SEEN (Continued from page 15)
opsis of the stories, so when we were at the theatre we could follow along. During the week, you could go to the back door. You could wander around and even sit in the royal box, pretending to be the queen. I don’t think we have a back door at the Granada! After a delightful dinner, it was time to take our seats for the four acts filled with romance, flamenco dancers, bullfighters, children, and a cast of “thousands.” Of course, while living in Spain for seven years we saw our share of all of the above. Marilyn Gilbert and Nathan Rundlett founded opera Santa Barbara in 1994. The company has staged more than 50 operas in two decades and devoted thousands of hours to community outreach. That is so vital to get the next generation involved. Upcoming operas will be The Cunning Little Vixen on March 3 and 5, 2017, and La Rondine on April 28 and 30.
The fox just prior to his release
The animal fundraiser hostess Penny Bianchi, with authors Sylva Kelegian, Tom Mielko, Erin Graffy, and rescuer Julia Di Sieno
director Julia Di Sieno. She’s been rescuing critters for 37 years. No animal is turned away. Julia works under the umbrella of the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. She takes the larger animals they don’t have facilities for such as owls, deer, bobcats, foxes, and 25 other species. She operates with permits from California Department of Fish & Wildlife. She told me, “Before the drought, we received about 200 calls a year. Now we get 600.” Her monthly budget is about $10,000 to cover food, liability, veterinarians,
Animal Rescue Team
I attended a heart-warming event hosted by Penny Bianchi at her home off East Valley Road bordering Ennisbrook and its more than 40 acres of wildland. It was a fundraiser for the Animal Rescue Team (ART) in the Santa Ynez Valley run by executive
and more. She relies solely on donations. Her website info@animalrescue team.net. This day, she was going to release a fox to the wild. It had come to Julia injured and was now well. To help raise funds, Erin Graffy and Tom Mielko had their book for sale of portraits in poetry and pencil called Animalia. Erin is the poet and Tom the artist. Also, Sylva Kelegian had her books God Spelled Backwards and, for children, The Dolphin Princess. Sylva is a working actress who has also been a dog rescuer for many years. While we were buying books, we
sipped on wine and extra yummy canapés like crab legs and lobster. Penny took guests on a garden tour to show off her exotic chickens and the duck pond. They like it so much, they don’t fly away. As Julia said, “ART exists to support and provide quality animal rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and release to all sick, injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife in accordance with current standards in the field.” They also provide foster care and assist with placement of animal victims of abuse. If you find an injured or orphaned animal: keep it warm, dark, and quiet. Do not feed the animal, and call ART (805) 896-1859. Julia also has an animal ambulance – the only one on the Central Coast. “What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, man would die of a great loneliness of the spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts soon happens to man.” – Chief Seattle, 1854. •MJ
Thank you for supporting the Alzheimer’s Association California Central Chapter Third Annual ‘Your Brain Matters’ Luncheon! Loving Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS
Supporting Sponsors Honoring Sponsor
Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree Caring Sponsors
Lauren & Steve Katz Sue Adams Cindy Morrison Linda Alderman Aleisa Pfau Jane Dailey Betsy Turner & Sue Neuman Katina Etsell Gerd & Pete Jordano 222 East carrillo street, 4th floor Santa Barbara, California 93101 Tel: (805) 963-0755
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Proud supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association
A special thank you to our generous community supporters. Luncheon Committee Co-Chairs Gerd Jordano & Katina Etsell
805.892.4259 • alz.org/cacentral
Philip W. Marking
Douglas E. Fell
Joseph D. Abkin
Margareta Jamner Claudette Roehrig Joyce Lukas Sally Boughton & Family
Giving Sponsors Bialis Family Foundation Carol Fell Iscovich Foundation Jane Burkemper Manchester Capital Management Mary Werft Renee Grubb Rona Barrett Foundation Sansum Clinic
Frederick W. Montgomery
Craig S. Granet
Jamie Forrest Raney
Michael D. Hellman
Joshua P. Rabinowitz
Jennifer Gillon Duffy Gamble T. Parks
David J. Tappeiner
Mark A. DePaco
Allan S. Morton Jessica M. Burns
24 November – 1 December 2016
Clark A. Lammers James E. Davidson of counsel
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