The Summer of Miraflores Magic

Coral Casino – The development plan is appealed and a new GM is hired, read more on what’s happening at the club, P.5

Julie Nadel & Bobbie Rosenblatt – Two beloved community members and philanthropists pass away, P.8

THE SUMMER OF MIRAFLORES MAGIC

On the Fringe – Westmont’s Fringe Festival returns for another year of experimental theatre, performances, and art, P.16

The Devereux Slough – Michael Love’s new documentary highlights the restoration of the failed golf course to its original wetland, P.18

A night of Flamenco and Spanish song. A cabaret set in 1979. Puccini’s La bohème in Occupy Wall Streetera Brooklyn. The Music Academy’s Summer Festival returns for its 76th season of musical magic

(See what enchanting events await on page 6)

Hip Hop Helps

How Public Enemy’s Brian Hardgroove and Chuck D – plus “50 Years of Hip Hop” –helped save this year’s NAMM Show, page 14

Grape Taste

A Taste of Santa Barbara and Behind the Scenes bring a splash of wine events through the area, uncork the story inside, page 28

The RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara blends fun with free language and speech therapy, page 20

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Village Beat – A new GM and appeals are filed after the recent MPC meeting regarding the Coral Casino, the Evacuation Planning Survey, and Kim Cantin’s memoir

On Entertainment – A preview of the Music Academy’s 76th Summer Festival, Sō Percussion and Caroline Shaw play, and plays around town

In Passing – The lives of philanthropists and Sansum supporters, Julie Nadel and Bobbie Rosenblatt, are remembered

Tide Guide

Montecito Miscellany – Polo is on the way, the One805 Sunstone bash, how art saved the Mission, a sneak peak of the SBS’s new season, and more

Our Town –Public Enemy’s Brian Hardgroove speaks about hip hop and Chuck D being honored at this year’s NAMM Show

Your Westmont – Two alums win national research fellowships, student researchers shine at a symposium, and theater kicks off the Fringe Festival

Invest in Our Planet – The journey of the Devereux Slough from wetland to golf course and back to wetland is documented in Michael Love’s new film

The Optimist Daily – A report shows that global emissions from the power sector may have peaked last year

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The Giving List – RiteCare Childhood Language Center puts the phonetics in fun and speech pathology for kids

Brilliant Thoughts – Big thoughts coming from Ashleigh on the idea of size and what it affects

Robert’s Big Questions – Aliens are closer than you think and it will take different thinking to communicate with them

Lompoc Civic Theater – Small town playhouse meets dinner theater and The Revolutionists doing it

Foraging Thyme – It’s time for spring asparagus and this simple recipe will let you best prep these delicate spears of flavor

Santa Barbara by the Glass – Both the Taste of Santa Barbara and the inaugural Behind the Scenes series give the town a splash of wine events

Calendar of Events – A Thousand Cuts, Sound and Smoke, plus a bit of juggling and more

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 – Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer

Village Beat Coral Casino Plans Appealed

by Kelly Mahan Herrick

Shortly before press time last week, we got word that Coral Casino owner Ty Warner’s attempts to amend the club’s development plan were appealed. The appeal was filed by a longtime member of the Coral Casino, who wrote in her appeal that she is interested in “fair treatment of current laws on the books.”

The appellant writes that the amendments to the Biltmore and Coral Casino’s 2005 Development Plan, which include reducing the number of hotel rooms at the Biltmore Hotel from a maximum of 229 to 192, as well as allowing limited public use – 265 members of the public per day – of the existing second floor restaurant at the Coral Casino (Tydes), eliminating use of the Coral Casino by Biltmore hotel guests and their guests, reducing the number of allotted monthly memberships to reciprocal clubs, and eliminating the seasonal membership allowance for Biltmore guests, were not properly presented, understood, or discussed when they were put before – and ultimately approved by – the Montecito Planning Commission earlier this month. “Needs more detailed review of this issue for full impact on longtime and more recent members, neighborhood, and impact on our community,” the appellant writes. “Facts were not addressed adequately and opposition had no time to defend their position,” she went on.

Warner’s reps told the MPC that the amendments will benefit the members of the Coral Casino once the private club reopens, telling Commissioners that many members are happy that the club will not be open to Biltmore patrons and their guests. Allowing members of the public to dine at Tydes will also ensure that the restaurant will be of the highest caliber, with award-winning service and food. “We think we are making it a better club for members,” Warner rep Bill Medel said.

