to the proposed project 26CDP-00006. All letters should be addressed to Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101-2058, Attention: Keanna Lam. Letters, with two copies, should be received in the office of the Planning and Development Depar tment a minimum of 24 hours prior to the earliest date of action by the Director id entified above.
To receive additional information regarding this project, including the date the Coastal Development Permit is approved, and/ or to view the application and plans, or to provide comments on the project, please contact Keanna Lam at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101-2058, or by email at lamk@countyofsb.org, or by phone at (805) 568 -2074.
PROPOSAL: BECKER ADU
PROJECT ADDRESS: 20 MIRAMAR, MONTECITO, CA 93108 1st SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT
THIS
PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE COASTAL ZONE
DATE OF NOTICE: 2/12/2026
PERMIT NUMBER: 26CDP-00006
009-344-001
ZONING: 15-R-1
PROJECT AREA: 0.20
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Applicant: Darrell Becker
Proposed Project:
APPLICATION FILED: 1/13/2026
The project is a request for a Coastal Development Permit to allow for the construction of a new 670 -square-foot accessory dwelling unit. The project will require less than 50 cubic yards of cut and fill. No trees are proposed for removal. The parcel will continue to be served by the Montecito Water District, the Montecito Sanitary District, and the Montecito Fire Protection District. Access will continue to be provided off of Miramar A venue. The property is a 0.20-acre parcel zoned 15-R-1 and shown as Assessor's Parcel Number 009-344-001, located at 20 Miramar Avenue in the Montecito Community Plan Area, First Supervisorial District
APPEALS:
The decision of the Director of the Planning and Development Department to approve, conditionally approve, or deny this Coast al Development Permit 26CDP-00006 may be appealed to the Montecito Planning Commission by the applicant or an aggrieved person. The appeal must be filed within the 10 calendar days following the date that the Director takes action on this Coastal Development Permit. To qualify as an "aggriev ed person" the appellant must have, in person or through a representative, informed the Plannin g and Development Department by apropriate means prior to the decision on the Coastal Development Permit of the nature of their concerns, or, for good cause, was unable to do so.
Appeals must be filed with the Planning and Development Department online at https://aca-prod.accela.com/sbco/Default.aspx, by 5:00 p.m. within the timeframe identified above. In the event that the last day for filing an appeal falls on a non -business day of the County, the appeal may be timely filed on the next business day.
This Coastal Development Permit may be appealed to the California Coastal Commission after the appellant has exhausted all lo cal appeals, therefore a fee is not required to file an appeal.
CHALLENGES: If you challenge the project 26CDP-00006 in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in written correspondence to the Planning and Development Department.
For additional information regarding the appeal process, contact Keanna Lam.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Information about this project review process may also be viewed at: https://ca-santabarbaracounty.civicplus.pro/1499/Planning-Permit-Process-Flow-Chart
MONTECITO JOURNAL PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 12, 2026
Letters to the Editor
We Can Resolve the Immigration Issue Without Cruelty!
Many immigrants have come to our country as desperate refugees, some fleeing for their lives. The fact is most immigrants are honest, hardworking people, and this group has a lower crime rate than U.S. citizens.
Unless you’re a Native American, you’re an immigrant or come from immigrants. Many of the immigrants we came from were desperate and poor, often fleeing political persecution. But so many people have forgotten their roots, and have little sympathy for others’ plight. The cruelty that’s happening to people of color doesn’t matter since it’s not happening to their detractors. Once it happens to them , it will matter.
Solving the immigration issue doesn’t have to be difficult. There’s an alternative to punching down at the weak, the workers, the immigrants who are desperate and trying to create a better life. If we must punch somewhere, let’s punch up at the wealthy, the powerful, and all who exploit illegal immigrants for their cheap labor. Employers hiring illegal immigrants can be arrested and fined heavily. If employers are punished, the hiring of these illegal workers will decrease greatly. Going after employers will be cheaper than rounding up millions of individuals.
The immigration protocol being performed by the Trump administration is unacceptable with its lawless army called ICE invading our cities. People of color, including U.S. citizens, are being terrorized all over the country. Millions live in fear.
It’s time for an alternative to dragging good, hardworking, honest people off to miserable detention camps. It’s time to
stop zip-tying children, and deporting U.S citizen children without due process. It’s time to stop targeting citizens and non-citizens alike just because of the color of their skin. It’s time to stop ramming vehicles because someone has dark skin. It’s time to stop beating and killing people because they have dark skin. It’s time to stop grabbing people of color when they show up to their immigration hearings – these are honest people willing to go through the legal process. Trump’s promise to go after the worst of the worst was a good idea – I wish he would do that.
Even white people protesting the cruelty and posing no threat are being beaten and executed by ICE. Truly, the best people are being killed by the worst people. ICE is out of control and emboldened. The law, the constitution, the requirement for a warrant, and due process are being thrown out the window. It’s time to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable.
Bryan Rosen
LETTERS MATTER! The Montecito Journal thrives on community input… Have thoughts on a local issue? Comments on one of our articles? Contact us at letters@montecitojournal.net
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will need to make important decisions that stand the test of time, not ones designed to delay until the next report or event.
