Let's Tidy Up the Place. Together.

Ghouls, Werewolves, Brave Little Toasters –Our Wooded Moonlit Village is Happy Halloween Central. Boo? page 10 olives on the side –Here comes another Halloween. page 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

5 Hot Topics – Montecito Fire Department addresses new Zone Zero wildfire regulations, emphasizing defensible space and homeowner guidance

6 Beings & Doings – Montecito Beautification Day marks 40 years of civic pride, community spirit, and neighborly charm. Mindy Denson is all over it.

8

In the Know – Shane Brown’s design journey, Montecito updates, Big Daddy’s Antiques move to Carpinteria, new online store launch, and future plans.

10 Halloween Happenings – From Montecito’s Ghost Village Road to San Ysidro Ranch’s haunted elegance, Montecito celebrates in spirited style. Tide Guide

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12 On Entertainment – A psychedelic symphony rocks the Granada, Cyndi Silverman brings the JFF home, and Oscar hopefuls screen.

13 The Way it Was – More Mesa’s rich past unfolds – from Mexican land grant and ranching empire to oil fields and suburban growth.

14 Our Town – Firefighters teach safety at local schools, prepare for wildfire season, and join multi-agency water rescue drills along the Santa Barbara coast.

16 The Giving List – As Medicaid cuts deepen and clinics close, ACCESS Reproductive Justice fights to fund abortion care and reproductive rights.

18 Montecito Miscellany – Irish history at Riven Rock, tea at Simpson House Inn, and Family Service Agency’s century-long legacy of compassion and care.

20 The Optimist Daily – Early peanut introduction helps prevent allergies in children, with U.S. rates dropping over 40 percent since guideline changes.

21 93108 Sheriff’s Blotter – Weekly roundup of Montecito and Summerland incidents reported by deputies.

22 NewsBytes – Soup Kitchen celebrates 16 years, Unity Shoppe expands hours, and community events span countywide. 26 Your Westmont – The college celebrates 50 years of women’s athletics; and women’s soccer wins again in Hawaii.

28 Brilliant Thoughts – A heartfelt farewell to Ashleigh Brilliant, celebrating his wit, legacy, and final reflections on “Home on the Range” and American imagination.

30 Robert’s Big Questions – A personal reflection on friendship, shared ideals, humor, and humanity with writer Ashleigh Brilliant.

32 Ernie’s World – A Yellowstone misadventure: missed geyser eruptions, moose rear ends, bison road rage, and marital survival amid volcanic chaos.

33 Anchored in Light – With brush and tide as guides, John Comer paints the Channel Islands with the patience of a sailor’s heart.

In Passing – Honoring Dr. Gary Lee Schlegel, podiatrist, husband, and father, remembered for compassion, dedication, and love of family.

40 Calendar of Events – “Raw and Revealed” unites sculpture and painting, while Santa Barbara hosts Ezra Klein, Jack Johnson, and many more.

42

43

Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads, in which sellers offer everything from summer rentals to estate sales

Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles

Local Business Directory

Hot Topics

Zeroing In: Montecito Fire Department

Weighs in on Proposed Zone Zero Regulations

by Christina Atchison

The California Board of Forestry (BOF) is closing in on Governor Gavin Newsom’s December 31 deadline to finalize new regulations that focus on clearing combustible materials within the first five feet of structures.

“Montecito Fire Department has been keenly aware and engaged in Zone Zero discussions over the past five years,” said Montecito Fire Chief David Neels. “We will continue to monitor this state legislative initiative and when implemented, we will provide guidance and assistance to our community members on how to bring properties into compliance.”

Montecito Fire Marshal Aaron Briner says what may feel like a significant change in other parts of California is how the vast majority of us have been living with the risk of wildfire here in Montecito.

Briner points out that there are components of the proposed Zone Zero regulations that may be challenging to implement such as high-cost, hard-to-do projects like replacing wood decks and pergolas.

“We are wary of all the opinions circulating regarding how to revise those areas of a property, and what enforcement may look like. Right now, those sentiments are just conjecture,” Briner said.

Still, he and the department’s Fire Prevention Bureau appreciate the proactive approach many Montecito community members have already taken toward wildfire prevention. It is the key to living safely in a wildfire-prone environment.

“Zone Zero is also known as the ‘Ember-Resistant

Zone.’ It means making the

area within

five feet of your home or structure completely resilient to burning.”

Zooming Out from Zone Zero

Zone Zero is the newest layer of a concept most Californians are familiar with –defensible space. This is the buffer you create between your home and the natural landscape by removing excess grass, shrubs or other vegetation that may ignite in a wildland fire.

This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and helps protect your home from catching fire, either from direct flame impingement or radiant heat.

Defensible space is also essential to protecting firefighters working to defend your home.

Defensible space requirements in California date back to the 1960s, when homeowners in high-risk areas were mandated to clear flammable materials within 30 feet of their homes.

In 2006, those rules expanded to include areas within 100 feet of structures.

The 30-foot limit became known as Zone One or the “Lean, Clean & Green” Zone, indicating that all dead and dry vegetation in that space must be removed.

Within 100 feet of a structure, Public Resources Code 4291 requires by law that grasses are mowed to a maximum height of four inches, there is adequate spacing between shrubs and trees, and at least 10 feet of clearance is maintained around outbuildings, exposed wood piles and propane tanks.

CHEF MATT s new

The Ember-Resistant Zone

Zone Zero is also known as the “Ember-Resistant Zone.” It means making the area within five feet of your home or structure completely resilient to burning.

Homeowners may accomplish this by using hardscape materials such as gravel, pavers or concrete instead of bark or mulch around a structure. It also included replacing combustible fencing, gates and arbors with noncombustible alternatives.

Hot Topics Page 244

Beings and Doings Beautification: The Verb Form

*(Beautification Day –November 8, 9 am – 1 pm, MUS)

by Jeff Wing

“Community.” The word has been hijacked by powerfully bland ne-er-do-wells. “I’m happy to report Q2 revenue suggests we have a robust and dedicated community!”

“Let me give a shout out to my wonderful online community, 143,000 strong!” and so on. Community is not a featureless mob of prospects, a fanbase, or a “crowd” by another name. “Community”, in its non-strategic form, is suggestive of homes and neighborhoods and sun-drenched sidewalk conversations with familiar passersby. You may find yourself – over a round of Lafond java – exchanging deliciously empty balderdash with a couple of dear pals on the Corner Green for hours, animatedly gesturing and laughing, the trees there leaning in like eavesdroppers and ringing with chatty birdsong. If so, you may be in the throes of Community. At this writing there is no cure.

There is surely no more heart-clutching example of civic self-embrace than our annual Montecito Beautification Day, which this year falls on November 8, launches from MUS at 9am, and boasts several elements not typically associated with a trash removal project.

“The community partnership here is absolutely beyond belief,” says Beautification Day dynamo and Chair, Mindy Denson. “The Miramar have

been very gracious on many levels. And then it’s ‘Hey, we want to do breakfast for you.’ I’m like, okay!” She goes on to breathlessly detail more of the village weave. “And the San Ysidro Ranch? I talked to (Executive Chef) Matt a couple of weeks ago, he’s doing salads for me again this year. Roxy owns the Market, and I’m like, Roxy, can we do some hot dogs for the firefighters to cook.? She’s like, sure, how many do you want?” Denson pauses and all but tosses up her hands. “That’s what I’m saying! There’s such a give. Just last night I got a call back from Elise at Rory’s. Yeah, we’re going to show up. And I’ve been working with Diego, the new chef here at Little Mountain. He has been fabulous to

& Doings Page 234

Beings

Mindy happily contemplating (courtesy photo)

In the Know

Big Daddy’s Antiques: Shane Brown’s The Well Montecito Stays on E. Valley, CVR

Location to Close, Big Daddy’s Antiques Moves to Carpinteria, and New Online Store Launches

by Joanne A Calitri

This week’s column brings news from Shane Brown, founder of The Well Summerland on Lillie Avenue (2019); The Well Montecito, with its two locations at 1080 Coast Village Road and 1505 East Valley Road (2025); and Big Daddy’s Antiques in Culver City (est. 1996).

Cutting his teeth in the antiques biz at flea markets and a small shop in Redondo Beach, Brown founded Big Daddy’s Antiques, which has since been featured in the Los Angeles Times and spotlighted by Goop magazine:

“For 20-odd years, Big Daddy has been filling a corner on La Brea with pieces sourced from around the world. And by pieces, we don’t mean straightforward couches and case goods. This is

the sort of place where you go for something significant and statement-making, whether it’s a vintage dental case, an antique birdcage, or a seasoned Louis Vuitton trunk. You can also find them at the Rose Bowl Flea or at their warehouse in San Francisco.”

When he spread his wings north, Brown chose Summerland as his first stop. From there, he landed in Montecito, not with one shop, but two.

The NEW news: the Coast Village Road location will close December 15, with its inventory moving either to 1505 East Valley Road or to Brown’s warehouse.

Next up, Big Daddy’s Antiques in Culver City is closing and relocating (yes, you guessed it) to a 9.13-acre property at 3376 Foothill Road in Carpinteria, just around the corner from the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. (Anyone else sensing that the upgrading

GIVE THANKS OSPI STYLE

of Linden Square is nudging the best of the West toward the Carp-Montecito corridor?) According to Jon Ohlgren of Radius Real Estate, the property sold for $6.9 million on September 30, 2025.

But wait, there’s more Shane Brown to be found. For online shoppers, he has launched a new digital store combining Big Daddy’s and The Well’s collections: a curated trove of his latest inspirations and finds, including treasures from his recent buying trip to Round Top, Texas. One can only wonder, where will we find Shane next?

Here’s his official statement on all the news:

“While saying goodbye to Culver City marks the end of an era, it also signals a bold new beginning. Our new Carpinteria space will serve as both a creative hub and an expansive warehouse, where the possibilities for discovery are boundless. With more room to showcase our ever-evolving collections, outdoor living installations, and one-of-a-kind finds, we’re creating an immersive envi-

ronment for clients to engage with Big Daddy’s on a whole new level. This exciting new chapter extends beyond our physical walls. Alongside our sister brand The Well, with locations in Summerland and Montecito, Big Daddy’s continues to shape California’s design landscape through spaces that blur the line between retail and lifestyle. And now, with the launch of our new e-retail site, thewellbyBDantiques.com, design enthusiasts everywhere can explore and shop the distinctive mix of vintage, modern, and garden pieces that define both brands.

As our roots expand along the California coast, our mission remains the same: to curate timeless pieces that tell a story, yours and ours. And though Culver City will always hold a special place in our history, the move to Carpinteria represents growth, innovation, and the next chapter of a shared journey with our clients and community.” Holiday shopping, anyone?

411: thewellbyBDantiques.com

And that’s a wrap till next week! Do email me if you have society news, gossip, or an experience we can share together. Xx JAC

Meghan Webley, RDHAP

Shane Brown, the creative force behind The Well and Big Daddy’s Antiques, continues to shape California’s design landscape from his new Carpinteria hub.

Shane Brown at his Roundtop, Texas location

Halloween Happenings

by Steven Libowitz

Ghost Village Road

Awhole lot of All Hallows’ Eve events have already taken place last weekend and earlier this week, but there are still plenty of pickins, so put on your costume and party down.

First up, Montecito. Ghost Village Road runs from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, October 31. Richie’s Barbershop recreates The Wizard of Oz with a yellow brick road photo op, Lucky’s serves from “the crypt,” and Dan Encell’s Berkshire Hathaway team delights adults with his signature secret-recipe margaritas.

At the Montecito Country Mart, under the cheerful direction of manager Kristin Teufel, a costume contest and photo ops take place throughout the day, drawing families from every local school –from Montecito Union to Crane, Laguna

Blanca and beyond. Thanks to the efforts of Beth Sullivan, executive director of Coast Village Improvement Association, the entire street comes alive with giggles, pumpkin buckets, and pint-sized superheroes darting between storefronts. While the little ghosts and superheroes roam below, the San Ysidro Ranch adds its own touch of haunted sophistication. Recently named one of the 50 Best Hotels in the World, the historic 38-cottage retreat has once again placed Montecito on the global map of excellence – a recognition that honors not only its impeccable service but also the community that shapes its spirit.

To mark both Halloween and its milestone accolade, the Ranch hosts a weeklong Halloween Speakeasy (October 27–November 2), transforming its bar into a candlelit jazz hideaway complete with mezcal cocktails like the “Fruit Bat” and the “Ghosts of San Ysidro.” On October 30, the festivities culminate in a Día de los Muertos with Del Maguey celebration – an evening of Spanish guitar by Tony

Ybarra, sugar-skull face painting and artisanal mezcal tastings that blend reverence, artistry and delight.

Rosewood Miramar Beach’s Manor Bar will be transformed into “The Grimm Manor,” a shadowy venue full of delightful spooks and surprises on Halloween night – a moody and mysterious setting with fantastical, Brothers Grimm–inspired cocktails to match. Rosewood’s Director of Bars Eliza Hoar will be joined by the dramatic and bewitching bar Hecate of Boston to create cocktails that blend fantasy and fright, with a backdrop of eerie beats from a vinyl DJ. Details at rosewoodhotels.com.

Outside Montecito

The Parks and Recreation Department partners with SBPAL for the annual free Halloween Trunk or Treat event in the Spencer Adams parking lot at 5 p.m. on October 30, where families are invited to dress up, collect candy, and vote for their favorite decorated trunk.

Visit calendar.santabarbaraca.gov.

Parks & Rec’s Adapted Recreation Program hosts its annual all-inclusive Halloween Dance on October 31 in the decorated Carrillo Ballroom, bringing people of all abilities together for a night

Montecito Tide Guide

of music, dancing and more – including a costume contest and an interactive dance performance from World Dance for Humanity, the folks who stage Thriller pop-ups all over town.

Visit sbparksandrec.santabarbaraca.gov.

With the kids (if you’ve got ’em) nursing sugar hangovers in the care of a babysitter, the more mature set has choices on Saturday night, including Hotel Californian’s Skulls + Skylines, which takes Día de los Muertos to new heights with a pulse-pounding DJ set, skyline views and cocktails crafted to keep the energy flowing amid an atmosphere of neon skulls and booming basslines. Costumes and painted faces are optional, but bold looks and fearless energy are essential.

Visit hotelcalifornian.ticketsauce.com.