Other improvements currently taking place at the Coral Casino for an impending reopening later this year include expansion of Fins, the Club’s take-out juice bar, relocation and enlargement of the children’s pool, relocation of the spa and an added plunge pool, addition of a new member’s rooftop lounge, and upgrading of the private dining room.

The Montecito Planning Commission voted 2-1 to approve the amendments, with Commissioners Bob Kupiec and Marshall Miller in support and Commissioner Sandy Stahl, who took issue with the lack of input from Coral Casino members, in opposition. The appeal of the approval of the amend-

ments will be heard by the Board of Supervisors at a later date.

The Coral Casino is located at 1281 Channel Drive in Montecito.

New GM at Coral Casino

Also happening at the Coral Casino, owner Ty Warner has announced the onboarding of General Manager, David Conforti, CCM, PGA, who will oversee operations at the historic club.

As one of a few dozen club professionals in the world who has both a Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation from the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) and a Class A certification from the PGA of America, Conforti has 15 years of experience managing high-end clubs both domestically and abroad. A lifelong golfer, Conforti worked as a PGA Head Professional with Troon Golf, and quickly moved through the ranks as General Manager, operating clubs in the Bahamas, Mexico, Ohio and Virginia.

In 2015, Conforti served as the GM/ COO at Four Streams, an exclusive club near Washington, D.C. More recently, Conforti spent the last five years on the West Coast managing the Palos Verdes Golf Club.

“We are thrilled to be able to tap into David’s deep level of experience managing exclusive and private clubs,” said Warner. “He understands the high standard of service a club like the Coral Casino demands, considering its unparalleled coastal location and legacy. We are thrilled to have him on our team.”

Like its sister clubs the Montecito Club, and the San Ysidro Ranch, the

Village Beat Page 234

David Conforti, CCM, PGA, has been hired by Ty Warner to oversee operations at the historic landmarked Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club on Channel Drive

On Entertainment

76 Trombones for Music Academy’s 2023 Summer Festival

the #2 team

by Steven Libowitz

The Montecito-based Music Academy – “of the West” got dropped midway through last summer – looks like it will have no trouble maintaining the momentum of its milestone 75th anniversary last year, at least according to the roster of artists and ambitious programming unveiled earlier this week. The “Summer of the Artist” season boasts soprano Isabel Leonard and violinist Augustin Hadelich, both of whom canceled due to illness in 2022, while the Mosher Guest Artists features New York Philharmonic Principal Clarinetist, Anthony McGill, multi-Grammy-winning soprano Ana María Martínez, and famed New Yorker music critic Alex Ross

All three will offer events that represent an expansion of the traditional classical programming, as McGill will perform with pianist Kyle P. Walker and clarinetist and comedian Kimberly Clark; Martínez and César Cañón will collaborate as coaches and curators of a showcase titled “Una Noche en Miraflores,” an immersion into Spanish song, culture, and dance that features Flamenco star Manuel Gutierrez and Flamenco guitarist Andres Vadin; and Ross, the first non-musician under the Mosher banner, will host a Critics’ Roundtable featuring Joshua Kosman from the San Francisco Chronicle and Carolina Miranda from the Los Angeles Times.

Other highlights include the Academy Festival Orchestra performing under the batons of four new-to-campus conductors in Stéphane Denève, Osmo Vänskä, Anthony Parnther, and JoAnn Falletta , plus the return of Finnish favorite Hannu Lintu. The Academy’s annual full opera production sets repertoire regular Puccini’s La bohème in Occupy Wall Street-era Brooklyn in an original staging by Mo Zhou, while James Darrah collaborates with Craig

Terry to create 2023’s Cabaret: 1979, musical theater that takes its cue from the Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter scene of the era.

We’ll have much more about the Music Academy in future issues as the June 12 – August 5 festival approaches. But don’t wait: Series subscriptions and special events go on sale to the public on Friday, April 28, individual tickets on May 17. Visit https://musicacademy.org.