Finally, the city’s projected income is falling short of known expenses and contingencies. Unfortunately, there is already discussion of raising taxes or cutting services. Before going down either path, we should be asking whether the city is operating as efficiently as possible. In the private sector, organizations regularly assess how they spend money, use technology, and improve processes. Local government should be held to the same standard, especially when resources are tight. We see companies in the private sector making great strides in efficiency by leveraging modern technologies and process improvements. Do we not believe this could also be done in the public sector?
There is also too little discussion of how to grow the city’s revenue without raising taxes. Housing can help here as well. Downtown Santa Barbara has many single-story buildings and underused upper floors. Adding housing above retail and converting existing space would bring more residents downtown, support local businesses, create jobs, and increase sales and property tax revenue. More people living downtown also tends to improve
public safety through activity and presence. More businesses choosing to open in Santa Barbara generate more income for the city. These are practical, well-understood outcomes in cities that have revitalized their downtowns.
This election should be viewed less as a popularity contest and more as a job interview, with you, the Santa Barbara citizen, as the employer. When voting, ask yourself if the candidates have experience making decisions of this magnitude. Have they managed complex budgets, balanced competing interests, and delivered results under pressure? Can they articulate a long-term vision that extends beyond the next election cycle?
The bill for years of delay is coming due and the next City Council will be responsible for paying it. This is one of the most consequential local elections Santa Barbara will face in the next 20 years. Before you check that box on the ballot, ask yourself a simple question:
Would I hire this person to run the city I love?
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ORDER FOR PUBLICATION OF SUMMONS OR CITATION: CASE No. 25CV06248. Notice to Defendant: DAVID R. GAMPERL, an individual, et al.: You are being sued by Plaintiff: ANDREW WOODWARD. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons is served on you to file a written response at the Superior Court of California, Santa Barbara, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default. If you lose, the court can order that your wages, money, or property be taken to pay this claim. Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your case. Name and address of the court: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93121-1107. Filed January 22, 2026 by Terri Chavez, Deputy Clerk. Published February 12, 19, 26, and March 5, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRANDLE CHIROPRACTIC PC; ALKI ART & WELLNESS INSTITUTE; ALKI CHIROPRACTIC; ALKI WELLNESS, 820 EAST MASON STREET, SUITE A, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. GRANDLE CHIROPRACTIC PC, 820 EAST MASON STREET SUITE A, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on January 30, 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
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
In Santa Barbara County Administration Building Board Hearing Room , Fourth Floor 105 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA The hearing begins at 9:00 a.m.
E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0000314. Published February 12, 19, 26, and March 5, 2026
ORDER FOR PUBLICATION OF SUMMONS OR CITATION: CASE No. 25CV06178. Notice to Defendant: John Coons: You are being sued by Plaintiff: Danielle Loveall. You and the plaintiff must go to court on February 23, 2026 at 9 am in Department 3 of the Superior Court of California, Santa Barbara, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. If you do not go to court, you may lose the case. If you lose, the court can order that your wages, money, or property be taken to pay this claim. Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your case. Name and address of the court: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93121-1107. Filed January 9, by Sarah Sisto, Deputy Clerk. Published January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 2026
AMENDED ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV060204. To all interested parties: Petitioner ROBYN SUZANNE ROSAS-RENNER filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to ROBYN SUZANNE ROSE
The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection
that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed January 13, 2026 by Sarah Sisto. Hearing date: February 13, 2026 at 10 am in Dept. 4, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published January 22, 29, February 5, 12, 2026
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV06655. To all interested parties: Petitioners Cynthia Hawkes and Paul Arria filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing their daughter’s name from --Arria to Leila Summer Hawkes-Arria. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed January 12, 2026 by Stephen Rebernik. Hearing date: February 23, 2026 at 10 am in Dept. 5, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published January 22, 29, February 5, 12, 2026
On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the recommendations of staff regarding Case Nos. 25APL-000 19 and 25APL-00020, appeals filed by Carlos Araya and Martha Hayduk, respectively, (hereinafter Appellants) of the Montecito Planning Commission’s decisi on to approve the Promise Land LLC – AsBuilt Wall project, Case No. 23CDH-00027 (Project). The Project validates an as -built grouted sandstone boulder wall located within San Ysidro Creek. The project involves Assessor Parcel No. 007-280-012, located at 1690 San Leandro Lane, in the Montecito Community Plan area, First Supervisorial District.
For current methods of public participation for the meeting of February 24, 2026, please see page two (2) of the posted Agenda. The posted agenda will be available on Thursday prior to the above referenced meeting for a more specific time for this item. However, the order of the agenda may be rearran ged or the item may be continued.
Please see the posted agenda and staff reports available on the Thursday prior to the meeting at http://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx under the hearing date or contact the Clerk of the Board at (805) 568-2240 for alternative options.
If you challenge this project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence to the Board of Supervisors prior to the public hearing.