Also on November 1, the Alhecama Theatre serves as the site for the Happy Halloween Dead Dance from La Bohème, where ghouls, ghosts and other guests –costumes preferred – can enjoy Mexican tacos prepared on-site and beverages provided by Simply Cocktails, a cabaret show featuring Addams Family–themed La Bohème dancers performing new routines alongside aerial artists, a 3D photo booth, and a DJ dance party.

Info at eventbrite.com.

Executive Editor/CEO | Gwyn Lurie gwyn@montecitojournal.net

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Managing Editor | Zach Rosen zach@montecitojournal.net

MoJo Contributing Editor | Christopher Matteo Connor

Art/Production Director | Trent Watanabe

Graphic Design/Layout | Stevie Acuña

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Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Jessica Sutherland, Joe DeMello

Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick

Proofreading | Helen Buckley Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz

Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Beatrice Tolan, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Tiana Molony, Houghton Hyatt, Jeff Wing

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

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Richie’s Barbershop on Coast Village Road goes down the yellow brick road, transforming into Oz for Montecito’s family-friendly Ghost Village celebration (photo by Joanne A Calitri, 2024)

A cocktail from the San Ysidro Ranch’s Halloween Speakeasy, where haunted elegance meets candlelit jazz and Day of the Dead artistry

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On Entertainment Not a Psych Out: Kings and the Symphony Go Groovy

by Steven Libowitz

It’s doubtful anybody will be dropping LSD or getting silly on psilocybin, at least not on stage, at the third annual concert collaboration between Santa Barbara–based classic rock band Doublewide Kings and the Santa Barbara Symphony. But it might be easy to imagine you’re at the Fillmore in San Francisco circa 1969 during Psychedelic Symphony, the combined ensemble’s one-night-only celebration of the grooviest hits of the era.

There won’t be any beanbag chairs, shag carpet, Dreamachines, or lava lamps on stage—your humble correspondent owned at least three of those in his youth—but, we’re told, there will be some “trippy visuals” projected on the rear screen, an update from the famed Joshua Light Show at the Fillmore.

The six members of the Kings, combined with a sizable 50-piece subset of the symphony, should be entertaining enough.

Unlike the first two concerts in the series—tributes to Van Morrison and The Band—the November 8 show will boast single songs by more than 15 different artists. Tunes and artists will include The Beatles (“Strawberry Fields,” duh); Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s “From the Beginning,” The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, and Sly and the Family Stone. Expect a grandly expanded definition of psychedelic music.

“We wanted a theme that would be both fun and experimental, with a spirit that you lean into,” said John Simpson , the Kings’ longtime lead vocalist and harmonica player. “There are so many good tunes that fall under that psychedelic umbrella. That era is in our wheelhouse. It’s when we and most of our audience grew up.”

The set list doesn’t have any super deep cuts or one-hit wonders like The Strawberry Alarm Clock’s “Incense and Peppermints” or The Lemon Pipers’ “Green Tambourine,” but the symphonic arrangements—created by two different collaborators, Bay Area–based Brett Strader and Carl Rydlund of Nashville—will likely be sufficiently mind-expanding on their own if they’re anything like the first two shows.

“Having the symphony is like bringing in super firepower and then pushing it into the stratosphere,” Simpson said. “There are strings and horns that fit with the songs, and the arrangers also composed overtures that lead into a few of the songs, which are extraordinary.”

The band will still be able to jam in a few spots, where musical cues will let symphony Music Director Nir Kabaretti know when to return to the charts, but the looseness that often characterizes a DWK set won’t really work at the Granada show.

Entertainment Page 214

The Doublewide Kings jam with the Santa Barbara Symphony at the Granada Theatre, turning back time to the Summer of Love in their “Psychedelic Symphony” collaboration

The Way It Was More Mesa

by Hattie Beresford

When Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps arrived at a friend’s home for dinner recently, she was asked with foreboding if there was any good news. She was happy to reply resoundingly, “Yes!” And the news was that the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, in partnership with Santa Barbara County and the More Mesa Preservation Coalition, had established a permanent conservation easement of 36 of the 64 acres of More Mesa land owned by the County. (Approximately 260 acres of the open space are still privately owned.)

At the dedication ceremony on Saturday, October 12, Dan Gira , vice-president of the More Mesa Preservation Coalition expressed appreciation for the collaborative effort. The Coalition considers the easement an

important step in protecting the entire 325-acre open space for both recreation and protection of vital habitats for sensitive species of animals and plants.

“This easement safeguards sensitive coastal ecosystems and strengthens the ecological health of the region for generations to come,” said Meredith Hendricks, executive director of the Land Trust. In addition, Fisher Perez, chair of the Land Trust Board of Directors, emphasized the importance of providing outdoor space where people can walk and reflect in a peaceful environment to restore a sense of well-being to their lives.

To top it off, More Mesa open space is also all that remains of a historic Mexican Land Grant that has a fascinating history dating back more than 200 years.

The History of La Goleta

The lands of today’s More Mesa, like most of the Santa Barbara coast, were occupied by the Chumash before the advent of the Spanish, who established a presidio in 1782 and a mission in 1786. After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, the vast lands of Santa Barbara missions were granted to prominent Mexican citizens.

La Goleta was a Mexican Land Grant of 4,426 acres that was deeded to Daniel Hill in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico and confirmed by the American courts in 1864. Hill was an early American settler in Santa Barbara, having jumped ship at Refugio Bay in 1823 after espying the beautiful daughter of Don José Francisco Ortega: 14-year-old Rafaela Ortega.

Daniel, a skilled carpenter and stone mason, set about finding work, any kind of work, while he waited for the lovely Ortega daughter to reach the

Way It Was Page 344

Green fields kissed by the sun at More Mesa Open Space (Courtesy Bill Dewey)

County Supervisors Laura Capps and Gregg Hart, More Mesa Preservation Coalition VicePresident Dan Gira, and Land Trust for Santa Barbara Executive Director Meredith Hendricks reveal the protected area of More Mesa. (Courtesy Land Trust for Santa Barbara County)

Our Town

Fire Prevention Week: Montecito Fire Visits

Local Schools & Conducts 1st Responder

Water Rescue Training at Butterfly Beach

by Joanne A Calitri

Montecito Fire District Chief Neels and his teams have kept busy with Fire Prevention Week visits to local schools and water-rescue training off Butterfly Beach. He is also reminding residents that it’s time to start preparing for the 2026 Neighborhood Chipping Program by clearing vegetation that could put homes or businesses at risk. The Carpinteria–Summerland Fire District is running its community chipping program now; all piles must be

ready for pickup by November 3.

As part of Fire Prevention Week, Montecito firefighters brought their flagship engine and crews to all eight schools in Montecito, reaching an estimated 475 students. They taught fire safety, burn prevention, and emergency preparedness to children ages 2 to 11. Lessons included “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” building an emergency go bag, and a hands-on experience with a working fire hose. Students also toured the fire engines, learning about the equipment stored inside and out, and had time to ask questions.

Firefighters encouraged students to

share what they learned at home –checking smoke detectors, reviewing how to call 911, and creating and practicing a family emergency plan.

On Wednesday and Thursday at Butterfly Beach, Montecito Fire joined fellow first responders from the Carpinteria–Summerland Fire District, Santa Barbara Fire, and the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol for multi-step water-rescue and lifesaving drills from the Pacific Ocean to the shore.

Chief Neels said, “The level of rescue was a complex and coordinated response by first responders. The training scenario involved a distressed boat and 14 people in the water. A multiple-casualty incident was declared, indicating numerous patients with varying injuries. Water-rescue swimmers from Carpinteria–Summerland and Santa Barbara City Fire responded on jet skis, bringing dummy patients to a Harbor Patrol boat and to the beach. There, Montecito firefighters triaged patients and coordinated medical treatment. Water emergencies are part of life along our beautiful coastline. Today’s exercise was essential to maintaining our skills and strengthening relationships with our fellow first responders.”

411: For live updates go to their Insta: @montecitofire and @carpsummerlandfire

A Montecito firefighter helps a student at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School learn how to use a fire hose. (Photo courtesy of OLMC)

Montecito firefighters teach fire safety to students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. (Photo courtesy of OLMC)

Montecito firefighters take questions from students during a fire safety presentation at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. (Photo courtesy of OLMC)

First responders from the Carpinteria–Summerland Fire District train in the water during a joint rescue exercise with Montecito Fire, Santa Barbara City Fire, and the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol.

Montecito firefighters treat “fake patients” on shore following the water-rescue training exercise.

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The Giving List

California’s Only Abortion Fund Struggles to Meet Rising Demand Amid Medicaid Cuts

by Steven Libowitz

ACCESS Reproductive Justice has been around for more than 30 years, striving to ensure that every California woman can access abortion care regardless of her socioeconomic circumstances. The organization is California’s only statewide, standalone abortion fund, with a record of directly funding abortion and other reproductive health care while also working to dismantle systemic barriers that prevent people from making autonomous decisions about their bodies and futures.

“In California in particular, there are more crisis pregnancy centers than there are abortion providers. We do a lot to maintain relationships with as many providers as possible so that they know they can send folks to us as a resource.”

Since its founding, ACCESS’ Direct Services program has funded more than 50,000 abortions and provided other comprehensive support to thousands of other Californians. But despite the state’s progressive reputation and significant investment in supporting women seeking reproductive health care, ACCESS is unable to meet the full unmet need for all of the callers who seek help with procedural costs, said Jessica P. Gil, ACCESS Reproductive Justice’s executive director.

After the 2022 Supreme Court Dobbs decision, many people supportive of ACCESS RJ’s mission offered nonfinancial support in other ways, such as helping with transportation or providing housing for out-of-state abortion seekers, Gil said. But that’s not where the need is, she said. Out-of-state patients coming to California to receive care increased by nearly 200 percent since June 2022. This surge has strained ACCESS’ resources.

“When Roe fell, there were folks coming out of the woodwork who were suggesting we need an underground system to get people from state to state, or

saying they’d be willing to house people in their home who are here to have abortions,” she said. “But we already have the infrastructure – abortion funds have existed for decades. We already have the systems. We already have the connections to get people the care and support that they need to make the reproductive choices that they want to make. What we really need in order to continue to do our work is financial support.”

Now, with the federal government’s recent drastic Medicaid cuts, strict eligibility requirements, and prohibition of funding for Planned Parenthood health centers and other abortion providers delivering care to Medicaid patients, ACCESS is anticipating vastly increased need for financial support to cover the cost of reproductive health care services in California.

Somewhat surprisingly, ACCESS Reproductive Justice is the only abortion fund in California, compared with Texas, which has nine, Gil said. The expected

burden with the new changes is particularly concerning, with a number of factors contributing to increased costs.

“Five abortion clinics have closed in California just since July due to the ‘Defund Planned Parenthood’ provision, with more likely to shutter soon,” Gil said. “That’s on top of the fact that nearly half of California counties have no abortion providers or clinics at all. We anticipate an increased need for transportation and logistical support as our callers travel farther and wait longer for available appointments, even those within the state.”

There are issues even within Santa Barbara, despite the area’s reputation for comparatively easy access to care. The impact isn’t only on those seeking abortions, Gil said.

“There’s an OB-GYN shortage within both the city and county,” she said. “That means that if you can’t find quality prenatal care, it’s going to impact your decision about whether or not you want to have your child.”

ACCESS has also seen an increased need for financial support beyond the actual medical care, Gil said, with the organization moving to help.

“The tenets of reproductive justice are that people have the human right to determine if, when, and how they become parents,” she said. “Within that framework, we believe that it’s not just about birth control, STI treatment, and abortion care, but also about people’s ability to live safe, wholesome lives. If you can’t have access to safe housing, if you don’t have access to regular food, if you are living in a surveillance state, if you don’t have access to clean water, or your children are not safe to play in their front yard because of gun violence, we see all of those as reproductive justice issues because that impacts your ability to raise your family in a safe environment with your full autonomy.”

In the last fiscal year, ACCESS RJ received more than 3,100 support requests for abortion care, gender-affirming care, and essential reproductive health care, and was able to support

ACCESS RJ volunteers assembling abortion comfort kits.

ACCESS RJ supported more than 1,900 individuals across the state and country to access abortion care and other reproductive healthcare services — an increase of over 160% since the overturning of Roe v. Wade

1,900 of them with direct financial and practical support for procedural costs, travel, childcare, lost wages, and other barriers, providing $1.2 million in funding to people seeking care. Patients from 47 of 58 California counties were among those served, as well as people from 28 other states. Meanwhile, the organization continued to maintain 97 percent of funding going directly to patient support.

To combat these increasing issues, ACCESS RJ has launched a four-year, $4 million campaign to:

• Fully fund all procedural costs for its callers, which it estimates at $500,000 annually to bridge the gaps.

• Expand overall direct services to better reach rural communities and those facing immigration status issues, and enhance the ability to help patients seeking gender-affirming care.

• Maintain funding levels for practical support costs for all callers, with or without continued state funding beyond this fiscal year.

• Enhance technology infrastructure for efficient service delivery.

• Build organizational capacity for sustainable growth.

A rising issue also has to do with combating misinformation, as those who aren’t told about ACCESS by a medical provider often turn to a Google search or social

For the second year in a row, ACCESS RJ was selected as Nonprofit of the Year by California state legislators. In 2023, they were honored to be selected by Senator Nancy Skinner (SD-9), Chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

media, where they might be misdirected by a crisis pregnancy center. Finances shouldn’t be a barrier to being able to have a choice in having a child, Gil said.

“In California in particular, there are more crisis pregnancy centers than there are abortion providers,” Gil said. “We do a lot to maintain relationships with as many providers as possible so that they know they can send folks to us as a resource. We exist to help people make decisions about their reproductive health care with as few barriers as possible. Our work is to make sure that folks can receive the science-proven care that they want and need.”

Montecito Miscellany

Frank McGinity Opens

His Riven Rock Home to Irish History

by Richard Mineards and friends...

Frank McGinity invited members of the American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) to his storied home, the Music House on the Riven Rock Estate in Montecito - “only a tiara’s toss from Harry & Meghan’s!” as Richard Mineards would say. The society gathered for a talk by Enda Duffy, Ph.D. on the potato famine titled “The Great Hunger: Starvation, Relief, Clearances and Making of Modern Ireland.”

Frank offered a wonderful Irish welcome complete with delicious passed hors d’oeuvres and a variety of local wines. Adam Phillips, founder & director of the Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara, performed Irish tunes on the pastoral pipes and folk guitar singing a lovely rendition of “The Fields of Athenry,” a song about the famine. The original Vermiculite walls in the music & movie room of the house created perfect acoustics.