Shaw, Sō and Soil

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and vocalist Caroline Shaw and the chamber music-redefining ensemble Sō Percussion weren’t planning on recording an album full of songs together back in 2019. Rather they were in the studio to lay down tracks for Shaw’s quartet “Taxidermy” and the Dawn Upshaw collaboration Narrow Sea – which later won a 2022 Grammy – but ended up with extra time on their hands.

“We booked three days, but we just used two,” recalled co-founder Jason Treuting last summer when Sō Percussion was in residency at the Music Academy. “We woke up the next morning, went into the studio and Caroline said she had a song called ‘Other Song’ she had written that thought it’d be really fun to do with us. So we jumped in and just did it.”

Treuting said the experience was a blast, and everyone left feeling excited about the piece.

“We couldn’t believe how great it turned out, and we all said, ‘let’s do this again’.”

Shaw and Sō later got together for a few days in Brooklyn, each bringing in some sketches for more material. They hit the studio to record six songs, and once again found inspiration in the collaboration.

“Caroline had the idea to not only

Ana María Martínez and César Cañón collaborate in one of the highlights, “Una Noche en Miraflores,” at this year’s festival

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Julie Nadel

Local philanthropist and bridge player Julie Nadel, 77, passed away on March 29th at her home in Santa Barbara. A private service was held on April 4th. When describing Julie’s bridge style, Dutch champion Joris van Lankveld said, “One of Julie’s strengths was that she had no fear to bid, and she put her opponents under tremendous pressure. When going over the hands, she sometimes jokingly explained: ‘I went to an Overbidder’s Anonymous meeting this morning.’” At a recent tournament her team won an impressive 125 points.

While bridge was her passion, Julie’s mission was philanthropy, which she primarily focused on local healthcare. She was one of the driving forces behind the Women’s Council at Sansum Clinic, designed to bolster the Clinic’s position as the leader in local healthcare, to educate the community about timely health issues, and to enhance relationships between patients and donors. From creative and wildly successful fundraising events, to upgraded phone systems and innovative programs for patients, Julie poured her time, treasure, and talent into the organization over the years. Dr. Kurt N. Ransohoff, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Medical Officer, said, “To say the least, her contributions and dedication have been invaluable and will leave a lasting legacy at Sansum.”

The strength and success Julie provided in these arenas was honed over years of hard work as an entrepreneur, having founded the tremendously successful party production company Parties Plus. Initially run out of her home kitchen, the company was eventually sold to a public company in the 1990s. This entrepreneurial spirit was part of what made her a perfect match with her late husband, entrepreneur and Santa Barbara local Jack Nadel (predeceased in 2016). In each other, they found a partner imbued with deep personal respect and mutual appreciation.

Julie is survived by her two daughters,

Julie Nadel and Bobbie Rosenblatt (center left and right, respectively) were deeply involved with their families, community, and philanthropy, especially with their support of Sansum Clinic

Shari (spouse Ed) and Hillary (spouse Scott), and her four grandchildren Lily, Aerin, Ella, and Hope

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Julie Nadel Prescription Navigator Program at Sansum Clinic, P.O. Box 1200, Santa Barbara, CA 93102, ATTN: Philanthropy Dept. You may also call 805-681-7762.

Bobbie Rosenblatt

December 14, 1935 – March 31, 2023

Bobbie Rosenblatt passed away peacefully at home in Santa Barbara being held by the love of her life.

She was a wonderful woman full of love and positive energy. Music was a huge part of her life, and she continued going to rock concerts into her 80s. She loved the arts and traveling around the world with her husband, family, and friends. She was a philanthropist focusing on the Santa Barbara Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, the Sansum Clinic, Visiting Nurses, Santa Barbara City College, and other local Santa Barbara charities. Most of all, she relished being a loving wife, a supportive mother, and caring grandmother. She was beloved by her family and friends; she will be missed.

Bobbie is survived by her husband of 68 years Eddie ; her sister Dorothy Anderson ; her children: Michael and his wife Carla , Steve and his wife Kathy Jo , Peter , and Gretchen ; and her grandchildren: Rachel , Zachary , Sara , Beatrice and her husband Dalton , Dashiell , and Josephine

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Bobbie can be made to Sansum Speaks, the educational lecture series presented by the Women’s Council of Sansum Clinic. Sansum Clinic, PO Box 1200, Santa Barbara, CA 93102. ATTN: Philanthropy Department. Or go to sansumclinic.org/ donate-now or call 805-681-7726.