Attendance and participation by the public is invited and encouraged. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this hearing, please contact the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by 4:00 p.m. on Friday before the Board meeting at (805) 568 -2240.
MONTECITO JOURNAL PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 12, 2026
like a wife or daughter or an unsavory favor, and this, too, could become ugly, but a whole lot harder to prosecute.
He wondered how you were supposed to go a lifetime with nothing when everything you’ve ever wanted is waving at you right across a road. Had Pony wanted something that wasn’t his? Had he crossed the road for some forbidden fruit?
There was no new evidence. After a final scan as the fog crept in and the boat faded back into it, Creek worked his way up to the ornate iron gate to the villa. Beyond it, a long driveway curled up to the big layer cake and disappeared into trees and mist. He chose not to ring the brass-button bell and jumped the stone wall instead, then started up the driveway. It rose steadily, the fog like veils through the trees, the sound of surf diminishing steadily, eerily. He thought of Pony, slopped in that surf, and made a note to find the woman who found the body and see if there was fog that morning.
He saw it first as an apparition, intermittent in the distance. Then, when he stopped to watch and it faded, he knew someone was following him. A hundred yards distant, the person and something like a dog, maybe larger than a dog, moved parallel to him. The sun was beginning to punch through, and Creek thought he glimpsed a rifle. The figure moved oddly, childishly, as if it were a young girl, and alongside it, he thought he saw the large tawny dog. And then they were gone in the mist and woods. Creek continued up the driveway, thinking that the dog hadn’t moved at all like a dog.
He came up to the roundabout and for the first time saw the great place at eye level. It was the color of washed coral, with cream-white trim and majestic roofs of silvery gray. It was three stories high and had tall windows and intricate verandas. Giant ficus, palm, and magnolia trees rose up past the balconies and gables, dwarfing the broad, stately patios, lawns, and gravel walks. He had been wrong. It was no layer cake. It was an authentic emblem, the very summit of American glamor, a genuine palace with a dusting of European class. For all its size and magnificence, it remained reserved, reflecting in its grandeur and understatement that its true opulence lay not in what you saw, but in what you could not see.
The sun burst through, and the palace grew iridescent. He was moved by the beauty of it. As he watched the light play, a man in the distance emerged from a patio door. The feeling of grandeur died, and Creek abruptly felt that crashing the party had been a coarse mistake.
He wanted to turn and leave, but the man was walking toward him.
Creek planted his feet and waited. He looked up at the house until he found the window where he had seen the woman, but it was just a blank window reflecting the sun. He noticed a young sharp-faced Mexican man and an old Chinaman in the distance, both raking the hard dirt beneath leafy trees. There were white iron tables and chairs and some balls like those he had used to play boules in France.
“Hey there, mister,” the man was saying, “You can’t be here. Lost or not lost, you’re on private property.”
Creek smiled and remained planted where he stood, curious to how the man would handle an unflustered trespasser. He was large and well dressed, with dynamic, wavy blond hair and was clearly not used to having strangers appear on his imperial grounds without invitation. He pulled up short.
“Did you hear me?”
“I did,” Creek said.
“Somebody invite you and forget to tell me?”
“They did not.”
“Then, leave the way you came, while you can.”
“Maybe. In a minute.”
“Buddy, if you don’t get the fuck off this property, believe me, what happens to you up here won’t matter much to anybody but your fat Aunt Sally.”
Creek grinned again. He could see the man trying to act his way into a solution, a man large enough to feel comfortable threatening a stranger but not seasoned enough to enforce it.
“You a cheeky fucker,” the man asked, “or just some loco jailbird I need to bring in the cops and their cop dogs to teach a lesson to?”
“Calm down, there, signor. Had a small accident, bottom of your cliffs, down there on the beach. I need to ask you a few questions is all. We found the body of a dead man on your beach morning before yesterday.”
The man stood ten feet from Creek, his jaw fixed, puzzling this, then
blurted out: “You’re trespassing. One doesn’t have anything to do with the other. Now get off this property.”
“Good distance above a mean high tide,” Creek said. “Trust me, it’s your beach, your property, and that body has just about everything to do with my being up here.”
Creek saw the man churning on this and jumped on it.
“What’s your name?” Creek said it hard and with disgust.
As surprised as he was insulted, the big man stayed locked on the details.
“What do you mean, ‘body’?”
“The part beneath the head,” Creek said.
“Look, smart-ass. I don’t even know you. What is this?”
“What I said it was. A body. Without a head. On your beach. You own all this?”
“A goddamn body, on this beach?” Now he was more angry than rattled, and Creek saw a brief tableau of horror in his eyes.
“I asked you if you were the owner,” Creek said.
“Everybody knows who owns this place. Christ, that’s it – you’re new on the force, aren’t you. Where’s Chief Wade?”
Creek knew the man had been rocked by part of this news, but he showed less interest in who had died than the apparent insult of a police hire he knew nothing about, and Creek’s unforgivable ignorance as to the true and august ownership of the big pink house above the sea.
“Chief thinks an Indian is beneath his interest. I don’t. Name’s Creek. What’s yours?”
“Show me something.”