Frank opened the program by thanking

Melissa M. Pierson, Owner 1211 Coast Village Road #4 Montecito, CA 93108

members. Its purpose was ‘that the world may know,’ written on the emblem representing the society. This quote references the famine and the more than one million Irish people who came to America. As we know, they were often unwelcomed into American culture. The society was conceived to defend the rights of the Irish immigrants.

Vivian Marsano, Frank McGinity, Judith McDermott, Phil Conran, Enda Duffy, and Mary Louise Days

his loyal board of directors and supporters for sustaining the West Coast Chapter of AIHS for forty-two years before introducing the speaker, Enda Duffy, Professor of English at UCSB. With his lyrical Irish brogue, Enda warned the audience they might “weep quietly” as he shared stories of the Irish famine of 1845 to 1849.

“It’s hard to get your head around dying of hunger, right? It was really an ecological disaster – a spore, a fungus – and it happened very fast,” he said. Drawing from his home region on the border of Counties Roscommon and Mayo, Enda painted vivid scenes of starvation, disease, extreme poverty, forced evictions, and mass emigration. Many, he reminded us, were driven to dangerous workhouses simply to survive. More than 1.2 million lives were lost and 2.5 million emigrated during those harrowing years making it one of the worst famines in modern European history.

The AIHS was founded in 1897, a half century after the potato famine. President Teddy Roosevelt was one of the founding

Irish History lovers included Phil & Margaret Conran, Judith and Patrick McDermott, Viviana Marsano, Mary Louise Days, Marty Bell, Mike & Laura Cleary, Michele Neely, John & Tracie Doordan by Maria McCall

Tea at the Simpson House Inn

Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub gathered for a sumptuous afternoon tea at the historic Simpson House Inn, built in 1874 by Robert and Julia Simpson –nine years after the Civil War and before the arrival of the railroad, electricity, and indoor plumbing in Santa Barbara. The Victorian Italianate home set the stage for guests like Janet McCann, Hiroko Benko, and Katherine Murray-Morse, who donned hats and relaxed in the living room as they were served tea accompanied by a generous spread of savory pastries, cucumber and egg salad sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and lemon curd, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and more.

Known also as Fabled Gables, the home was later owned by E.P. Dunn, who managed the Arlington Hotel, and then by Katharine McCormick, who had married into the McCormick family of mechanical reaper fame. She expanded the property and used it as a guest house while maintaining the family’s renowned Montecito estate, Riven Rock.

In 1976, Glyn and Linda Davies recognized its uniqueness and purchased

(photo by Priscilla)

Marty Bell, Debbie Geremia, Adam Phillips, Michele Neely, and Scott Laufer (photo by Priscilla)

John Doordan, Tracie Doordan, Actor Patrick McDermott, Tayler McManus, and Frank Artusio (photo by Priscilla)

it as their home. Their family began a “labor of love,” undertaking an extensive restoration of the Victorian jewel. In July 1985, the Simpson House opened as a bed-and-breakfast inn, and in 1992, both the house and gardens were declared a historic landmark. Today, it remains one of the best-preserved Victorian-era homes in California.

From Henry James’ Portrait of a Lady: “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the cer-

emony known as afternoon tea.” I took that to heart in my twenties, learning to make the proper pot from my dear 85-year-old Welsh friend, Ceridwen Weekly tea became our ritual, inviting friends from different cultures to join us. Since then, I have enjoyed afternoon tea around the globe – on cruise ships, and in local hotels and restaurants – but the Simpson House Inn on Arrellaga

Miscellany Page 204

MClub members gather around the proposal fountain at the Inn (photo by Priscilla)

Street keeps me coming back time and time again.

“But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea.” Jane Austen, Mansfield Park.

Tea lovers included Beverley King, Janet McCann, Katherine MurrayMorse, Hiroko Benko, Barbara Burger, Lawrence & Elizabeth Spann

FSA Celebrates Generosity and Service Since 1899

Longtime supporters Michael and Marni Cooney hosted a donor appreciation reception at the Valley Club to honor Family Service Agency (FSA) and its vital work.

Marni highlighted that FSA has been serving those in need in our community since 1899, today reaching over 26,000 individuals with services like senior programs, family support, mental health counseling, and education programs like Dedicated Dads and Connected Couples, Connected Families. “We believe a community’s strength is measured by how it supports its most vulnerable members, and FSA is here to

Peanut allergies drop in kids thanks to new early feeding guidelines

Newly released research confirms that introducing peanut products to babies as young as four months is not only safe, it’s effective in preventing potentially life-threatening peanut allergies.

According to a study published last week in the journal Pediatrics, the rate of peanut allergy among U.S. children aged zero to three has dropped by more than 27 percent since 2015, when guidelines first recommended early peanut introduction for high-risk infants. After those recommendations were broadened in 2017 to apply to all children, the rate declined by over 40 percent.

Doctors have been warning parents to delay peanut exposure until age three for generations now. That changed in 2015, after Dr. Gideon Lack and his team at King’s College London published the stirring LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) trial. Their findings showed that introducing peanut products in infancy reduced allergy development by more than 80 percent. Later follow-up revealed about 70 percent of that protection lasted into adolescence.

The new guidelines were undeniably hopeful, but uptake was slow. Early surveys showed that just 29 percent of pediatricians and 65 percent of allergists were following the updated advice. According to an accompanying commentary by Dr. Ruchi Gupta of Northwestern University, confusion over how to safely introduce peanuts outside clinical settings contributed to the hesitation.

Still, the numbers suggest that progress is underway. Researchers analyzed electronic health records from dozens of pediatric practices nationwide and estimate that since 2015, around 60,000 children have avoided food allergies, including roughly 40,000 who sidestepped peanut allergies specifically.

Dr. David Hill, lead study author and allergist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, emphasized that today’s advice encourages introducing common allergens between four and six months of age. That means not just peanuts but also tree nuts, soy, and milk-based products. No prior screening or testing is required, though parents should consult with their pediatrician if they have concerns.

For many families, the new guidance has required a shift in thinking. Tiffany Leon, a registered dietitian and director at FARE, introduced peanuts and other allergens early to her two young sons, a move that initially shocked her own mother.

improve outcomes for those in crisis,” Cooney said, before introducing FSA CEO Lisa Brabo

Brabo, known for her collaboration with nonprofits, spoke about FSA’s partnership with the Santa Barbara Public Library (SBPL) through its Community Connections program.

Librarians Jennifer Stetson and Jace Turner shared stories about how FSA’s Community Support Specialist Mersy Lopez helps connect people to essential resources - housing, health services, nutrition, employment, and education - in a safe, welcoming space. “SBPL values our partnership with FSA, and we’re excited to deepen our collaboration,” Turner said.

When asked about how FSA prioritizes its broad range of services, Brabo explained, “We focus on what I call core services, which remain constant, no matter the crisis. Whether it’s a disaster, pandemic, or the challenges we face today, these two pillars are essential: meeting people’s basic needs for a reasonable quality of life and providing mental health support. These needs are

While the data is promising, researchers acknowledge that their findings came from a subset of pediatric practices and may not represent the entire U.S. population. Still, the trend is clear: early allergen introduction is gaining traction, and it appears to be making a real impact.

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always present, and we remain committed to them.”

Guests included Linda Sessler, Sandy Nordahl, Paul Cordeiro, Rod Durham, Keith Moore, Pegeen White, Kathy O’Leary, Mary & Jim

Morouse, Karen Poythress, Dana & Andrea Newquist. by Maria McCall

He’s keeping up with The Journal — pip pip!

Richard 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).

Michael Cooney, FSA CEO Lisa Brabo, Marni Cooney, Stan Baratta, and Carole MacElhenny (photo by Priscilla)

Jennifer Stetson, Jace Turner, Hannah SidarisGreen, Linda Sessler, and Denise Cicourel (photo by Priscilla)

Dana and Andrea Newquist, Paul Katan, Pegeen White, and Keith Moore (photo by Priscilla)

“Definitely we are on our game much more strictly when the symphony is playing by the score,” Simpson said.

A Psychedelic Costume Competition has recently been added, so the audience might be as colorful as the images evoked by the music of the flower-power generation. Add it all up, and the journey back to the Age of Aquarius looks like a mind-boggling trip down memory lane—or a first exposure to the scintillating sonic palette of the psychedelic era.

“It’s all about taking you on an adventure with an energy and vibe so that at the end you feel like you were on a phenomenal ride,” Simpson said.

Kind of like an acid trip.

Visit www.granadasb.org.

Cyndi Silverman Leads the Way

Cyndi Silverman’s first months as executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara led into the pandemic, which of course forced cancellation of the organization’s annual Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival (SBJFF). Five years later, Silverman, now CEO, is understandably proud of her accomplishments, most notably spearheading a complete remodel of the Jewish Federation’s building on lower Chapala Street and adding Etty’s Jewish Deli to the premises.

This week, the facility will also host the SBJFF. Following the festival’s years of residency at the New Vic, this marks a sort of homecoming for the cinematic event that keeps attracting higher-quality films and more sessions with filmmakers each passing year.

“We had no real space to do anything like this before,” Silverman said. “We completely transformed the building so that we can seat about 150 people at a single event. Our new space not only fits the festival really beautifully, but it’s perfect for the audience to come out of a movie and have something to eat in the deli.”

The Federation is also renting a huge screen and bringing in an upgraded sound system as well as draping the walls to create more of a movie-theater feel. Meanwhile, the festival schedule, expanded to 16 programs spread over six days, November 1–6, between the Sabbath, should go a long way in helping filmgoers work up an appetite, as the slate boasts a range of genres, from drama to comedy to documentaries. The films – nearly all of which are new in 2025 and have almost exclusively never been seen before in town—come from countries around the world in addition to Israel, and encompass both Jewish/Israeli history as well as modern experiences.

For example, Shoshana, directed by Michael Winterbottom (Welcome to Sarajevo, Wonderland, 24 Hour Party People), is a drama about a British deputy superintendent of the Palestinian police who becomes romantically involved with the daughter of a co-founder of the Zionist labor movement in 1938–44 Tel Aviv. Soul of a Nation, from Jonathan Jakubowicz, delves into Israel’s most perilous chapter in recent

SHERIFF’S BLOTTER M

Vehicle Tampering / Jameson & Loureyro Road, Montecito

Sunday, October 12, 11:14 a.m.

Deputies responded to an incident involving a local woman and the towing service she used for roadside assistance. When the tow driver arrived, the woman became verbally abusive. The driver told her that he was leaving and would not tow the vehicle. As he got into his truck and closed the door, apparently the woman jumped onto the back of the tow truck, went to the driver’s side door, and began hitting the window with her hands. Woman was cited for violation of Section 10852 of the California Vehicle Code (tampering with or injuring a vehicle) and later provided with a different tow service to remove her vehicle from the roadway.

Narcotics and Speeding / Lillie Avenue, Summerland

Sunday, October 12, 9:18 p.m.

Deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle speeding north on Highway 101. The driver, who was on active probation for drug possession, admitted to having drugs in his motel room. The passenger was also found with drugs. Deputies conducted a probation search of the motel room and located numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia. Both driver and passenger were arrested and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail.

Motorcycle Violation / Lillie Avenue, Summerland

Sunday, October 12, 12:34 a.m.

Deputies stopped a motorcycle for failing to stop at a stop sign and for not having rear or license plate lights. The rider did not have an M1 endorsement (a class of motorcycle license), and under his CDL restrictions was required to operate only vehicles equipped with an ignition interlock device – a breathalyzer that prevents a vehicle from starting if the driver’s breath alcohol concentration (BAC) is above a predetermined limit. He was cited for the violations.

Male Felon / Montecito Union School, Montecito Monday, October 13, 8:29 p.m.

While conducting a premises check at the Montecito Union School parking lot, deputies contacted a male subject. A records check initially showed an outstanding felony warrant. The suspect was arrested and searched, during which deputies found drugs. Dispatch later advised that the issuing agency had recalled the warrant, though it had not been removed from the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS). The suspect was booked for the drug possession violation only.

Suspicious Letter / 5700 block of Via Real Tuesday, October 14, 9:55 a.m.

Deputies responded to a report of a suspicious letter left on the door of a property manager. The letter did not contain explicit threats but included random and unusual comments. A suspect has been identified, and follow-up investigation is underway.

Vehicle Violation / Coast Village Road, Montecito

Tuesday, October 14, 8:19 p.m.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop for expired registration and false tags. The driver also had an expired license. Due to the false tag, expired registration (July 2023), and expired license, the vehicle was towed. The driver was cited for violations of Sections 4462.5, 4000(a)(1), and 12500 of the Vehicle Code and was released from the scene shortly after.

history, when the crisis triggered by the horrific October 7 attack ignited an extraordinary movement of solidarity, uniting Israelis in ways never before seen. There are two different approaches to recovering property seized during World War II. The Stamp Thief documents Hollywood writer and one-time Seinfeld producer Gary Gilbert’s Argo-like efforts as he brings a film crew to Poland, ostensibly to make a movie, with the ulterior motive of finding a priceless stamp collection stolen by a Nazi officer during the Holocaust and returning it to its rightful heirs. (Postscreening Q&A with Gilbert and irector Dan Sturman ) The Property is a rom-com in which Regina and her granddaughter Mika journey to Poland to reclaim their family

Festivalgoers gather at the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, where CEO Cyndi Silverman has led a full renovation and the return of the Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival to its longtime home.

News Bytes

Organic Soup Kitchen Hosts

Holiday Soup Social – November 13

by Joanne A Calitri

Organic Soup Kitchen invites the Santa Barbara community to celebrate its 16th Anniversary at the annual Holiday Soup Social on Thursday, November 13 at 4 p.m. at the Organic Soup Kitchen Distribution Headquarters (126 E. Haley St., Suite A4, Santa Barbara).

Guests will enjoy an Italian-inspired holiday feast paired with local wines and craft beers, live music by À La Carte Music, and a silent auction and raffle featuring local gifts and experiences – all to support Organic Soup Kitchen’s mission of providing nutrient-dense meals to those in need.

“This event is such a special tradition for us,” said Andrea Slaby , Chief Operating Officer at Organic Soup Kitchen. “It’s a time to come together, share a meal, and celebrate the compassion and generosity that make our community so unique.”