MONTECITO TIDE GUIDE

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Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Kim Crail, Tom Farr, Chuck Graham, Stella Haffner, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Sharon Byrne, Robert Bernstein, Christina Favuzzi, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye

Gossip | Richard Mineards

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Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook

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Julie Nadel with the love of her life, Jack

Bobbie relished being a loving wife, a supportive mother, and caring grandmother

Montecito Miscellany

The Royal Warbler

by Richard Mineards

Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry has now got the official seal of royal approval!

The former Dos Pueblos High student, 37, is taking center stage along with fellow singer Lionel Richie and global opera star Andrea Bocelli at a concert at historic Windsor Castle celebrating King Charles III’s coronation next month.

More than 20,000 members of the public will attend the show 24 hours after the monarch’s crowning at Westminster Abbey, according to the U.K.’s BBC.

It comes less than a year after the concert to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, which included music from Duran Duran, Diana Ross , and Queen.

The dazzling show at Windsor will have a 70-piece orchestra, a house band made up of the massed Bands of the Guards’ Household Division, and the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra. Landmarks and locations around the U.K. will also be lit up with lasers, drone displays, and illuminations.

As for Katy, no doubt she is practicing her curtsy to His Majesty as I write. I am also reliably informed she will be bunking in Buckingham Palace during her appearance.

Not too shabby....

Polo Season Almost Upon Us

Santa Barbara Polo Club launches its 112th action-packed season on May 7, showcasing some of the most talented players from around the globe.

With a record number of teams and players at every level, the season is set to be one of the most memorable in the club’s history.

“The club has always been considered a world-class destination for polo players and enthusiasts alike,” says Texan John Muse, club president.

“It’s a place where players from around the world come to play top-tier competitions while experiencing the beauty of Santa Barbara. Our club’s long-standing

reputation for providing a top notch polo experience, paired with a stunning backdrop of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is why it continues to attract players and spectators from all corners of the world.”

The season opens with the 12-goal series through June followed by the 20 or high goals in July and August culminating with the Pacific Coast Open.

The season closes in SeptemberOctober with the 8-goal series.

As to whether Prince Harry will be a regular part of his friend Argentinian ace Nacho Figueras’s Los Padres team – as he was last summer – that is still up in the air, but his participation did wonders for spectator numbers last year.

And for the 16th year, I have the onerous task of judging the club’s popular hat contest – so get your toniest tête toppers ready for the show.

One805 is Off to a Sunny Start at Sunstone

One805 – the local nonprofit dedicated to supporting First Responders across Santa Barbara County – gave supporters a foretaste of its flagship One805LIVE! gala event in September (that will include rockers Maroon Five at the Summerland oceanside estate of Oscar winner Kevin Costner) with a boffo bash to a crowd of 500 at the Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, raising $90,000.

The fun fête featured keyboardist Ed Roth and The Session Kings; a combo comprised of six in-demand session musicians who have worked regularly with major stars.

Roth, who has played with Ringo Starr, Annie Lennox, and Coolio, assembled a galaxy of major talent including vocalist Andy Vargas, lead singer of Santana for the last 20 years, guitarist Linda Taylor, who has played with Art Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Thelma Houston, Sheila E., and Christopher Cross; bassist Travis Davis who worked with Kiss, Toto, Chicago, and Alice Cooper; and drummers Leo Costa, whose past collaborations include Sérgio Mendes, Diana

Miscellany Page 104

Richard will be judging the Polo Club’s hat contest for the 16th year (Courtesy photo)

Ross, and will.i.am; and Rock Deadrick, who has worked with Diana Ross, Ziggy Marley, and Tracy Chapman.