Creek pulled out the badge and looked at it as if for the first time, then held it up for the man to see.
“Kind of shiny, right?” Creek said, smiling. “So, what do they call you?”
“I’m Tilden.”
“That your first name, Tilden?”
He did some calculating and Creek could see him gamble against making a scene.
“Robert,” Tilden said. Creek instinctively knew Tilden would hate the diminutive.
“Why don’t you tell the owner, Bobby, that there’s a man here who needs to talk to him. Try to leave out the headless and dead parts, let me bring those up. Can you do that?”
“Name’s Robert, ‘Bo’ to my friends, from my middle name, Beauregard. And, no, you may not talk to the owner. But you can have Chief Wade make an appointment with Miss Starbuck, and if she so chooses, she might talk to him. Capisce?”
There it was, Creek thought. The truth. The reduction of his name to anything so bluntly American as “Bob” pricked him, and he reacted with the vanity of a poser. Which meant, because he was pretending to be what he was not, he was going to lie.
“What I’d like from you, Bob, before I lose my temper and bring a squad of snoops onto your master’s property, are two things: I want to speak to your two gardeners over there. And I want to speak to whoever was looking out that upper window at about two o’clock day before yesterday. Right about when the storm broke.”
“Look, you. I run this, this estate.” He indicated the expanse. “I keep it green and tidy and safe so my employer can rest without the outside world leaking in. Been doing it a very long time now, so I am sure she doesn’t know jack about a body on any beach. Trust me. So, we’ll just leave her out of it.”
“She might have seen a murder.”
“She didn’t.”
Creek said nothing and waited.
“What do you mean ‘a murder’?” Tilden said. “You said it was an accident.”
“Why I’m up here asking questions,” Creek said.
“If it was an accident, why don’t you just bury the body and get the fuck out of here.”
“That’s a pretty steep drop off your land there. Maybe he was up here and fell off.”
“He didn’t,” Tilden said.
“Then maybe he was thrown off.”
“He wasn’t.”
“Had some pretty sour bruises on his body. Blunt force kind. Like
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somebody big knew where to hit him.”
“That a fact.”
“Maybe he stumbled up here by accident, pissed you off a little, and like you said, nobody would much care what happened if it got ugly. Except, me. I’d care, Bob.”
His size a natural weapon, Tilden moved a step closer, and Creek knew he was mad enough to uncoil but never would. His hands had never touched anything harder than a geranium or a scarf.
“I don’t know you,” Tilden said. “I don’t know what happened or who died. I do know I don’t like you. You say another word about it not being an accident, we’ll lawyer up and cram enough legal up your ass to make you wish – ”
“Mister Tilden.”
The voice, pretty as jewelry, came from behind them. It stopped Tilden mid-sentence. In the pause, both men looked over to see her standing only ten feet away on the garden terrace. It was the woman from the prior evening, and Creek felt the light of morning come through his body.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’d be happy to talk to the detective.”
The adrenalin shifted, and Creek took in the striped dress, the long legs and fawn colored hair, and how she looked more Hollywood than ballerina in the daylight. She was a knockout and a smart one, but he knew Hollywood was only a dreamland, a place where nothing real could survive, where only apparitions had substance. Being a cliff and a beach away from the headless body reminded him that he needed to know which was which, real or apparition.
He turned back to Tilden and said, “What is it I would wish for, exactly, Bobby?”
When Tilden spoke, Creek realized he knew his place and the lines between them were clear. Creek thought Tilden was too big a man to turn so abruptly subservient. It worried him. He decided not to be so nice with the woman.
“Ranny. Damn, he just walked the hell up here. I think he’s just a new deputy. Making some bad accusations. You don’t have to talk – ”
“It’s okay, Bo. I saw them Sunday afternoon. Only I didn’t know what it was.” She turned to Creek. “Was it a swimmer? I couldn’t see much, but it didn’t look good. Was he hurt? Badly?”
“Bad enough to be dead.” Creek watched her flinch.
“Oh. I’m so, so sorry,” she said. He wanted to believe her. But this was California, and nobody in California didn’t know how to act a little. She turned to Tilden.
“Is it someone we know?”
“For God’s sake, of course not,” Tilden said.
“How would you know that, Bob?” Creek said. “You telling me now that you knew about the dead man on your beach?”
Tilden seemed as confused as he was angry and kept looking at both of them.
“Jesus, Ranny. This fool has me flustered.”
The woman tilted her head to him and said, “Did you, Bo?”
“No! This mutt standing here is the first I heard about it. I have no idea who he is or where he came from. If it becomes important, have Wade come up here, and we’ll all talk.”
“Mind if I look at your hands, Robert?” Creek was grinning.
“Goddamn right I do. Jesus. Ranny don’t talk to this fool till someone legal gets up here. He’s just shooting without a target, I’m telling you.”
“It’s fine, Bo. The detective and I are old friends.”
It was as if she had slapped him.
“Tell you what, Bob,” Creek said, “give me a few minutes with your boss, here, and your gardeners. I got more questions. You and me can wrap it up after. Wade’s working for me, just now, so I’d count him a no-show.”