Tickets are available at paybee.io/in-person-event/osktasting/4.

Montecito Country Mart News

October 1 – 31: The Honor System Pumpkin Patch offers heirloom and organic gourds perfectly suited for your best culinary or carving aspirations. We’re keeping it simple: select your bounty and pay with cash in the drop box, by card at the Trading Post, or via QR code. Open daily next to Dôen through October 31.

Halloween, October 31, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Costume contest, trick-or-treating, and a movie. The Mart invites you to a festive day of trick-or-treating, a Pumpkin Patch costume contest, and Movie Night at 6 p.m., featuring a screening of the essential classic Monsters, Inc.

Kathryn M. Ireland and Jeffrey Alan Marks: Two Million Dollar Decorators at Hudson Grace and Emily Joubert has been postponed to a later date (TBA). Stay tuned.

Montecito Fire and Carpinteria–Summerland Fire Departments Join KSBY’s Annual Season of Hope

(Oct. 13 – Dec. 12)

The Central Coast Season of Hope, presented by KSBY, is a donation drive for nonperishable food items, new unwrapped toys, and financial contributions, now through December 12. Locally, the Montecito Fire Protection District and the Carpinteria–Summerland Fire Protection District are participating as official dropoff locations.

411: carpfire.com

411: ksby.com/marketplace/season-of-hope

Chabad of Montecito Supports Jewish Film Festival (November

1 – 6)

The Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival runs Saturday, November 1, through Thursday, November 6.

Chabad of Montecito announced its endorsement of the film Marathon Mom, which will screen on Monday, November 3, at 1 p.m. The event is organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara.

411: sbjewishfilmfestival.org

Flourish & Flow: A Black Joy Beach Party

(Sunday, October 26)

The Kindred Collective for Healing and Liberatory Traditions (formerly The Healing Space) at UCSB’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education will present

Flourish & Flow: A Black Joy Beach Party—a free, intergenerational celebration of Black wellness, cultural connection, and collective care—on Sunday, October 26, from 1 p.m. to sunset at Goleta Beach Area A.

The event, open to all who come with respect and solidarity, is rooted in a model of sustainable, liberatory healing. It is designed to combat racial isolation, strengthen intergenerational networks of care, and bridge UCSB with Black communities across Santa Barbara County. Attendees can engage in wellness activities including art therapy, yoga, meditation, a pier walk, light refreshments, and food for purchase from local Black-owned businesses honoring Black and African culinary traditions.

Nolan Krueger, assistant professor of counseling, clinical, and school psychology (CCSP), is leading the event in collaboration with graduate and undergraduate students.

“All are welcome who come with respect and solidarity,” Krueger said. “We invite the wider community to witness, uplift, and help create a space that centers joy, honors grief, but refuses despair. This gathering is part of something larger. Together, we’re creating a foundation for healing and care.”

411: Contact Nolan Krueger at ntkrueger@ucsb.edu

Los Padres Forest Association Call for Photographs (Submit by November 2)

The Los Padres Forest Association’s annual call for photographs for its 2026 Forest Wall Calendar is open through November 2. Each year, LPFA creates a calendar featuring the sights, seasons, and wildlife of the Los Padres. All ages are welcome to submit. Selected photographers will be credited and receive a complimentary calendar. Preorders for the 2026 calendar are also open, with all proceeds supporting trail maintenance in the Los Padres Forest.

Send up to 15 photographs with your name to info@LPForest.org.

CALM4Kids “At Heart” Fundraiser (November 7)

CALM, a community-based mental health nonprofit in Santa Barbara County, will hold its luncheon fundraiser on November 7 at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito. Event sponsors include Montecito luminaries Belle Hahn, Cate Stoll, and Alexis Courson, along with Montecito Bank & Trust.

Join this mission-driven event supporting CALM’s work to break the cycle of childhood trauma across Santa Barbara County.

411: calm4kids.org/about-us

Carpinteria Valley Water District Launches Advanced Purification Project

The Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project, slated for early 2026, will replenish the groundwater basin with purified recycled water—creating a locally controlled, drought-resistant drinking water supply.

The project includes an advanced purification facility at the Carpinteria Sanitary District, with water lines to Linden Avenue, El Carro Park, and Meadow View Lane; two underground injection wells; and two monitoring well clusters. Completion is expected by 2028.

411: cvwd.net/capp

Unity Shoppe Lompoc Expands Hours to Meet Community Need – Starting November 6

Unity Shoppe has announced expanded hours at its Lompoc location (1009 North H Street, Suite B, behind Goodwill Mission Services) to better serve families in Northern Santa Barbara County.

Beginning November 6, the shop will now be open Wednesdays, 12–5 p.m., and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The expanded schedule aims to meet growing demand for groceries, clothing, and household essentials.

“The Lompoc community has welcomed us with open arms, and the need continues to grow,” said Angela Miller-Bevan, executive director and CEO of Unity Shoppe. “By adding an extra day of service, we’re ensuring that families can access healthy food, produce, clothing, and essentials with dignity and choice.”

Unity Shoppe, founded in 1917, operates multiple programs countywide, including free grocery stores, home delivery for seniors, job training for youth, and seasonal holiday toy and gift drives.

411: unityshoppe.org

work with. It’s pulling in all these little threads in the community.”

Mayberry in the Woods

To summarize; Montecito Beautification Day participants this year will be served a complimentary breakfast sponsored and hosted by the Rosewood Miramar, and following the cleanup will enjoy a picnic lunch courtesy of neighbors Montecito Village Grocery and San Ysidro Ranch. Need we add the picnic lunch will be prepared by our very own Montecito Firefighters? If we had a bomb disposal squad they would likely be circulating with hors d’oeuvres.

Think of Montecito Beautification Day as a living Norman Rockwell painting, or maybe one of those emblematic slow-motion heartland parades you see in the movies – bunting-festooned floats and lots of waving; lucent community life as a shining fractal of enriched Life Itself.

“When I first started doing this, I told the crew that I really want it to feel like you’re in Mayberry.” Mindy Denson is Montecito’s Community communicant extraordinaire, and for 21 years the energized Montecito Beautification Day ambassador and kahuna. Her initiating Mayberry reference is to iconic 60s TV series The Andy Griffith Show, and its fictional North Carolina hamlet where everybody knows everybody, the town deputy is allowed one bullet and has to keep it in his shirt pocket, and a loving village vibe suffuses daily life, whatever the harmlessly chaotic goings on. Mindy and the committee’s singular vision has long since taken root in the yearly Beautification Day event, to its increasing popularity.

“I realized last year with Norm (Borgatello, owner of the Upper Village) having been so gracious and giving us the Corner Green every year, I couldn’t do it anymore,” Mindy says. “It was too tight. So many more people are coming out. So many more people want to participate!”

It bears mentioning here that she is talking about locals excitedly rushing in to pick up trash; civic self-improvement turned joyous community convocation. This much-anticipated annual fete is 40 years old this year.

“Our theme this year is Montecito Renaissance,” Denson says. “We were thinking about all the positive change that’s been going on here, and I thought this is the perfect year to highlight that, our 40th.”

She hasn’t done it alone, of course, and her affections on that front may present a threat to her cardiology. “I feel so honored to work with this longstanding committee. I think the fact that it’s 40 years… it’s really making my heart explode.”

Reader, this is where we are obliged to ask: How did Mindy get involved in Montecito Beautification Day? Let’s ask her together.

Mindy Denson’s Beautification Day Arc

“I’m a Midwest girl – a Cleveland girl –and I think that’s part and parcel of what the Midwest is all about,” Denson says. “And I thank my mom and my dad, too. There’s something real about it. When I moved here, it was like, let’s do some of the things like we’ve done in Midwest. One of the things we used to do growing up, we always had block parties so all the neighbors could get to know each other. We’d close the street and hang out with kids, moms, dads, aunts, uncles…”

For 40 years, Beautification Day’s baseline raison d’être has been the collaborative and plenary plucking of litter from area streets and beaches. Under the committee’s activated oversight, the yearly gathering has become a kind of village love rally. Think of it as an emotionally nourishing trash haul, if that helps. “It is really a reunion,” Mindy says. Her own story begins with a simple declarative sentence that hardly portends the magic to follow.

“I’d moved here, and I was out walking.” (see?) “There were a couple neighbors down the street and they were picking up trash. And I’m like, oh! And they said ‘Hey, this is Beautification Day.’ And I said, ‘Cool! I’m in!’ So I started picking up trash and got involved. I think it was in 2004 they said, ‘Oh, you’re chairing the Beautification Committee!’ And I go,‘WHAAAT?’”

Denson’s journey to Montecito?

Thanks for asking.

“I did my undergrad at UCSB, and I would bike around Montecito all the time – and I just fell in love with it. And then I had a work opportunity, moved away, and spent 16 and a half years with Chanel.”

Chanel?

“San Francisco, Chicago, New York City. I was a store directress and I loved it. Then came 9/11. That’s another story. I lived four blocks away,” she says, and pauses. “I won’t tell you what was on my deck. But yeah…my husband and I have been together 36 years, got married at the Ranch before the big Bennifer weekend, had a fabulous ceremony there. We were living in the Bay Area and just loved it here. I was like, well, what am I going to do? They needed an assistant store director here in town for Sacks Fifth Avenue. Found a cute little place here and started in right away. Love where you live.”

When Mindy first chaired the Beautification Day event some 21 years ago, as a matter of record 1.38 tons of trash were collected. Beautification Day this year will arrive with all the trappings and a vibe of genuine community celebration, including recognition of Citizen of the Year Mindy and the committee she loves are all over it. And have been for years.

“As a really standup committee we have elevated Beautification Day. We’re reaching out to more organizations and including more people. Again, the Renaissance – we are moving in a different direction with media, really getting the word out...” Denson breaks off, sighs distractedly, and smiles. “Yeah, it’s definitely an elevated event,” she says. “But Montecito is still that small town that will never go away. It will never go away.”

ON THE SIDE

Headline: 4 VAFB Space Mice Apparently Perished (Santa Barbara News Press, June 4, 1959)

VANDENERG

AFB — Four black mice apparently are dead. The Air Force today said all available data indicates the satellite-rocket re-entered the atmosphere several thousand miles from the pad where it was launched here yesterday and was destroyed by air friction. They had hoped to put it into orbit for 26 hours, eject the mouse capsule near Hawaii and catch its parachute, making the rodents the first creatures to return alive from orbit.

Santa Barbara News-Press, September 1, 1967 (Chillin’)

The body of a 74-year-old Santa Barbara feminist and peace crusader was deposited today in hermetically sealed iron capsule in Phoenix, refrigerated by liquid nitrogen to minus 196 degrees centigrade. At a prepaid cost of $10,000, she will be kept in “cryogenic storage” until such time as medical science develops the technology to revive her, perhaps 1,000 years hence. Last Saturday at 1:30 p.m., Mrs. Russ Le Croix Van Norden left her apartment at 2520 State St. for a trip to Los Angeles to confer with experts in the field of biocryonics. Friends close to the woman believe she had a premonition of death. The Santa Barbaran will thus become the first female human being in the history of the world to be deep-frozen for future “resurrection.”

Beautification Day ’23 (courtesy photo)

Alexei & Jack on Beautification Day – doing their civic duty and having a blast (courtesy photo)

Search and Rescue explain the mission (courtesy photo)

Zone Zero is not a recent epiphany. In fact, Zone Zero discussions have been ongoing over the past decade.

The Zone Zero law, Assembly Bill (AB) 3074, passed with bipartisan support in 2020 following the record-breaking wildfires on 2017 and 2018, including the Camp Fire that destroyed the town of Paradise in Northern California and claimed 85 lives.

AB 3074 became law January 1, 2021. When officially adopted by the State Fire Marshal, the law will restrict combustible material within five feet around all structures located in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

“Each property is unique, so the best way to tackle these changes is by having members of our department come out to your home and assess the areas that should be prioritized,”

Briner said. “There is no charge for these site visits, and we will provide you with a thorough report that outlines our concerns and recommendations.”

Zone Zero in Montecito

In Montecito, Zone Zero regulations will encompass properties that are designated within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

When AB 3074 passed in 2020, the new rules were set to be enforced starting January 1, 2023. But the regulations had not been written by the date.

Two more years elapsed when the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County destroyed thousands of homes as flames jumped from structure to structure.

Those devastating and historic conflagrations spurred Governor Newsom to sign an executive order (N-18-25) on February 6, 2025, directing the Board of Forestry to finalize the Zone Zero regulations by year’s end.

The latest draft of the Zone Zero regulations dictates that the restrictions will apply immediately to new construction and existing properties will have three years to come into compliance.

Recommendations to Requirements

Nic Elmquist and Maeve Juarez are wildland fire specialists with Montecito Fire Department. They assist homeowners with creating defensible space, recommending structure hardening retrofits and overall wildfire preparedness.

“The thought of removing lush, healthy plants and trees that are thriving within the first five feet of your home is understandably frustrating,” Juarez said. “But if Nic or I have been out to your property, we will tell you that those green shrubs growing directly against your home are not a great idea.”

Juarez explains that the healthy, green foliage often conceals dead, dry material. Plus, it is difficult to do enough routine maintenance to prevent dead leaves from accumulating.

If you have a wooden fence that attaches to your home, our wildland fire specialists recommend replacing the first five feet of fencing that touches the home with a noncombustible alternative.

If you have bark or mulch surrounding your structure, they will encourage you

to replace it with gravel or river rock; something that will not turn into a bed of kindling for embers.

“Up until this point, we have been able to offer these ideas to our residents as mere recommendations,” Elmquist said. “We’re optimistic that we can work together with our community to implement solutions that both fit with the character of their home and are fire resistant.”

Their suggestions are based on their 50+ combined years of experience responding to major wildfires and witnessing firsthand the difference excellent defensible space and structure hardening makes when homes are under direct threat from wildfire.

Going forward, AB 3074 will increase the seriousness of their advice about landscaping and home design within those first five feet from your home, from recommendations to requirements.

What to do Right Now

For anyone who is building a new structure, Fire Marshal Aaron Briner recommends following the Zone Zero regulations given that they are proven, best practices for wildfire prevention and they may soon be required by law.

For those contemplating what changes they should make before the three-year implementation period expires in 2029, Briner recommends starting with a free property assessment with a wildland fire specialist.

“Each property is unique, so the best way to tackle these changes is by having members of our department come out to your home and assess the areas that should be prioritized,” Briner said. “There is no charge for these site visits, and we will provide you with a thorough report that outlines our concerns and recommendations.”