Ubiquitous KEYT reporter John Palminteri and KLITE radio host Catherine Remak emceed the event, which also included an auction of guitars

signed by Katy Perry, Robbie Krieger of The Doors, Adam Levine of Maroon Five and the entire band, a drum signed by Danny Seraphine, Grammy Awardwinning drummer of Chicago, and a helicopter trip and a champagne lunch at the historic Rancho Santa Barbara

donated by Adam’s Angels. Among the hordes of guests, hosted by Sunstone owners Teddy and

Djamila Cabugos , were Alan and Lisa Griffiths Parsons , Dean and Susan Wilson , Donna Reeves , Maitland Ward , Adam McKaig , Rick Oshay and Teresa Kuskey , Keith and Mary Hudson , Drew Wakefield , Carol Marsch , former mayor Helene Schneider , Alastair and Ann Winn , Michael and Tracy Bollag , founders Richard and Kirsten Weston-Smith , Diana Starr Langley , Nick Fuchs , Christine Emmons , John Thyne , Sheriff Bill and Donna Brown , Montecito Fire Chief David Neels , and Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Mark Hartwig

A Mission of Art and History

Social gridlock reigned at the historic Santa Barbara Club when the Art Foundation of Santa Barbara staged How Art Helped to Save the California Missions, a two-part program with a talk by Jeremy Tessmer, curator of Vintage American Art at Sullivan Goss. The program explored the life and work of Henry Chapman Ford, who died in 1894, and the Santa Barbara Club’s collection of his 1,905 watercolors, oils, and etchings of all 21 California missions. After the lecture and lunch sponsored by Montecito Bank & Trust and the Miscellany Page 344

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Richard Sibthorpe, One805 CEO Kirsten Cavendish, and Sheila Herman (photo by Richard Carter Photography)

Lisa Griffiths, Alan Parsons, Sheriff Bill and Donna Brown (photo by Richard Carter Photography)

Adam McKaig and Melissa Borders (photo by Richard Carter Photography)

Chris Emmons and One805 President Richard Weston-Smith (photo by Richard Carter Photography)

Lobero Theatre Chamber Music Project

Eight classical music luminaries from around the world perform best-regarded chamber works for strings and piano –masterpieces by Dvořák, Bruckner, Debussy, Ravel, Fauré, Mozart and Mendelssohn. The ensemble includes Heiichiro Ohyama (violin), Benjamin Beilman (violin), Lucille Chung (piano), Erin Keefe (violin), Masumi Per Rostad (viola), Robert deMaine (cello), Mayuko Ishigami (violin) and Christine J. Lee (cello).

Our Town

12th Annual NAMM Report: Part 1: 50 Years of Hip Hop Saves the NAMM Show

The NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation stepped up to the plate on diversity, equity, and inclusion by acknowledging, awarding, and celebrating Hip Hop music “from the lens and expertise of its musicians, engineers, music brands, and gear used to create Hip Hop” during its NAMM Show (April 13-15) at the Anaheim Convention Center.

This pivotal decision is its saving grace in light of the fact the show has lost top brands that have been its backbone for decades – no Fender, Gibson, PRS, Marshall, Boss, Fodera Bass Guitars, Orange, Akai, a way smaller Seymour Duncan booth, and almost lost Sennheiser, if it were not for Neumann’s significant support of Brian Hardgroove’s 3D Mix Immersive Audio TEC Track Sessions.

Hardgroove, a musician, record producer, and member of Public Enemy, is a highly respected NAMM presenter who brings A-List industry experts to his TEC Tracks. This year he also brought in Chuck D, the co-founder of Public Enemy, social activist, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Having Chuck D there ignited many new people to attend NAMM for certain.

In a phone interview with me, Hardgroove clarified, “I have had a great relationship with NAMM for many years, and I am on the Les Paul Foundation Advisory Council. When I heard that NAMM wanted to give a ‘nod to Hip Hop’ which is celebrating its 50th year, I decided to have Chuck D at my Black to the Future TEC Track to talk on the first 50 years of Hip Hop. I went about raising the funds for that with Athan Billias and Lawrence Levine, who are members of The Midi Association, to cover the expense of bringing Chuck D to the show and provide a suitable honorarium. We raised money under the banner of HIP HOP@50 from Roland, Shure, Pioneer DJ, Analog Devices, BASSBOSS, The Midi Association, and Spectrasonic Virtual Instruments. While this is going on, my PR agent Caroline suggested to Pete Johnston , producer of the NAMM TEC Experience, to connect with me, which he did. Johnston said, since you’re bringing Chuck D here, we’d like to give him an award; however, there are no current NAMM awards that speak to his contributions. I asked Pete to give me some time to come up with a proper award and its mission statement, which I did. The award is called the ‘Impact Music and Culture Award,’ to acknowledge the impact he has had on culture. I sent it to Johnston. NAMM made no changes to the awards name or mission statement, and then they sent an official notice to Chuck D to accept the award and he agreed. I presented it to him at the awards show Thursday.”