“You might have told me you knew her right off,” he said to Creek. Creek smiled. “Just figured it out, old boy. For what it’s worth, your hands don’t look like they hit anybody. Pretty much ever. And do me a favor – don’t say anything to the gardeners until I talk to them. Fair?”
Tilden knew what Creek had seen in him and flushed with embarrassment. He nodded almost imperceptibly, and as he walked off to what looked like the garages, Creek wondered how a man as big as a boxer had ruled his roost of gardeners and servants so long from the mere authority of his size. Then again, in these times, a job meant the world. Creek
turned back to the woman and gave her a quizzical smile.
“Ranny? I knew a girl called Larissa,” Creek said.
She smiled, shook her head slightly, and indicated a path into the trees. They began walking side by side.
“Larissa Carter was my stage name.” She put out her hand to shake, and Creek took it. “Ranny Starbuck. Nice to meet you. And you would be… ?”
“Creek.”
“Please forgive Mister Tilden. He has been my gatekeeper for many years.”
The remnant of fog on leaves, wet and fresh, as they passed through a spruce grove, made him feel lightheaded. He felt he could not keep from staring at her. But a cold worry had its hooks in him, and he knew just walking beside her was slipping down the rabbit hole. There was a flaw up here, a false note, and he ought to pay attention.
“Are there parents?” he asked.
“No.”
“A Mister Starbuck?”
“No. Just our small tribe. And you – is there more to the name than Creek?”
“It didn’t rain much before the war. When it did, the creeks backed up, became swim holes. Couldn’t keep me out of ’em.”
“No last name?”
He smiled, shook his head, and said, “Just the one.”
He stopped and faced her. “I have a few questions I sort of should ask sooner than later. I wasn’t expecting to see you again and surely not this early in the day.”
She held his look and said, finally, “Oh, I think you were.”
She was smiling, and he tried to see if the smile held guile, but her accuracy was unnerving.
“I did see you sneak across the road and off into the dunes. I did see that.”
“No. No sneak. Just a stroll. By the night sea. To make it last longer.”
“What last longer?”
They walked, and she didn’t speak for a bit.
“I don’t get out much,” she said. “Almost never. It was such a lovely evening. The movie. The drive. You. And yes, I suppose, a little of, well, you being a stranger.”
“It never occurred to me that you would live here.”
“Well, I’m safe then.”
“The man we found, Ranny, on the beach …” He let it run on.
“Oh, God. Please say he wasn’t there last night.”
“No. We found him the morning before.”
“Thank God.” She walked silently, and he stayed with her. “Still,” she said, “it’s creepy. To think…”
The path led through the tall palm trees to the cliffs where the sea became visible, a bold, dark blue. She had a beautiful walk, and he liked how the sunlight passed through the trees and became shimmer upon her hair and shoulders.
“I’m sorry for him. Who was he?” she asked.
“An Indian man. Ranch hand to a friend out on Santa Rosa, John Penbrook. Boy meant the world to him, so I offered to pick him up. His name was Charlie Russell, but they called him ‘Pony.’ It probably was just an accident.”
“Was that his name…?” she said. He thought she said it wistfully.
“Yes. He had a bad leg, a kind of gimp. Does the name ring a bell?”
“No, it doesn’t.” She said it without looking at him. But he was sure the name or the gimp part meant something to her.
“Penbrook has a daughter about your age, Hopi. You ever friends, you and the Penbrooks?”
“My father knew a man named John Penbrook. I think Daddy hunted with him. We didn’t have much company growing up.”
“Oh?”
She looked at him like she’d look at a person about to catch her from a two-story fall.
“We are, were, an odd family,” she said. “My father was seventy when I was born. And I, well, after my mother died, I’m very sure you’ve heard the rumors. The slightly ‘over emotional shut-in.’”
They stopped, as if by some arrangement. “Your mother?” he said.
“No, me. You haven’t heard this?”
“No. I haven’t.”
She looked straight at him and said, “I don’t believe you, detective.”
“Miss Starbuck, I’ve been away a long time. I just bought a place a ways upcoast. Nobody calling to hook me up with the rumor mill up there. Especially with a story about a woman who must have hurt a lot to be this beautiful and afraid at the same time.”
She managed a smile. They continued walking.
“You’re artful. Well, the point is, there was no social life. Not here, not in those years. We’ve always been private people. That’s why Robert gets so flustered when trespassers come on the grounds.”
They came to the cliff’s edge. They both looked below, and Creek realized how far the view of the coastland extended. Pony’s debris could have scattered for miles. They both stared down at the beach for a moment.
“It’s so very sad,” she said.
“Yeah, even sadder if you knew the story. He was a good man. Miss Starbuck …”
“Call me Ranny. Please. You’re, you’re just so different from last night.”
“And you are not just a pretty girl without a ride home today.”
“Yes. Of course.”
He turned and looked up at the villa. The highest floors were visible above the trees.
“Someone was watching us yesterday. The third-floor, westernmost window. Was that you?”