The timeframe for Zone Zero implementation could be adjusted based on the State’s direction.

“Over time, we will have a clearer picture of what Zone Zero enforcement really means,” Briner said. “Ultimately, Zone Zero is in alignment with the recommendations we have always made and ties into our network of wildfire prevention programs in Montecito.”

Comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation Strategy

The best method to mitigate negative impacts from wildfire is to prevent wildfire from occurring in the first place.

Montecito Fire Department is committed to protecting lives and preventing community losses during wildfire through increased efficiency of firefighting resources.

We achieve this by coordinating with architects, developers and homeowners to ensure current building codes are met, and the most current fire protection standards are incorporated into remodels and new development. The draft Zone Zero regulations are already part of our conversations with people building from scratch or renovating their homes.

We facilitate a variety of wildfire prevention projects annually, including the popular Neighborhood Chipping Program in which we assist residents with creating defensible space by removing excess vegetation from their properties.

We remove hazardous, dead trees that are prone to falling during high wind events and may damage infrastructure or cut off evacuation routes. We also limb up (remove) low-hanging tree branches along roadways to ensure clear access for emergency vehicles.

Additionally, we provide wildfire safety education through community meetings, property visits and defensible space assessments. We are committed to developing relationships within our community and with neighboring jurisdictions to address wildfire risk at the regional level.

There is no single antidote to the impacts of a wildfire, but rather a myriad of strategies that must be used together to create a robust defense within a community.

The 2017 Thomas Fire provided a real-world test of Montecito’s wildfire mitigation efforts, demonstrating the power of proactive measures, community engagement, and strategic resource allocation.

Like tools in a toolbox, home hardening and each defensible space zone are essential and interconnected. A strong defense against wildfire cannot be built by using only one tool. As the community moves toward implementing Zone Zero regulations, it builds upon a foundation of preparedness and resilience.

To schedule a complimentary property visit with a Montecito Wildland Fire Specialist, call 805-969-7762 or visit montecitofire.com.

To read Governor Newsom’s executive order N-18-25, visit https://tinyurl.com/ZoneZeroEO Montecito Fire Department will provide updates to the Montecito Journal on Zone Zero regulations as the legislative process unfolds.

Your Westmont

Honoring 50 Years of Women’s Athletics

by Scott Craig, photos by Gavin Stay

Westmont celebrated 50 years of women’s athletics during Homecoming weekend, drawing what may have been the largest gathering of athletic alumnae and current student-athletes in college history. The weekend’s sport-specific events culminated in a dinner honoring women’s athletics trailblazers and legacy builders, attended by about 200 guests and 125 current female student-athletes at Montecito Covenant Church.

“It has felt magical to be back here with the nostalgia and the energy,” said Karin Sullivan (soccer, 200103), a two-time All-American and NAIA Player of the Year. “It feels like coming home.”

Kirsten Moore, head coach of women’s basketball since 2004, served as master of ceremonies for an evening that brought together Warriors from every generation.

Part of the evening’s festivities included current women’s basketball player Molly Garnand ‘27 interviewing Kathy (Perkins) McGuigan ‘77, who played on Westmont’s first women’s volleyball and basketball teams beginning in 1973. McGuigan recalled some challenges of those early teams, including having to provide their own uniforms, no athletic trainers, no money for meals and sleeping on the gym floor at away tournaments.

“We got pushback from students,” McGuigan said. “They just weren’t ready. There was a lot of turmoil in society, and they weren’t ready to suddenly see women’s sports. The men actually laughed at us and thought, ‘Why are you here and what are you doing?’ Some women were scornful because we were running around in sweats and shorts and were sweaty. We’d have to run back up to the dorm, Page Hall, put on a dress, go to chapel, then change again for our next class.”

Garnand asked McGuigan how those challenges helped shape her character.

“Athletics is like a mini arena for life,” she said. “Everything good and bad is right there in the cauldron. You have to deal with it and work with others. You experience the highest highs – the togetherness of your team – and the lowest lows, from unfair officiating to injuries or things beyond your control.

“That carries into real life. You don’t always expect what hits you. Being resilient and bouncing back from disappointment is rare today. Sports teach you to handle the ups and downs – to stay steady in the storm.”

Lauren (McCoy) Shafer ‘18 (basketball, 2014-18), a two-time All-American and GSAC Player of the Year, reflected on her time at Westmont and coming to faith through basketball. “When I look at the story of my life, I wonder how else would that have happened,” she said. “He could have found a way, but this is the way He chose.

“Putting in the effort and work, being intentional and choosing to do hard things the Westmont Warrior way pays dividends and has made me a better person.”

Sandra Asimos ’88 (soccer, 1984–87), the 1985 NAIA Player of the Year and a three-time All-American, chose Westmont for its Christian environment and close-knit community. She still holds program records for career goals (79) and assists (34) and later founded the women’s soccer program at Sacramento State, where she served as head coach from 1994–2001.

She praised two mentors, kinesiology professor Crystal (Jorden) Mutz and coach J.P. Verhees ‘75. “Crystal Jorden was an outstanding teacher who prepared me with the tools to be successful in teaching at all levels,” Asimos said. “I enjoyed coach J.P.’s dedication to soccer, skills and knowledge, as well as his passion for the game.”

Kathy (Moyer) LeSage ’85 played tennis at Westmont from 1984–86, earning All-American honors before coaching the team for 28 years (1986–2013). Her squads captured 12 conference championships and qualified for 20 NAIA National Tournaments.

the credit to God and to Westmont for guiding me. I miss those relationships the most.”

A more recent graduate that attended the event was Patty Kerman ‘21 (volleyball, 2017-2021), who was there with her teammates Libby Dahlberg ‘19 (201518) and Cassidy Rea ’19 (2016-19).

“My Westmont experience on such a great stretch of volleyball teams makes me feel like I am a better person now,” said Kerman “I had amazing teammates that taught me what it meant to be a team. The most impactful time was when I was out with an ACL knee injury my sophomore year. Feeling the love and support from all my teammates while healing and going through the recovery process showed me so much of how to be loving, how to be caring, and how to take care of your people.

“Libby was my mentor my freshman year when she was a junior. She took me under her wing and made sure I was doing well and integrating with the other players on the team.

“I met Cassidy Rea at the prospect camp in 2015. She was going into her senior year of high school and I was going into my junior year. It worked out that we became teammates and best of friends – someone I could really rely on.

“Coaches Patti Cook and Ruth McGolpin are two fantastic people to play for. It felt so encouraging playing for them because they wanted to pull out the best in you as a player. I remember leaving practice every day satisfied

“When I think about the combination of being a player and a coach, that’s half my life spent at Westmont,” LeSage said. “It was the best part – for my growth and development as a Christian, I give all

Kirsten Moore addresses the crowd at Montecito Covenant

Trailblazer Kathy McGuigan talks about the early challenges of being a female athlete

because we worked hard that day.”

Twin sisters Karin ’04 and Kristi Sullivan ‘04 were both two-time AllAmericans and NAIA Player of the Year with Westmont women’s soccer. Kristi said overcoming adversity and jelling together as a team were the most important topics during her time as a student-athlete. “As a team, you face so much,” she said. “The bond that it creates for players is so strong. All this time later and you just pick up where you left off with these people you struggled with

and sweat with. It means a lot.”

Karin said that it’s impossible to duplicate the strong bonds you develop with teammates. “Determination and grit and fight and discipline, working really hard for one common goal, being part of a team – I have never really had something that came close to that experience – and never will,” she said.

Kristi said that Homecoming was a special time to meet new people and learn about their awards and accomplishments. “Hearing Perkins’ stories

about how sports started at Westmont was really cool,” she said. “I was able to see how my little part in the story connected to the greater history and to those who are still competing and winning today. It was really special to feel a part of that.”

The weekend also recognized members of Westmont’s first women’s team, the 1973 volleyball team, who received Trailblazer Medals before Friday night’s match in honor of their pioneering spirit: Shelley (Bourland) Ekstrom ’77, Jayne

JOHN COMER

Presnell ’78, Cindy (Vanderdussen) Hardeman ’78, and Kathy (Perkins) McGuigan ’77.

In addition, Westmont honored 50 Legacy Builders representing the dedication, leadership, and excellence of women’s teams over the past five decades.

Women’s Soccer Wins Again in Hawaii

Two second-half goals scored within four minutes of each other on a blustery day were all Westmont women’s soccer (5-8, 5-2 PacWest) needed to claim a 2-0 win over the Silverswords of Chaminade (1-4-6, 1-4-2) in Honolulu, completing a two-win road trip to Hawaii.

The Warriors currently sit in a threeway tie for second place in the PacWest standings behind Azusa Pacific (9-2-3, 6-1).

John Comer

The Pier at Bechers Bay, Santa Rosa oil on canvas 12x48

Scorpion to Pedro Point oil on canvas 12x48

Athletic Director Rob Ruiz (far right) and the women’s athletics honorees

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

Brilliant Thoughts A Brilliant Epilogue, a Stirring Farewell

intro by Jeff Wing

Tthe street from Ashleigh and recalled him biking around the neighborhood in his bathrobe and engaging her in meaningful literary conversations. His old friends Robert Bernstein and Sol Morrison shared anecdotes, and Brilliant’s longtime caregiver, Chassidy – too saddened to speak – ceded the mic to her son, who read out her heartfelt and eloquent tribute.

he Ashleigh Brilliant commemorative gathering on October 21 saw the SB History Museum’s lower courtyard outfitted as an Ashleigh tribute, the space’s perimeter an alfresco exhibition of archival photos, news articles, Pot-Shot memorabilia, and a Brilliant hodgepodge of amusingly diverse “found” mementoes plucked from the ground over decades of the restless gentleman’s walks around town. Attendees seated themselves at the draped dinner theater tables or stood around in groups and gaggles, partaking of finger foods and beverages and laughter. Writer, humorist, iconoclast, publicly anointed King of the Epigram and irascible enemy of the gas-powered leaf-blower – Ashleigh Brilliant was, and remains, both beloved and inscrutable. So it was that, following bittersweet opening remarks by Stacey Wright, a succession of friends (and one surprise family member) took their turns before a mic and attempted to describe the indescribable Mr. Brilliant.

A German woman named Alma flew in from Paris just for this occasion and delivered herself of a stirring, teary, and very personal paean to Ashleigh that absolutely hushed the place. A young woman who finished in tears grew up across

The late afternoon remembrance was conceived by Ashleigh’s trustee and dear friend Stacey Wright, who referred me to two she says did the heavy lifting.

“Laura Zoltan was the one who made the displays and decided on how to present the photos, objects and minutiae,” Stacey told me. “Cindy Ambriz was the one who decided on food, beverage and flowers. They worked hand in hand to make the event happen.” Wright continued.

“Ash the man was vibrant, witty, irreverent, stubborn and positively wonderful. In his autumn years he grieved the ebb of fame he’d enjoyed and lamented his failure to achieve greater status among writers. Yet, he lived each day truly grateful for the simple things - fresh air, sunshine, his personal independence, the care provided to him, and his own, unaffected mind. I will miss Ash the man for the rest of my days.”

***

What follows is Ashleigh Brilliant’s final column for the Montecito Journal, where he has been writing since 2016. Rest well, Ashleigh. Thanks for the years of sharing that perspective of yours, which was – and is – as exceptional as your name.

***

Home On The Range

by Ashleigh Brilliant

“Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam, Where the Deer and the Antelope play — Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, And the skies are not cloudy all day.”

This song is probably one of the most loved in American traditional music. But the first thing anybody unfamiliar with it might want to ask is: What or where was the Range? The term tends to be used, or confused, with the “Great Plains,” the “Grasslands,” or the “Prairies.” There are actually “Ranges” all over the world, under different names. In Argentina they are the Pampas. In Russia, they’re called the Steppes.

The main characteristics of these ecosystems are plenty of grass and small shrubs, but very few trees, and a generally level or undulating landscape. It was this topography with which American settlers became so familiar, moving westwards in their covered wagons along the historic Oregon Trail. Given the slow pace of their oxen, it seemed to go on forever. Only when they at last caught sight of a different kind of range – a mountain range called the Rockies – did they know they were finally leaving that great “Desert” behind. (It was at such a juncture that the city of Denver was founded.)

But the easternmost reaches of that vast area comprise the “Range” which Brewster M. Higley – an Ear Nose and Throat doctor – envisioned when he wrote

Ashleigh Brilliant’s kaleidoscopic life compels frank staring. One of many stations at the gathering.

Ashleigh’s endless SB city walks were occasions for both amused public curiosity and his own feverish propensity for collecting and recording. The famous epigrammist meticulously logged and dated every coin he found.

Amelia, Myrna, Ashleigh, and Victor; The Brilliants ca. 1941 (courtesy photo)

a poem he called “My Western Home.” Higley had moved from Ohio to Kansas in 1872, taking advantage of the new Homestead Act which offered free land to settlers who would live on a specified number of acres and farm it for a specified length of time.

Higley’s poem was published in a local magazine, where it was seen by Daniel E. Kelley, a musician and a friend of Higley, who composed (or is at least generally credited with composed) the melody of our familiar song.

Looking now more carefully at the lyrics, we are immediately struck by the reference, at the very beginning, to the Range as being a place where “the Buffalo roam.” Indeed it was, and had been for many generations, but would, sadly, soon be no longer. This period (the 1870s) happened to be the very time when that creature was being hunted to virtual extinction. One notable white hunter, named William F. Cody, was indeed so proficient at his role in the slaughter that he was widely known as Buffalo Bill. And that reputation led to his thenceforth traveling the world as a showman, with a whole troupe, calling itself “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.” It was this entertaining circus-like spectacle which brought to a vast public actual Indian Chiefs. These included Sitting Bull himself – the leader of those tribes which had,

THE GRANADA and

EARL MINNIS p resent

only a few years earlier, massacred General George Armstrong Custer and his men at the infamous “Battle of Little Big Horn.” But the Show also included such celebrities as Annie Oakley, the sharp shooter, later to become the fictionalized heroine of “Annie Get Your Gun.”

But getting back to “Home On The Range;” I am not sure about the zoology of western Kansas, but I have no doubt that, whatever deer or antelope were still to be found there in the 1870s, their activities could hardly be described as being in the nature of “play.” What really bothers me, however, is the next line, with its report that, on this Range, “the skies are not cloudy all day.” What on earth does that mean? Does it mean that there are some days there which are never cloudy, or places which are cloudy, but not all day?