Adding to the mix was the “Hip Hop Innovator Award” to GrandMixer DXT for his contribution of innovating the turntable as a musical instrument, presented to him by DJ Jazzy Jeff; performances by Lord Finesse [Diggin’ In The Crates (D.I.T.C.)];

Artistic and Music Director, Heiichiro Ohyama Musical Advisor, Benjamin Beilman

Lucille Chung

Erin Keefe

Masumi Per Rostad

Heiichiro Ohyama

Christine J. Lee

Robert deMaine

Mayuko Ishigami

Benjamin Beilman

Lobero Theatre

by Joanne A Calitri

Brian Hardgroove interviews Chuck D at the Black to the Future NAMM TEC Tracks session (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Your Westmont

Alums Win National Research Fellowships

by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott

Two Westmont alums have received prestigious Graduate Research Fellowships from the National Science Foundation. Braden Chaffin (’23) and Chisondi Warioba (’21) have been chosen for the program whose purpose “is to ensure the quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States.” The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support that includes an annual stipend of $37,000.

Warioba, a second-year graduate student halfway through his doctorate in medical physics at the University of Chicago, applied for the fellowship to continue research on his project, “fMRI and DTI analysis of functional connectivity loss related to cerebral arterial occlusion.” His award announcement states: “Being chosen as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow is a significant national accomplishment and places you among an elite group of fellows, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in STEM or STEM education.”

Warioba plans to attend medical school and aspires to become a physician-scientist. He is engaged to alumna Brittany Bancroft (’19), and they plan to marry in September.

Chaffin, who graduated last semester from Westmont and will return to campus to walk in Commencement on May 6, attends UCLA this fall to earn a doctorate in organic chemistry. “This fellowship allows me greater flexibility and security, and I will not have to teach to support myself, thus freeing up more time dedicated purely to research,” he says. After graduate school, he hopes to work in small molecule development, possibly in the biopharmaceutical industry. “In the very long term, I hope to teach at some point in my life, possibly becoming a professor closer to retirement,” he says.

Symposium Offers Glimpse of Student Research

More than 40 Westmont students will present their findings on 29 posters at the 2023 Spring Student Research Symposium on April 20 from 3:30-5 pm around the Winter Hall third floor atrium. There will also be four students reading selections of their original works of fiction and poetry as part of their English capstone project. Research topics include differentiating between species of gorgonian soft corals, “Iranian Activists’ Use of Social Media for Social and Cultural Change,” the cor-

relation between heart rate variability and cognitive bias, “Investigations of Fetal Mortality and Injury Following a Motor Vehicle Accident,” and “Gendered Work: Continuity of Cherokee Foodways in the Life of a 20th-Century Cherokee Woman.”

One of the hallmarks of a Westmont education is the opportunity for undergraduate students to work directly with faculty on research projects.

Student researchers include: Sydney Azzarello (’23), John Baker (’23), Leannah Barreto (’23), Lydia Bastian (’23), Charlie Bloom (’25), Nicole Bond (’23), Riley Bream (’24), Kennedy Burkett (’26), Eliana Choi (’23), Kylen Christiansen (’23), Ashley Compton (’23), Paige Freeburg (’24), Esther Green (’23), Emma Hammond (’23), Ciboney Hellenbrand (’24), Madison Huntington (’24), Daniel Jang (’23), Siena Keck ’23, Bailey Lemmon (’23), Michael Lew (’24), Jordan Lewicki (’23), Brooke Murphy (’23), Camdon Park (’25), Theo Patterson (’23), Ashley Pitzen (’25), Mariyan Popov (’24), Gabriela Rego (’23), Carli Roberson (’23), Lillian Robinson (’24), Sean Ryan (’24), McKenna Sawitz (’23), David Schaupp (’23), Victoria Silva (’23), Naomi Siragusa (’24), Isaac Song (’26), Madeline Stiles (’24), Noah Tseng (’24), Evan Tsuei (’23), Ashley Vanyo (’23), Raymond Vasquez (’23), Arianne Vethan (’25), Samie Watanabe (’25), Monique Welch (’23), and Grace Williams (’24). The senior English majors who will be reading their works are Sydney Abraham, Caleb Beeghly, Luke Spicer, and Margaret Taylor.