“I’m sure it must have been. I spend a lot of time… in that wing. Looking out at the world. And looking at nothing.”
“You said you saw some of us, below.”
“Oh, well, I saw a group. Some policemen. I remember thinking maybe a swimmer had a problem.”
“A problem.”
“I was only vaguely aware of any of it. Actually, if you must know, I was studying you. Only I didn’t know it was you, then, if you see what I’m saying. I was obsessed with the way you were standing.”
“Standing?”
“You were standing a certain way.”
“Was I?”
“You stand planted on one leg, the other looser, with your head cocked sideways. And your shoulders hitched. Like, curious and bemused, at the same time. Thumb hooked in your belt, full of nonchalance. Like this.”
He was startled by how quickly, accurately, and expertly she mimicked him. It was as if she became him, and a shower of light spun through his body. He felt twelve years old and completely baffled by the prettiest girl at school. It cracked him up, and it delighted her.
“I watch such things,” she said. “It’s like homework, for a dancer. Yours is nearly a ballet pose, a contrapposto, only your foot would be splayed.”
“I stand like that. I do.”
“Like David. The marble statue. So at ease. Our whole life in dance is about pose and movement, so it made me curious. And then I noticed the crowd.”
“We haven’t found the boat yet. Haven’t found much of anything.” He paused. “All that time at that window, any chance you saw something?”
“No. I’d have told you.”
“Yeah? You said you didn’t know the Indian with the bad leg. I get the feeling you knew him but didn’t know his name.”
“No, I don’t. I thought for a second it rang a bell is all. Please don’t relegate us to some unapproachable formality. We met on equal terms last night. You spared me an embarrassment and amazed me by knowing who I was once. Can’t we be like that? Like last night?”
Creek tried hard to be fair, to not let the big wealth, the insular manners, and her blinding beauty con him or intimidate him. But all this lavish up here and the image of Charlie Russell’s body down there, it just spoiled it.
“What embarrassment?” he asked.
She turned away from him and said, as if batting away a flea, “Strangers, a dead battery, asking for a ride. People drown. I’m so sorry for him, but it has nothing to do with me, or us, up here.”
“The thing about this man, Ranny, who drowned… ?”
She finally turned and looked at him and said, “Yes?”
“Well, he had no head.”
She stared at him, not comprehending. Then, it slammed her, and she yanked her head away and folded her arms for support. Creek thought he could have slapped her, and it would have been kinder.
“Anything you might have seen, from that window, might help.”
“I didn’t! Not anything! I know – it’s a lot of time staring out a window with nothing to report. Does this give you the jitters, Mister Creek?”
Tough wasn’t working. He tried soft.
“Ranny. I drove an ambulance in France. I’ve known a lot of people who saw too much happen in front of them, and I know how ordinary life can stop being an easy thing.”
“But not for you?”
“Oh, yeah. For me plenty.”
As if by osmosis, they turned and began walking away from the sea view toward the house. They walked in silence for a time.
“On the way up,” Creek said, “I saw a girl, I think it was a girl, in the mist. She was walking a very large dog. I thought maybe it was your child.”
Ranny pulled up suddenly and flashed him a cold eye.
“No. There is no child. I have no child! My god, you are probing.” And then she changed, looked up at the trees, and slowly shook her head. “I see. I missed it. I might be lying. I might be – oh my, I am.” She looked at him now, startled. “I am a suspect. We all are.” He watched a darkness fall across her eyes like a storm.
“No,” Creek said, “nobody is. He was a really good soul, who some freak thing happened to, and he lost his head. Then, yesterday, they scorched him, so I’ll never know if he died right, or real, or real wrong –as in got murdered. It frustrates me, but I had no right to browbeat you.”
“Yes, Creek. Of course. Well, I’ve told you what I know, that I know nothing, and you are welcome to roam the grounds to learn what you can. Thank you for last night. You were gallant.”
She turned and started to walk away but stopped and turned back to him.
“Please,” she said, “when you learn how he died, will you call and let us know? The beach down there, it will never be the same.”
He watched her walk the path out of the trees, up the stairs, and across the patio into the house. Only when the door closed did Creek lose the urge to call her back and apologize. The conversation had derailed so fast that he couldn’t find the words to stop it.
Later, after he had talked to the gardeners and to Tilden, what he remembered most was how quickly an elegant woman had shaped her body into a bumpkin cowboy, long legged and rangy, always hitching his thumb in his pocket and planting himself so that standing for long periods didn’t bore him so much. In that one gesture, she had told him something funny and private and wonderful about herself, about how she felt about him. And he had doused her with cold water. He hadn’t even told her he was looking into the thing because he thought it might let him see her again.
And now he knew he would, and not only because he wanted to. She didn’t like the question about the girl. And something about Pony, the game leg, had triggered something in her. Creek had seen it briefly in her eyes.
Two false notes from the woman behind the curtain looking down at a crime scene she claimed she had no knowledge of.
Because you asked for it, we are publishing four more chapters here in the MJ. Tune in next week for Chapter 7 of Last Light in Paradise.