Then there is what is usually sung as the second stanza:

“How often at night, when the heavens are bright, With the light from the glittering stars, Have I stood there amazed, and asked, as I gazed, If their glory exceeds that of ours.”

This may be fine poetry, but I have trouble extracting any sense from it. It almost reeks of intoxication. What sober man looks upward on a starry night, and asks such a question? Who or what does “ours” refer to? – Our glory? – and what does “glory” mean here anyway? It took considerable poetic license just to rhyme “ours” with “stars.”

The song actually goes on for several more verses. But we are not obliged to. Let’s just leave Dr. Higley, there in his Kansas cabin, never knowing how much posthumous fame his “Western Home” words will bring him.

Ashleigh Brilliant born England 1933, came to California in 1955, to Santa Barbara in 1973, to the Montecito Journal in 2016. Best-known for his illustrated epigrams, called “Pot-Shots,” now a series of 10,000. email: ashleigh@west. net. web: www.ash leighbrilliant.com.

Nir Kabaretti, Music and Artistic Director

Starry-eyed kids Ashleigh and Dorothy in a Haight-Ashbury photo booth ca. 1968 (courtesy photo)

Roberts Big Questions

Who Was Ashleigh Brilliant in My Life?

by Robert Bernstein

Ifirst “met” Ashleigh Brilliant on a family trip to Chicago in 1969. I saw a rack of his Pot-Shot postcards and bought two of them. One of them showed two iguanas on a rock with the caption: “Why are you so hard to ignore.”

In the early 1980s I was at the July 4 Mission Art Show and was honored to meet Ashleigh in person.

When he learned that I was a science and engineering person he invited me to his home to set a timepiece. I later helped him with other technology from computers to digital photography. I was honored to be a part of his life.

Like me, he avoided driving as much as possible, preferring to bike, walk or ride the bus. His UC Berkeley PhD history dissertation was on the history of

Reinstallation of the Franceschi bust in July 1993. When engineering plans stalled, Brilliant turned to Santa Barbara’s Italian American Boot Club, whose members arrived with a crane and a sense of history to return the sculpture to its rightful place.

the automobile in Southern California. He would think nothing of walking from downtown Santa Barbara to UCSB and coming home on the bus.

Like me, he had a strong distaste for people unnecessarily driving. It made him crazy that his wife Dorothy regularly drove 100 miles round trip to go skating. And that she flew all over the world often just to get airline miles, not even to leave the airport and see anything!

We each had our turn at being hit by a car and nearly being killed. He visited me in the hospital and later it was my turn to visit him. He wanted me to photograph his horrific injuries and show them to the City Council to shame them into doing more for pedestrian safety.

We both lived in Europe and the U.S. as children. We were both from a Jewish background yet we were not believers. But there were notable differences. I grew up in an activist family. Ashleigh was not much of an activist except when something got him fired up. Famously fighting to ban dirt blowers in Santa Barbara, for instance.

We both enjoyed discovering quirky finds and he shared some with me that I might never have noticed otherwise. The Frog Shrine on the Riviera before it was widely known. Nearby Steps to Nowhere. A natural bridge at Goleta Beach.

And then there was the time he was out walking the Riviera and a young couple asked him about the stone head in the brush at the bottom of Franceschi

Park. What stone head? Ashleigh had walked past that spot for years and never had seen it. It was a bust of Franceschi. Perhaps toppled when the U.S. was at war with Italy in WWII.

As a physics and engineering person, he asked if I might know how to put it

Mr. Brilliant at Chaucer’s Books in 2019, signing copies of his work for fans and friends.

back on its pedestal rock. I reached out to an engineering professor at UCSB to see if maybe it could be a student project. This proved to be a dead end.

But Ashleigh didn’t give up. Engineering wasn’t the answer. Cultural identity was the answer. There was an Italian American Boot Club. And some of their members were in construction and other trades.

They happily adopted this project. On July 12, 1993, they showed up with a massive crane to lift the head back where it had been about 50 years earlier. Another craftsman restored its nose that had been broken in the fall.

Ashleigh was sure it would loom large over the entire City. He was a bit disappointed how small it was in the landscape. But he should be proud of his persistence in getting the job done.

We had other connections. Ashleigh suffered from depression and even wore a button to remove the stigma of mental illness. My mother suffered similar mental illness.

Ashleigh and I both were columnists at Montecito Journal. My mother had me cut out each of Ashleigh’s articles and mail them to her along with my own.

He taught me a valuable writing trick: Carry a pad. When you get an idea, write it down before you forget.

We also hiked together. One time we got to a very challenging rock. I looked down and realized he was wearing leather dress shoes!

Ashleigh spoke to our Humanist Society of Santa Barbara in 2018. He said he isn’t sure whether he is a Humanist or an atheist because he is not one to join organizations. And he is not sure enough about anything to call himself an atheist. And he thinks “agnostic” is a cop-out. He confessed that he sometimes watched televangelists. He particularly liked Joel Osteen. He liked that Osteen has a positive message that God is always on your side. A message of the Power of Faith. Many of Ashleigh’s own Pot-Shots are along these lines. Like this one:

“There is always room in my faith for you and your doubts.”

At the end of that talk, he was asked only one question: Does he think life is

Ashleigh recovering in 2011 after being struck by a car while in a crosswalk. Always an advocate for pedestrians, he asked that photos of his injuries be shown to the Santa Barbara City Council to encourage stronger safety measures for walkers and cyclists.

worth living. Before he had a chance to answer I reminded him of this:

The other Pot-Shot card that I got in Chicago as a child was a simple drawing of a man leaning on a shop counter. “No. Life isn’t what I wanted. Haven’t you got anything else?”

Ashleigh then offered his answer to the question:

“Compared to what?” Asking if life is worth living has to be compared with some alternative!

Ashleigh Brilliant and me at Franceschi Park in July 1993, overseeing the restoration of the long-lost stone head of botanist Francesco Franceschi. Brilliant’s persistence and wit helped rally the community to bring the monument back to its pedestal after half a century in the brush.

Ashleigh Brilliant at the Frog Shrine on the Riviera in 1999, one of many hidden curiosities he loved discovering and sharing on his long daily walks through the city he called home.

Tue, Nov 4 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre

“One of the country’s keenest political observers.” Foreign Affairs Civil Rights Lawyer and Former President

Fri, Nov 7 / 7:30 PM Arlington Theatre

“David Sedaris is an icon of indignation in a world that keeps on irking.” The Guardian (U.K.)

Sherrilyn Ifill

Reimagining a New American Democracy

Thu, Nov 6 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

“Sherrilyn Ifill is a dazzling intellectual with an uncommon ability to analyze and frame the urgent civil rights issues facing our nation.” – Bryan Stevenson

Thu, Nov 13 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

“A

Santa Barbara Favorite

Ernie’s World

Bison, Bear, and Elk, Oh My!

by Ernie Witham

The sign said “Old Faithful” with an arrow pointing straight ahead toward a surreal, steamy landscape with benches where hundreds of people waited. Pat, my “faithful wife” said: “I’ll just jump out here and save you a seat.” By the time I found a parking spot and hiked back she said: “You missed it.”

We’d travelled 1,103 miles to Yellowstone National Park to see the most famous geyser in the world and I missed it. If only I hadn’t stopped to take a photo of the distant rear end of a moose an hour earlier, or had that big bowl of bison, elk and beef chili that I will forever remember.

“I should have taken a photo,” Pat said, “but it was so amazing time stood still.” I checked my watch. Fortunately, Old Faithful spouts off every 90 minutes, so I did get to see it. Pat said it was even better when I saw it. She had her most sincere look.

We checked into the Old Faithful Inn, the largest log structure in the world, built in 1903 by carpenters and beavers working hand and paw. There are 325 rooms. Ours came with a bed so small, we had to put our suitcases end-to-end on it. What I think used to be a walk-in closet was now the bathroom, which was great because not all rooms came with a bathroom. “Cozy,” Pat said.

We continued down the road until we saw dozens of cars pulled over. This time it was a black bear on the side of the hill.

“If he comes down,” a ranger said, “you should get in your car and leave.” We decided to beat the rush.

“And with a view,” I looked out the window at the thick upper branches of a lodgepole pine tree. One of the few not used to make the triple-level Grand Lobby, where everyone gathered to people watch, as there were no TVs or wi-fi anywhere at the Inn. Rustic, the brochure called it.

The next morning we untangled ourselves – the only way to assure neither of us fell out of cot... I mean... bed – then had a quick breakfast so we could beat traffic to the Grand Loop road. Turns out it wasn’t a problem.

“Can you see at all?” Pat asked, as she peered through the fog.

When your road-trip co-pilot says, “Pull over, it’s just one bison,” and suddenly you’re in a stare down with 2,000 pounds of nope.

“Wait, what? I thought you were driving?” Nary a snicker. All I could see was a pair of tail lights some distance ahead. Then they were gone. I made a quick left.

“Are we alive?” Pat asked.

“Yup. You can open your eyes now.”

Shortly after turning, we saw our first bison. It was walking slowly down our side of the road right in front of us. I honked. It turned and flipped me off. (Okay, I made that last part up.) It did cut across the road though. Halfway there, it stopped and scratched behind its ear with its hind leg like a dog. Never saw that on National Geographic.

We continued down the road until we saw dozens of cars pulled over. This time it was a black bear on the side of the hill. “If he comes down,” a ranger said, “you should get in your car and leave.” We decided to beat the rush.

Within moments, we saw more cars pulled off. A Bald Eagle. Then just up the road was another bison. I got out to take photos. It was just the two of us. I felt a real closeness. That’s when I realized I was barely zooming out with my camera. I wondered if they were as fast as people say.

We stopped for lunch. I opted for salad. I didn’t want bison breath for my next close encounter.

Next was Norris Geyser Field, with steaming caldrons, bubbling mud pots and active vents everywhere. That’s when we realized we were actually standing on top of the largest volcano in the world. Awesome, though a bit apocalyptic.

Yellowstone has its own Grand Canyon with towering waterfalls and a deep gorge. I decided to hike to the brink of Lower Falls, only 3/8th of a mile down switchbacks (and 3/8 th back up). Breathtaking, literally. Pat waited up top. She dismissed the paramedics when she saw me.

On the way back to the lodge, we saw an elk. It was surrounded by tourists with cellphones and apparently lots of insurance.

A great day. We had wine, saw one last spout, and then knotted ourselves together in our suite for the night.

Ernie Witham has been writing humor for more than 25 years. He is the author of three humor books and is the humor workshop leader at the prestigious Santa Barbara Writers Conference.

Anchored in Light

John

Comer Paints Visions from ‘Across

the Channel’

by Zach Rosen

Each piece in John Comer’s Across the Channel has a glow… one could call it John’s style and approach to light in plein air, though really it feels more like the embers of his enthusiasm for the islands. The new series, showing at Santa Barbara Fine Art, gathers more than a dozen works painted from the islands and waters of the Santa Barbara Channel – scenes that feel at once intimate and eternal, like a memory shared between painter and place.

As we walk the show, he reflects in vivid memory each painting – its location, time of day, which ones he sketched first and painted in the studio later, and which paintings he began on his sailboat. Comer has been sailing these waters since the early 1970s, returning again and again to their shifting colors and elusive calm. “I just wanted to do a series from the islands – about the islands – to bring back the experience of being out there,” he says. “Most of these are from the ocean looking in.”

After years painting with the OAK Group and working from the land, Across the Channel represents a reversal of view and one that could only come from a lifetime on the water. Comer and his wife spent much of the past two summers aboard their handcrafted Cape George 36’ sailboat, anchoring at coves and harbors across the Channel Islands. From those vantage points, he sketched the angles of cliffs and light, the way shadow slides across the surface in the hour before dusk. Later, back in his studio, those fragments became the large-scale works that fill this show – immersive vistas of Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and beyond. Each painting is the result of timing and intuition. Comer often waits days for the right conditions – clear skies, steady light – but just as often he paints

amid unpredictability: fog, currents, the slow roll of the boat. “Sometimes painting out there, the boat’s moving and you’re just trying to control your hand,” he laughs. “Other times, it’s the movement itself that keeps things alive.” That vitality is what connects all his work: the sense that the painting is breathing, that the scene hasn’t been captured so much as kept in motion. Comer’s history is inseparable from this coastline. A lifelong surfer, sailor, and outdoorsman, he’s spent decades exploring the Pacific – from Baja to the Caribbean to the Channel Islands that still anchor his gaze. His teacher and longtime mentor, Ray Strong, once told him that the secret to landscape painting was in the atmosphere – “the weather is the important thing… it affects what you see and don’t see.” Comer took that to heart. In Across the Channel, it’s the air that binds the work: the weight of marine haze, the warmth of sandstone, the pale blue depths just before evening.

Looking at the pieces, there were a number of red stickers marking work that has sold, but there are more than a few gems left in this show. When I notice that many of the canvas sizes are wider than traditional ratios, Comer mentioned that he tried using more classic proportions but it just didn’t capture the expanse and impact of the space.

Viewed together, the pieces form something more than a study of place – they’re a record of return. Gulls wheel through soft skies; the horizon shifts as the tide moves below. These are paintings made by someone who knows the rhythm of water as well as the rhythm of paint.

He pauses, looking toward a canvas that catches the islands in a sweep of gold light. “I just wanted to bring back what it feels like – to live here, to look across that channel, and know how special it really is.”

In Passing Dr. Gary Lee Schlegel, D. P. M: April

8th, 1953 – October 1st, 2025

Dr.Gary Lee Schlegel, D. P. M, of Ventura, California passed away at home on the morning of October 1st, 2025 surrounded by his family after a long and bravely fought battle against Parkinson’s disease. Gary was born in Inglewood, California to Forrest and Ida Schlegel on April 8th, 1953. He went to Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California. He went on to undergraduate school at the University of California, Davis before completing medical school at Temple University. Throughout his medical career, he changed countless lives through his dedication, meticulousness, and generosity. In the early 2000s he phased out of his medical practice to pursue his true passion: caring for his family. He was involved in all of his children’s schooling as a classroom parent every year and as the President of the Montecito Educational Foundation. He is remembered by his children as their advocate, hero, and best friend.