Fringe Festival: A Gathering of the Arts

Westmont’s Fringe Festival, an annual smash-up of experimental theatre, dance, film, and performance art, kicks off for four days from April 20-23 around Porter Theatre, and downtown at the Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop. Tickets — $10 for a day pass, $20 for an all-access pass, and $15 for a student/ senior all-access pass – may be purchased at westmont.edu/boxoffice.

The student-led celebration, themed “The Gathering,” allows students to challenge themselves to experience life and live art in fresh new ways. “In order to realize your full artistic potential, you have to commit fully and wholeheartedly to making the art that only you can make,” says Fringe Artistic Director Ford Sachsenmaier. “Fringe is a space that can host that highly individualized, intensely unique kind of art, even when other spaces aren’t as welcoming to it.”

along, you were blooming.” – Morgan Harper Nichols

Braden Chaffin

Chisondi Warioba

The Spring Student Research Symposium is April 20

Fringe Poster

The Fringe Festival is April 20-23

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

Invest in Our Planet A Fundamental Example for Earth Day

Mother Nature and understand the landscape they were working with, the team had to help re-establish many of the indigenous plant species that once thrived in the space. Approximately 100,000 plants were grown for the restoration, and needed to be cared for. As a result of much long, hard work from determined Santa Barbarans, plants and flowers – such as the Brodiaea flower, golden yarrow, arenaria, and even the Ventura marsh milkvetch, (once believed extinct) – are now flourishing. In fact, the Devereux Slough now hosts the densest non-irrigated population of Ventura marsh milkvetch on Earth. So for plant lovers, this place is a feast for the eyes, and a fragrant healing balm thanks to nature’s natural aromatherapies. Let’s not forget about the return to the wetlands of once-banished wildlife that has returned to find shelter, reproduce, and – depending on the species – live year round. Animal and bird lovers can now experience a real-life National Geographic documentary during your stroll through the wetlands, with glimpses of bobcats roaming the rocks, burrowing owls nesting underground, or an occasional mountain lion wandering the preserve. There are possible sightings of northern shoveler ducks, maybe a fox hiding in the meadow barley, or a night heron preening itself. The Devereux Slough is today a restored paradise for all types of animals, offering the visitor an opportunity to witness incredible natural beauty simply by walking around this expansive 100-acre property.

by Amélie Dieux

Walking in the grass, feeling the morning dew, hearing the serenity of the place – we might think of a beautiful park surrounded by nature, our senses alive with feeling. But instead here we are back in 1994 – when the Devereux Slough was still a golf course.

What so intrigued a businessman that he simply had to build a golf course on a swamp? Was it delusions of grandeur, or a megalomaniacal assault on nature? Was the property such a truly sweet deal it couldn’t be passed up, or was it simply blind passion for the sport of golf? Whatever the case, here lies the former Ocean Meadows Golf Course, once upon a time a prime Goleta location. At least, that’s what people thought until the rainy season kicked in and the golf course turned out to be just what it always was… a swamp, a wetland.

Years after its construction when Ocean Meadows turned into “Ocean Ghettos,” residents and investors knew that the situation couldn’t continue like this. From a financial drain to a desolated natural habitat, they realized that everything had to be restored to its original organic splendor – a return to centuries ago when wildlife in the area abounded and it was sacred land used by the Chumash people.

Back in 2017, many community members felt the call. Various organizations like the CCBER (Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration), North Campus Open Space, UCSB, and Santa Barbara Natives (to name just a few) embarked on the project of turning the slough back to its natural beauty. This project wouldn’t have been the same without the help of local filmmaker Michael Love, who explains, “I really enjoy making movies about nature, and my passion is to tell a story where people are able to make a difference in the environment through human interaction.”

He has dedicated five years of his life to documenting and filming the whole of the Devereux Slough resurgence through his stirring new film, Bringing Back Our Wetland, which had its worldwide premiere at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). “My job was to cover and follow the important steps that took place in order to get where the wetland is now. I’m really happy that I was the filmmaker who got to tell the story and who was able to bring it out, and that’s what makes me feel good,” he says.