Michael C. Armour is author and original artist of bestselling Smithsonian children’s books Orca Song and Puma Range, and has been an award-winning writer/director for CBS documentaries, and many print and TV commercials for Honda and other companies. He comes from three generations of ranching, has been a horseman and motorcyclist most of his life, and has worked for years with released inmates under the direction of the Santa Barbara Superior Court and the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office.
Scan the QR code to purchase the full book online, or pick one up at your local bookstore: Tecolote in Montecito, Godmothers in Summerland, or Chaucer’s in Santa Barbara.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Calendar of Events
by Steven Libowitz
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14
‘Tour D’Amour’ – ALO’s 19th annual February tour once again brings the pop-soul-jam band (née Animal Liberation Orchestra) that jelled when its members matriculated at UCSB back to its onetime hometown nightclub. Given that it’s the first time the ensemble has played one of its signature Tour D’Amour shows actually on Valentine’s Day, expect luminous passion and positivity, plus an extra Santa Barbara-centric concentration for its two long and groovy sets at SOhO, where the connections and roots run deep. Montana-born singer-songwriter Madeline Hawthorne , whose 2024 album is intriguingly titled Tales from Late Nights & Long Drives, opens the middle of three shows with ALO before heading back east to appear on four shows with our local singer-songwriter hero Glen Phillips
WHEN: 8 pm
WHERE: SOho, 1221 State St., upstairs in Victoria Court COST: $40 at the door
INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
Putting Passion in Valentine’s – Naughty Valentine, from Yulia’s Dance Productions – basically the same folks who produced last Saturday’s Colors of Love show – is a night of laughter, passion, playfulness, and powerful movement that runs from comedy to pole dancing, with stops for burlesque, tango, and other Latin dances, and much more. The seductive cabaret-style variety show invites
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Bruce Is Back – UCSB A&L continues its parade of performing pianists who can boast major competition wins on their recent resumes. Since winning the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, Bruce Liu has become one of most acclaimed pianists on the international scene, praised for performances that combine charm, clarity, and stunning technique. Liu, who previously played for UCSB’s Arts & Lectures program in 2024, returns with a dynamic recital featuring a bold and colorful program that moves from Ligeti’s playful “Étude No. 4 (‘Fanfares’)” and Beethoven’s iconic “Waldstein” Sonata to the rhythmic flair of Ravel – and the expressive brilliance of Chopin, whose works can be said to have launched Liu’s international career. The soloist has played recitals at major concert halls including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall, and Philharmonie de Paris, and performed with many of the world’s finest ensembles including the Boston and Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic.
WHEN: 7 pm
WHERE: Campbell Hall, 574 Mesa Rd., UCSB campus
COST: $38-$68
INFO: (805) 893-3535 or https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14-SUNDAY, MARCH 1
‘Step’ Lively to Ventura – Rubicon Theatre Company’s first production of the new year is one that just played in Santa Barbara for Ensemble last season. But the Tony Award-winning comedy thriller The 39 Steps just keeps growing in popularity – with RTC already having added two performances to its run.
Adapted by Patrick Barlow from John Buchan’s iconic spy novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary 1935 film, the wildly inventive stage version transforms the classic suspense story into a breathtaking, almost absurdly fast-paced feat of theatrical storytelling. Directed by local favorite Jenny Sullivan and starring longtime company member Joseph Fuqua, The 39 Steps transforms the world of intrigue, romance, and danger into delirious comedy, as more than 150 characters are portrayed by just four fearless actors. The play unfolds as a high-speed theatrical roller coaster, fueled by lightning-fast costume changes, bold physical comedy, ingenious staging to support the required precision, and, of course, razor-sharp wit. If you missed it in Santa Barbara, here’s your chance to catch up with the comedic caper.
WHEN: Opens tonight, runs through March 1
WHERE: Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura
COST: $30-$79.50 (discounts for students, seniors, veterans & active military)
INFO: (805) 667-2900 or www.rubicontheatre.org
attendees into a world of flirtation, fantasy, and fearless expression to celebrate passion in all its forms — fiery, romantic, humorous, and unapologetically bold.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Center Stage Theatre, 751 Paseo Nuevo, second floor
COST: $35 in advance, $40 at the door; students $25
INFO: (805) 963-0408 or https://centerstagetheater.org
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14-SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15
‘Romantic Hollywood’ – The Santa Barbara Symphony dives into the holiday for lovers with a pair of concerts centering on Hollywood’s most iconic silver screen love stories. The performances celebrate cinema’s most cherished love themes, 16 selections in all that include John Barry’s sweeping score for Out of Africa , Maurice Jarre’s gorgeous “Lara’s Theme” from Dr. Zhivago, John Morris’ “The Transylvanian Lullaby” from Young Frankenstein, Marc Shaiman’s accordion-soaked “Tango” from Addams Family Values, and snippets of the Pirates of the Caribbean score. Wielding the baton for the special shows is guest maestro Richard Kaufman, a Grammy-winning conductor whose career spans decades of live-to-film performances and original score recordings. Many of the musicians he’ll be leading are in-demand Hollywood studio pros who have recorded some of the original Hollywood scores for the more recent films, adding an authenticity to the adventure even world-traveling orchestras can’t match. With the opening night concert coinciding with the closing screening of this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Hollywood connection could hardly be more palpable. Pump up the festive flavor by donning Valentine-inspired attire – a touch of red or pink – and get ready to get romantic.