Gary Schlegel is survived by his wife, Roberta Schlegel of California; his daughters, Reagan Schlegel of California, Kaelyn Schlegel of California, and Katie Marshall of New Jersey; his sons Grayson Schlegel of California, and Dylan Schlegel-Smith of California; and his brother Buddy of California. He is preceded in death by his parents Forrest and Ida Schlegel.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made during his celebration of life cocktail party on December 20th, 2025 where we will be fundraising for Parkinson’s research. Please contact Dylan or Reagan for details.

Types of Remodels.

www.bayconstruction1inc.com | 805-453-0983 | Bayconstructiongc@gmail.com

Dr. Gary Lee Schlegel, D. P. M: April 8th, 1953 – October 1st, 2025 (courtesy photo)

Willows by John Comer

marriageable age of 16. He opened a mercantile store, made soap, and worked as majordomo for the Mission padres, supervising farming, blacksmithing and construction. He built adobes with wooden floors, eschewing the traditional dirt floors coated with oxblood. In his spare time, he hied to Refugio to court Rafaela. By the end of two years, he had learned Spanish and “abjured his Presbyterian errors” to convert to

Catholicism. The two were married in 1825 and lived in the adobe home he constructed, which still stands today at 11 East Carrillo Street. In 1846, he received his grant.

Life was good and Daniel and Rafaela produced 15 children. But then, in 1861, devastating rains caused flooding which drowned most of his cattle. Many more perished during the drought of 1864, and a plague of grasshoppers ate

his sparse crops. Hill needed money and sold 1,300 acres of his lands to Thomas Wallace More, his son-in-law. A few years later, More acquired another 1000

acres of the ranch.

T Wallace More and two of his brothers had come to California in 1849. In 1850, they drove cattle from Southern California to the miners in the north. They realized an enormous profit with which they began buying up land grants and other parcels of land throughout the state. In 1853 More married Susanna, Daniel Hill’s daughter. More also began a small commercial asphaltum mine at the base the mesa at La Goleta. He was already a wealthy man in 1864 when he purchased and established a portion of the rancho on the bluffs.

In 1874, with asphaltum going for $12 to $20 a ton, he built a pier and used it to ship his asphaltum north. It is said that the streets of San Francisco were paved with More’s asphalt. The added benefit of having a pier was that he could now ship his farm products and cattle as well as asphalt. According to the June 1877 Morning Press , that year he had 2,000 acres under cultivation with beans, corn, hay, wheat, barley squash and grain. Another hundred acres were reserved for pastureland and 160 acres were preserved as timber land. More’s landing became a major port for his neighbors, as well, though More would not live long to enjoy it himself. He was shot to death later that same year at his Sespe Ranch when squatters on his property murdered him over their perceived rights to remain on the property. The Goleta ranch then passed to his brother, John Faxon More, who continued to operate the landing. There being no wharfinger (wharf manager) at night, incoming boats would blow their whistles and ranch hands would hitch up the equine “Old Mike” and drive to the landing. Old Mike apparently had a mind of his own and often decided to return to the barn where dinner and his bed awaited, stranding the ranch hands at the pier.

The 1883 History of Santa Barbara County by Thompson and West described More’s Ranch in glowing terms, saying that it was famous for its beautiful situation. “The bottomland is sheltered from the sea by the mesa or tableland, which here rises to a sufficient height above the sea to afford a fine view of the whole Patera, the view extending to Glen Annie and Ellwood towards the west with every canyon and ridge of the Santa Barbara Mountains intensely outlined towards the north. On this place are some of the remarkable mud springs that have puzzled the naturalist. They throw out quantities of sediment, which forms a rich, black soil. It is said curious Russian coins a hundred years old have been found there.”

The photo of the More Ranch in

By the 1890s, Daniel Hill’s wood floored adobe on Carillo Street was in need of some TLC. (Photo courtesy SBHM)

Daniel Hill, first mate of the American brig Rover, arrived in Santa Barbara in 1823 and jumped ship. (Courtesy Santa Barbara Historical Museum)

Rafaela Ortega Hill with one of their 15 children. (Courtesy SBHM)

Portrait of T Wallace More

1938 shows the landscape still predominated by fields and farms, though oil and gas concerns had earlier dotted the landscape. (Courtesy UCSB aerial photograph collection)

Racing Toward 2025

In August 1887, the railroad from Los Angeles reached Santa Barbara and a

great celebration was held. The Chinese workers did not stop building, however, but continued grading, cutting, and laying track to the north. By the end of October, track had been laid as far as J. F.

Way It Was Page 384

County of Santa Barbara Montecito Planning Commission

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 2025 General Ordinance Amendment Package

On November 19, 2025, the Montecito Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider the 2025 General Ordinance Amendment Package to the Montecito Land Use and Development Code, the Coastal Zoning Ordinance, and Chapter 35B, Montecito Growth Management Ordinance. The Montecito Planning Commission will consider making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the following:

 Amendments to the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Case No. 25ORD-00010), the Montecito Land Use and Development Code (Case No. 25ORD-00011), and Chapter 35B, the Montecito Growth Management Ordinance (Case No. 25ORD-00013) to:

o Repeal the Montecito Growth Management Ordinance pursuant to State law requirements;

o Add provisions for Art, Garden, and Architecture Tours;

o Clarify and simply existing procedures, requirements, and definitions;

o Implement revisions in State law pertaining to Density Bonus provisions; and

o Correct minor errors and omissions.

 Finding these amendments exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15265.

For additional information, please email the project manager Corina Martin at martinc@countyofsb.org.

The hearing will take place at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at: Planning Commission Hearing Room County Engineering Building 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

For current methods of public participation for the hearing please see https://www.countyofsb.org/1647/Montecito-Planning-Commission or the posted agenda. The posted agenda will provide a more specific time for this item. However, the order of the agenda may be rearranged, or the item may be continued.

Staff reports and the posted agenda will be available on the Friday prior to the hearing at the Commission’s website above or contact the Planning Commission Recording Secretary at dvillalo@countyofsb.org or (805) 568-2058 for alternative options.

Attendance and participation by the public is invited and encouraged. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, American Sign Language interpreters, sound enhancement equipment, and/or another request for disability accommodation may be arranged by contacting the Hearing Support Staff at (805) 568-2000. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the hearing will enable the Hearing Support Staff to make reasonable arrangements.

If you challenge the project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence to the Montecito Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing

View of More’s Ranch from end of pier. (Courtesy Santa Barbara Historical Museum)

This ad for Fairfield shows the locations of various oil wells in 1929.

More’s landing in 1901. (Courtesy SBHM)

Having changed clothes in the bathhouse, the women have a little fun with the men. (Courtesy SBHM)

In 1901, the Parrott family from San Mateo spent the summer in Montecito and made an excursion to the beach at More’s Landing. New York transplant, Santa Barbara rancher, and architect Francis Underhill joined the expedition. (Courtesy SBHM)

NOTICE

OF PENDING

ACTION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

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 Amendment for the project described below. At this time it is not 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 24AMD-00003. All letters should be addressed to Planning and Development, 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 Department a minimum of 24 hours prior to the earliest date of action by the Director identified above.

To receive additional information regarding this project, and/or to view the application and plans, or to provide comments on th e 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: BIRNAM WOOD GOLF CLUB AMENDMENT

PROJECT ADDRESS: 494 CROCKER SPERRY DR, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93108 1st SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT

DATE OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR ACTION: On or after 10/23/2025, the Director of the Planning and Development Department intends to approve this Amendment for the development described below, based on the ability to make all of the req uired findings and subject to the terms and conditions.

PERMIT NUMBER: 24AMD-00003

007-390-038, 007-510-014, 007-510-015

ZONING: 2-E-1

PROJECT AREA: 12.69

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Applicant: Birnam Wood Gold Club

Proposed Project:

APPLICATION FILED: 3/25/2024

The project is a request for an Amendment to the Birnam Wood Golf Club Conditional Use Permit (05CUP-OOOOO-00074) to allow the following: Four (4) new non-corporate memberships, with total membership increasing from 800 to 804; Renovate 1,798 SF of the existing gym and an construct an addition of 2,533 SF; Demolish the existing 1,757 SF pro-shop; Construct new 2,900 SF golf and tennis shop; Construct new 1,996 SF pool, 129 SF spa, a 1,376 SF pool equipment and restroom structure, and a 965 SF snack bar; Demolish the existing 593 SF pool; Remove 345 LF of driving range netting and fence; Replace 476 LF of 6-foot tall driving range fence with 20-foot tall netting; Validate a 215 SF as-built security building and a 296 SF as-built shed; Reconfigure parking lots and add 43 new spaces for a total of 205 spaces; Relocate an existing easement associated with Packing House Road; and Landscape and hardscape improvements.

Grading will include 4,000 cubic yards of cut and 2,750 cubic yards of fill. A total of 22 trees (10 cork oaks, 3 pines, 3 ficus, 2 canary palms, 1 cypress, 1 eucalyptus, 1 queen palm, and 1 loquat) are proposed for removal. The parcel will be served by the Montecito Water District, the Montecito Sanitary District, and the Montecito Fire District. Access will continue to be provided off of Crocker Sperry Drive. The project scope involves 3 parcels zoned 2-E-1 and shown as Assessor's Parcel Numbers 007-390-038 (9.92 acres), 007-510-015 (1.48 acres), 007-510-014 (1.29 acres), located at 494 Crocker Sperry Drive 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 Amendment 24AMD-00003 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 Director Action. To qualify as an "aggrieved person" the appellant must have, in person or through a representative, informed the Planning and Development Department by appropriate means prior to the Director Action 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 Amendment may be appealed to the California Coastal Commission after the appellant has exhausted all local appeals, therefore a fee is not required to file an appeal.

CHALLENGES: If you challenge the project 24AMD-00003 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 October 30, 2025

PUBLIC

NOTICE

Invitation to Bid No. 2025-002

Montecito Neighborhood Chipping Project

The Montecito Fire Protection District hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for:

ITB# 2025-002 – Montecito Neighborhood Chipping Project

Bid Opening – Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 2:15 p m in the conference room at Montecito Fire Station 91, 595 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara.

ITB documents may be viewed on the Montecito Fire Protection District (MFPD) website at www.montecitofire.com, or a copy may be secured from MFPD at 595 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA, between the hours of 8:00 a m and 5:00 p m , Monday through Friday. Responses must be sealed, clearly marked “Montecito Neighborhood Chipping Project” and returned to:

Montecito Fire Protection District

Attn: Nic Elmquist, Wildland Fire Specialist 595 San Ysidro Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Bids will be accepted until 2:00 p m December 10, 2025. Bids received after this time will be returned unopened. Faxed bids will not be accepted.

Montecito Journal, October 30 & November 6, 2025

Montecito Fire Protection District Public Notice

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Montecito Fire Protection District will be holding a Regular Board Meeting at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025 at District headquarters, 595 San Ysidro Road, Montecito, California.

AT THAT MEETING THE BOARD WILL REVIEW ORDINANCE NO. 2025-02: ORDINANCE OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE MONTECITO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ADOPTING BY REFERENCE AND AMENDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE AND APPENDIX CHAPTERS AND APPENDIX STANDARDS PRESCRIBING REGULATIONS GOVERNING CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM FIRE, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OR EXPLOSION; ADOPTING BY REFERENCE AND AMENDING THE 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE; ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE MONTECITO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR HAZARDOUS USES OR OPERATIONS; ESTABLISHING A BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION AND PROVIDING OFFICERS THEREFORE AND DEFINING THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT; AMENDING SECTION R313 OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE; AMENDING SECTION 1505 OF THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE; AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 2022-01.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MONTECITO EXECUTIVE SERVICES, 1482 East Valley Rd, Suite 42, Montecito, CA 93108. MARY L ORTEGA, 1482 East Valley Road Suite 42, Montecito, CA 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 20, 2025. This statement

MONTECITO JOURNAL, OCTOBER 30 & NOVEMBER 6, 2025

expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0002400. Published October 30, November 6, 13, 20, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The

following person(s) is/are doing business as: SIRENA HOME DESIGNS, 1477 Santa Ynez Avenue, Carpinteria, CA 93013. KATHRYN L MATTHEWS, 1477 Santa Ynez Ave, Carpinteria, CA 93013. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 29, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County

Carpinteria, CA 93013. KATHRYN L MATTHEWS, 1477 Santa Ynez Ave, Carpinteria, CA 93013. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 29, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250002258. Published October 23, 30, November 6, 13, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SWIMMING PIG MERCANTILE, 7931 Rio Vista Drive, Goleta, Califo 93117. AMY H BOYLE, 7931 Rio Vista Drive, Goleta, Califo 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 10, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250002339. Published October 23, 30, November 6, 13, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

Mill Ln, Santa Barbara, CA 93108-2402. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 10, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250002350. Published October 23, 30, November 6, 13, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0002256. Published October 30, November 6, 13, 20, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KAY’S VISUALS, 1477 Santa Ynez Ave,

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ESSENCE EMBROIDERY, 421 Ventura Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455. GERARDO C BUENROSTRO, 421 Ventura Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 24, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250002226. Published October 23, 30, November 6, 13, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: STRATEGIC HEALTH CONSULTANTS, 131 Olive Mill Ln, Santa Barbara, CA 931082402. CHRISTOPHER V LAMBERT, 131 Olive

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: YOUR SB NOTARY; YOUR SB MOBILE NOTARY; SUMMERLAND NOTARY; MONTECITO NOTARY; HOPE RANCH NOTARY; THE MESA NOTARY; GOLETA NOTARY; CARPINTERIA NOTARY; SAMARKAND NOTARY; LA CUMBRE NOTARY; SAN ROQUE NOTARY; GOODLAND NOTARY; USCB NOTARY, 3815 State Street, Suite G139, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. RACHEL ANNE QUITTNER, 3815 State Street Suite G139, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 11, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250002132. Published October 16, 23, 30, November 6, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LITTLE SHELLS, 89 Depot Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. SIERRA V CASTRO, 89 Depot Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 3, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0002294. Published October 9, 16, 23, 30, 2025

More’s ranch house.

In the 1890s, the beach at J. F. More’s wharf had become a favorite place for picnickers, bathers, and campers. In 1897, he built a dressing room at the wharf with steps leading to the sand. In 1900, with the completion of the railroad from the north approaching, the track through his ranch was torn up and moved. The following year, various parties received permission to look into sinking oil wells on More’s farm, though asphaltum continued to be mined.

John F More, Sr. died in 1919. Soon thereafter, John F. More Jr. renounced his father’s generosity to beach goers and put up no trespassing signs. He

began selling off portions of the ranch. Meanwhile the oil companies returned and began leasing and buying ranch land for oil production but found gas to be more plentiful. These activities continued through the 1940s.