WHEN: 7:30 pm tonight, 3 pm tomorrow
WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street
COST: $45-$198
INFO: (805) 899-2222 or www.granadasb.org
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Meeting at the Roots – Blues legend Taj Mahal, winner of the 2025 Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album (his fifth) for Swinging Live at the Church in Tulsa, and Patty Griffin, two-time Grammy winning singer-songwriter, might seem like a strange pairing for a co-headlining concert. But their intersection comprises what’s known as roots music, as each musician digs deep into styles that are at the heart of our country’s soul –artistic purity indicated by their both being Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award honorees. Mahal is a true conduit for decades of inspiration, while Griffin’s acclaimed new album, Crown of Roses, affirms her place among the most consequential singer-songwriters of her generation, a quintessentially American artist whose wide-ranging songs dive deep into introspection with remarkably universal results. Each artist will perform a full set, allowing the audience to explore the depth and range of two singular voices in American music.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St.
COST: $45-$125
INFO: (805) 963-9589/www.arlingtontheatresb.com/upcoming-events or (805) 893-3535/https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Everything’s Coming Up Rosas! – Apparently, once was not enough for local piano favorite Gil Rosas. Initially framed as Rosas’ triumphant farewell – a last chance for the beloved, retiring local musician to regale longtime fans in a career-spanning concert at the Marjorie Luke – last September’s performance may just have been a warmup. Does Sunday’s Rosas spectacular represent the Piano Man’s re-emergence into an ongoing concert performance schedule? Or maybe the man who now counts more years of life than there are keys on the piano figures if you’ve still got it, why not flaunt it? So just like singer Amanda McBroom’s reprisal at the same venue, Rosas is returning to the Luke for another entertaining afternoon show that will again benefit the local nonprofit Center for Successful Aging. The benefactor’s title so suits the show’s unspoken theme, who could resist?
WHEN: 3 pm
WHERE: Marjorie Luke Theatre, Santa Barbara Junior High, 721 East Cota St. COST: $28.50 general, $45 VIP seating (free tickets are available for low-income seniors) INFO: (805) 884-4087/https://luketheatre.org/events or www.csasb.org/concerts
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
‘Whose Live Anyway?’ – Improv at its most ineffable and imaginative returns to the Lobero as the touring version of the long-running Whose Line Is It Anyway logs another visit to town. This time around the troupe consists of Joel Murray , Greg Proops , Jeff B. Davis and the ever-present Ryan Stiles , the only member who was part of the original TV show when it was launched back in Britain. ( Colin Mochrie is now touring with a hypnotist). The 90 minutes of made-up moments, games, gags and songs for heightened comedy (musical direction by Laura Hall ) will have you roaring with laughter – or at least impressed by the spontaneous wit of the quartet –who can’t quit because by now they’re likely to be scared scriptless to do anything else! Come prepared to get involved as audience participation is key to the show, through suggestions and even the chance to join the cast onstage.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.
COST: $86
INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.org
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Big Bounty of Bow – Celebrate Venice’s glittering Carnevale with the return of the Venice Baroque Orchestra courtesy of CAMA. The spirited program rekindles the rivalry and virtuosity of 18th - century masters Vivaldi, Veracini, Tartini and Locatelli through the artistry of the orchestra leader and fiddler Giacomo Catana and soloist Rachell Ellen Wong, who will take on the formidable solo violin roles. Expect fiery cadenzas and shimmering strings showing off the showstopping compositions for violin with music that feels like a masked ball for the ears. To enhance your enjoyment of the period - instrument brilliance up close in the intimacy of the historic Lobero Theatre, CAMA invites concertgoers to get into the spirit of Venice with sparkle and a touch of mystery by adding a Venetian mask (keep it view-friendly for fellow patrons) and/or cloak, a jewel - tone scarf, a gilded accessory, or merely a hint of purple and gold. Let yourself listen like a Venetian, parsing how each composer “duels” in a different way, and perhaps come up with your own description of the transcendent sonic elements. (Do keep your mellifluous observations silent while the music plays.)
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.
COST: $58 & $68
INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.org
NOTE TO READERS
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.
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PHYSICAL TRAINING & THERAPY
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Openings now available for Children & Adults. Piano Lessons in our Studio or your Home. Call or Text Kary Kramer (805) 453-3481
CONSTRUCTION
General Building Design & Construction Contractor William J. Dalziel Lic. B311003 – 1 (805) 698-4318 billjdalziel@gmail.com
Local, Reliable Property Management. We care for your rentals. FoothillPM.com 805-698-4769
$10 MINIMUM TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD
It’s simple. Charge is $3 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $10 per issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email Classified Ad to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860. All ads must be finalized by Friday at 2pm the week prior to printing. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)
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