After WWII, Santa Barbara was assaulted by a housing boom. Farmland and open space disappeared as suburban tracts proliferated at a voracious rate. What remains of rural and open land in Goleta is miniscule compared to the landscape of 80 years ago. Many citizens are concerned that with the current population and rapidly increasing density, it has become crucial that this tiny portion of an historic Mexican Land grant remain as open space so that the

dwindling species of flora and fauna of a bygone day can be preserved, and so humans can experience the intrinsic benefits of the great outdoors.

Kudos to the work and efforts of the County of Santa Barbara, The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County and the More Mesa Preservation Coalition for succeeding in protecting this first section of More Mesa Open Space through the granting of a conservation easement.

(Sources not mentioned in text: contemporary newspaper reports; moremesa.org and handbook; Avina-list of Land Grants in Santa Barbara

County; Tompkins – Santa Barbara History Makers; Tom Modugno’s Goleta History website)

Hattie Beresford has been writing a local history column for the Montecito Journal for more than a decade and is the author of several books on Santa Barbara’s historic past

dangers lurking around the corner.”

Evan Peters

By 1964, the majority of the lands north of the ranch had been subdivided into suburban lots, and the western portion of the ranch in the photo is seeing development. (Hope Ranch lies to the east) (Courtesy UCSB aerial photo collection)

The new tee shirts for the More Mesa Preservation Coalition say it all. (author photo)

Artist Kevin Gleason clearly agrees with the 1883 assessment of the views from More Mesa. (author photo)

property but take a detour when Regina seizes the opportunity to pursue her own hidden agenda of finding her long-lost love from 70 years earlier.

A special screening of Centered: Joe Lieberman—profiling the life of the late Connecticut senator known for frequently crossing the political divide, who made history as the first Jewish vice presidential candidate—features a visit from his son Matt Lieberman and a special champagne toast.

The 1923 silent Austrian comedy East & West—about a feisty young New Yorker who goes to a family wedding in Europe and gets into all kinds of mischief, including coaxing the Yeshiva boys to dance the Shimmy, and acting in a fake wedding to a nebbish Talmudic student—will be accompanied by live original music from world violinist Alicia Svigals and pianist Donald Sosin

Other comedies include Swedishkayt: YidLife Crisis in Stockholm; the Argentine homecoming laugher Mazel Tov; and Ethan Bloom, which will feature a guest appearance by Mindy Sterling, best known for portraying Frau Farbissina, Dr. Evil’s German henchwoman and lover in the Austin Powers movies.

Other post-screening discussions will be held with James L. Freedman, director of the documentary about the titular actor and comedian Charles Grodin: Rebel with a Cause, and Abby Ginzberg, who helmed Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold, about the famed founder of the Jewish women’s service organization Hadassah, who later established Palestine’s health care system.

The popular Coffee & Bagels gathering will continue to kick off each morning, made even easier by the on-site deli, which will also cater three special events during the fest.

Just as the famous old print ad for a bread company exclaimed, “You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s,” everyone is welcome at the SBJFF. You might just find yourself surprisingly absorbed.

“Jews make good movies,” Silverman said. “Steven Spielberg. What else can I say? The festival has films that are cute, funny, heartwarming, serious, educational, or a combination. It’s a broad spectrum of movies, something for everybody. It’s all good entertainment.” Visit www.sbjewishfilmfestival.org.

Focus on Film: Additional Academy Hopefuls

Last week we shared info about Cinema Society screenings for four highly anticipated Oscar-worthy feature film events—each followed by a Q&A with their decorated writer-directors—in Hamnet (Chloé Zhao) on November 8; Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro) on November 9; Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier) on November 13;

and Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos) on November 15.

Updates include Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (Scott Cooper) and The Smashing Machine, with actor-producer Dwayne Johnson, who is being touted as a Best Actor nominee, both on November 2; Sorry, Baby, with writer-director and actress Eva Victor on November 4; and the emerging best picture contender Train Dreams, with writer-director Clint Bentley, star Joel Edgerton, and cinematographer Adolpho Veloso on November 8.

Tickets are often made available for non–Cinema Society members a few days before for $20 at www.sbifftheatres.com.

Details at sbifftheatres.com/cs.

Steven Libowitz has covered a plethora of topics for the Journal since 1997, and now leads our extensive arts and entertainment coverage

Friday, Saturday & Sunday 8:00AM - 11:30AM Lunch & Dinner 12:00PM - 9:00PM 805.969.2646

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Calendar of Events

by Steven Libowitz

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1

Cray Cray for the Blues – It’s been just shy of 40 years since Robert Cray released Strong Persuader , his fourth album, which contained the singles “Right Next Door” and “Smoking Gun” that together propelled Cray into the mainstream with a record that crossed over from blues to soul and pop. Since then the Washington-raised musician has only continued to refine his distinctive space in American music, which blends his smooth vocals and searing guitar work over genre-defying songs. A five-time Grammy-winner, member of the Blues Hall of Fame and winner of the Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award, Cray – who has collaborated with the likes of John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Eric Clapton , Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tina Turner and the Rolling Stones – isn’t stopping at his usual local haunt of the Lobero this tour, instead playing outdoors under the stars in Solvang where the music alone might keep you warm.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd Street, Solvang COST: $65-$95

INFO: (805) 686-1789 or https://solvangtheaterfest.org

Collective Collaborative – SBCC Dance’s autumn entry is exactly as its title suggests – a vibrant evening of dance celebrating the artistic synergy of seven local companies, with Peabody Dance Ensemble, Selah Dance Collective, Novus Contemporary Ballet, Santa Barbara Dance Arts, Kairos Dance Company and UCSB Dance Company joining the City College dancers. The dynamic performance will feature a wide spectrum of movement from contemporary and ballet to jazz and experimental works, providing a showcase of the unique vision, style and passion of each ensemble. Collective Collaborative 2025 is meant to move beyond mere performance to celebrate innovation, community and the transformative power of collaboration in the arts as the rich tapestry of choreography honors both individuality and unity, highlighting the strength that comes when diverse voices come together in the shared language of dance. Put together by SBCC Dance Artistic Director Tracy R. Kofford, the dance concert has just two performances in one day.

WHEN: 2 & 7 pm

WHERE: Center Stage Theatre, 751 Paseo Nuevo, second floor COST: $15 in advance, $20 at the door (Livestream available for $20) INFO: (805) 963-0408 or https://centerstagetheater.org or www.sbccdance.com

‘Raw and Revealed’ – The duo exhibition at Art & Soul Gallery brings together the porcelain sculptures of Montecito artist Joan Rosenberg-Dent and the abstract paintings of Sarita Reynolds in what becomes a striking dialogue of form, texture and expression that both contrasts and complements. Both artists investigate the balance between opposing forces of structure and spontaneity, fragility and strength and stillness and movement, albeit in different media. Rosenberg-Dent’s sculptural forms, at once minimalist and refined, investigate light and shadow, particularly the pieces inspired by her recent trip to Antarctica. Similarly, Reynolds’ paintings pulse with energy, although many of her paintings examine the concept of reduction. Art & Soul would seem the perfect place for these works to happily coexist.

WHEN: Through Sunday, November 2

WHERE: Art & Soul Gallery, 1323 State Street

COST: free

INFO: 805 724 2470 or https://artandsoulsb.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30

Granada Goes Klezmer – Celebrate the 30th anniversary of In the Fiddler’s House, Itzhak Perlman’s Emmy Award-winning PBS special and bestselling album that served as the famed violinist’s heartfelt tribute to Jewish musical traditions. The 80-year-old Perlman will lead an all-star klezmer orchestra featuring music director and arranger Hankus Netsky on saxophone and piano with clarinetist Andy Statman and members of Brave Old World and the Klezmer Conservatory Band that boasts mandolin, guitar, accordions, tambourine, tsimbl (hammered dulcimer), trombone, trumpet, bass, drums, and vocals. Coming on the heels of the release back to Israel of the surviving October 7 hostages, and perhaps the precipice of peace in the Middle East, the concert should prove an irresistibly joyous evening of music and memory virtually guaranteed to lift spirits and move feet.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street

COST: $60-$160

INFO: (805) 899-2222/www.granadasb.org or (805) 893-3535/https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5

Defying Gravity – The internationally-acclaimed Ballet Preljocaj, whose eco-warrior take on Swan Lake was a huge hit in 2023, returns to the Granada with Gravity, company founder Angelin Preljocaj’s bold contemporary dance piece that explores the unseen forces binding bodies to the Earth and to one another. The work contemplates mass, weight, space, and speed in an evening-length ballet that has been described as creating a kinetic world where gravity transforms from a law of physics to a rich, expressive movement language. The dozen dancers rise to the challenge of the endlessly inventive piece with athleticism and artistry and an enthusiasm that seems to liberate their bodies, relieve them of their weight and free them from all constraints. The Franco-Albanian choreographer, who founded Ballet Preljocaj 40 years ago at age 28, created Gravity back in 2018, originally without music, only later adding and soundtrack that blends works by Ravel, Bach, Shostakovich, Daft Punk and Philip Glass with industrial noise and more. Note: members of the company will lead a free Community Dance Class at Carrillo Recreation Center (100 E. Carrillo) at 3:30 pm.

WHEN: 7:30 pm

WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street

COST: $55-$135

INFO: (805) 899-2222/www.granadasb.org or (805) 893-3535 /https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

All Jack-ed Up – The famously mellow musician, filmmaker and surfer Jack Johnson, whose Santa Barbara connections date back to his college days at UCSB, celebrates the re-release of his landmark surf movies Thicker Than Water (1999) and The September Sessions (2000) with a special event at the city’s biggest indoor venue. The films, which have previously been unavailable to stream or purchase, have been remastered in 4K from the original 16mm prints and are being shown in theaters for the first time in 25 years. But they’re just part of the big event at the Arlington as the screenings will be followed by a talk with Johnson and fellow Thicker filmmakers Chris Malloy and Emmett Malloy. Closing out the night is a live performance from Jack & Friends, which includes Hermanos Gutiérrez, G. Love, Adam Topol, Merlo Podlewski, Zach Gill, Todd Hannigan, Xocoyotzin Moraza and Rob Machado. It was Thicker’s soundtrack that introduced audiences to Johnson’s music, turning a local club musician into an international superstar, while September

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Eine Klein Explains It All for You – Ezra Klein is a columnist on the New York Times Opinion page, host of the award-winning Ezra Klein Show podcast and author of two bestselling books: “Why We’re Polarized” and “Abundance”, the latter of which forms the basis for his talk tonight under the auspices of UCSB Arts & Lectures at the Arlington Theatre. In the book, Klein explores his belief that regulations, institutions and cultural caution have stalled progress, arguing that for too long public discourse has focused on limits – what we can’t do, build or afford. But he suggests the real crisis isn’t scarcity, it’s our failure to act. In this timely talk that takes place a half-hour before polls close on election day in the Pacific time zone, Klein calls for a mindset shift toward possibility, and discusses how embracing abundance can help us tackle housing, climate change, infrastructure and other issues by building smarter, faster and for the public good. As part of UCSB A&L’s Thematic Learning Initiative, free copies of “Abundance” are available at the Santa Barbara Public Library and Campbell Hall box office while supplies last.

WHEN: 7:30 pm

WHERE: Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St.

COST: $53-$83

INFO: (805) 963-9589/www.arlingtontheatresb.com/upcoming-events or (805) 893-3535/https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

documented surf legend Kelly Slater – a former Montecito resident – and friends in surf life away from competition.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. COST: sold out (visit https://jackjohnsonmusic.com for wait list)

INFO: (805) 963-9589 or www.arlingtontheatresb.com/upcoming-events

Remember Him? – UCSB alumnus Justin Tipping returns to the seaside campus for a screening and discussion of his new film Him. A supernatural horror film that serves as a chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry and the pursuit of excellence at any cost, the movie features a dramatic turn from comic actor and stand-up Marlon Wayans and a breakout performance by Tyriq Withers as a young quarterback who has devoted his entire identity to football. Directed and co-written by Tipping from the Black List screenplay (a flatform consolidating unproduced written work) by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, Him is produced by Oscar winner Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. Tipping, whose credits include writing and directing 2016’s adventure film Kicks and several TV series episodes, will participate in a post-screening conversation with Carsey-Wolf Center interim director Ross Melnick.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Pollock Theater, UCSB campus

COST: free (reservations recommended)

INFO: (805) 893-5903 or www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu/pollock

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Ifill Inspired – Sherrilyn Ifill, former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and former fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union who is now a Howard Law School professor, is considered among the preeminent civil rights lawyers of our time. Her leadership and analysis of legal aspects regarding race and civil rights in the U.S. have been instrumental in shaping the national conversation. In her current talk entitled “Reimagining a New American Democracy,” the attorney – who has been awarded the Thurgood Marshall Award from the American Bar Association – shares insights on the 14th Amendment and citizenship, the importance of local civic engagement and the role that colleges and universities play in carrying forward the democracy project.

WHEN: 7:30 pm

WHERE: UCSB, Campbell Hall

COST: $20

INFO: (805) 893-3535 or https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

AUSTEN, ABRIDGED

Written by Jessica Bedford, Kathryn MacMillan, Charlotte Northeast, and Meghan Winch

Directed by Robert Kelley

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LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Welcome New Cottage Medical Group Providers

Our Cottage Medical Group (CMG) physicians offer a broad scope of services, including primary care, neurosciences, cardiovascular care, rheumatology, surgical and women’s services. Cottage Health’s efforts to expand primary and specialty care are part of a tradition that has shaped health care on the Central Coast for more than 135 years.

COTTAGE PRIMARY CARE

Daniel Crossman, MD Internal Medicine

Barry Statner, MD, CM Internal Medicine Infectious Disease

Amir Jalilian, MD Family Medicine

Casey Whipple, MD Family Medicine

COTTAGE CARDIOLOGY CLINIC

Elizabeth Hutchins, MD, PhD General Cardiology

Chee Yuan Ng, MD Cardiac Electrophysiology

COTTAGE SURGICAL CLINICS

Farida Bounoua, MD, FACS General and Bariatric Surgery

Learn more at: cottagehealth.org/cmg

David Thoman, MD General and Bariatric Surgery

Courtney Stull, MD Rheumatology

Lexine Yurcho, MD General and Colorectal Surgery