Through the eyes of Love, this historical documentary – as he likes to refer to it –includes different steps of the wetlands project, and the movie is set through various chapters over the years of work. Not only was it a complex process for the filmmaker, but for all the people involved during this time as well – they had to partner with

The hard work of all the community members involved in this project – from kids, to adults, to seniors, to the Native people who blessed the land – has borne fruit. “This is an ideal project because it shows how a whole community can come together and achieve something that would seem almost impossible,” said Love. The Devereux Slough restoration reminds us how wonderful and important it is to work with nature, and to choose to live in symbiosis with it. As nature thrives (and its weeds with it), the wetland will still need to be managed to maintain its status as a prosperous ecosystem. Nature’s effect on humankind is a bold reminder of our origins. In 2021, University of British Columbia’s Professor Cecil Konijnendijk formulated a very interesting and creative new approach to assuring one’s happiness in an urban setting. He calls his model the 3-30-300 Rule. It’s advised to be able to see three trees outside your home window, to live in a neighborhood in which 30% of the area consists of tree canopy, and to live at most 300 meters from the nearest natural recreational park or green space. By following these three basic principles, Professor Konijnendijk claims you can create a happier and healthier way of life – simply by living closer to, and in harmony with, nature.

The Devereux Slough’s grand opening officially took place in the spring of 2022. It’s not only a restoration area to be enjoyed by everyone in the community, it is also a place to learn. As Love explains, “The wetlands can have a lot of usefulness for science courses and environmental courses for students who come here.” His documentary will be available at UCSB, and will be available for free viewings at public schools for students to watch. But for Michael Love, this is not the end of his movie project, as this historical documentary will be screened in various international film festivals. “Sometimes you think it is only a local movie,” Love shares, “but it turns out it has value for other communities in other parts of the world.” The international ecological spotlight will thus shine on Santa Barbara and its citizens through the strength and innovation of the communal environmental effort. “It is a nonprofit movie in the sense that it was created to educate people about this process, and inspire people around the world who might want to do something similar to this,” Michael Love added.

And what better way to spend Earth Day (April 22nd) than to visit the Devereux Slough – a habitat for birds and marine wildlife located at Goleta Point – and to see firsthand how “Bringing Back Our Wetlands” has changed all of our lives.

A year after the restored slough’s grand opening, the preserve is thriving and teeming with life. And April, being the beginning of spring, energizes our Earth Month appreciation with this year’s slogan; ‘Invest in Our Planet.’ What better enactment of that slogan than the alchemy of an urban golf course returned by dedicated locals to its bejeweled natural state?

Amélie Dieux is a French-born freelance writer and world traveler – on a mission to provide information with articles that delight and inspire

Michael Love’s new documentary, Bringing Back Our Wetland, highlights the history and restorative efforts of the Devereux Slough

record as a quintet, but to try paring it down to make duos,” Treuting said.

“We gave ourselves a kind of ridiculous task of each taking an hour in the studio with her to see what we got. That led to the beginnings of at least four more tracks. There was so much freedom in the collaboration and improv. It was exhilarating.”

The full album – a thematic song cycle called Let the Soil Play Its Simple Part – is 10 tracks that explore soil cultivation as a metaphor for creativity and collaboration, dissolves boundaries between classical and pop, and blurs the separation of heaven and earth, using voice and a wide variety of percussion instruments to evoke sounds and imagery of the natural, corporeal, and spiritual worlds.

The album also represents Shaw’s debut as the lead vocalist on an album.

“Caroline is such an incredible composer and artist but she’s also an incredible singer, and a truly creative soul who is amazing to be around, but loves to collaborate,” Treuting said. “She can do it all on her own, but she really loves input from others. The album is really the five of us together, and we’re really proud of it.”

The pandemic delayed the release of Let the Soil for two years, and busy schedules meant that Shaw and the ensemble have only performed it a few times in spring of 2022. But now the quintet is on an extended tour that brings them to UCSB’s Campbell Hall on April 21, when Sō Percussion will also perform works in its repertoire from a trio of young composers including ensemble member Eric Cha-Beach , Angélica Negrón , and Nathalie Joachim . Details at https:// artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Jones-ing for an EPIC Gathering in Creativity

The EPIC International Summit, an intimate three-day creativity and innovation conference featuring themed panels, spotlight interviews, and experiential workshops led by international leaders and experts, has its annual gather-

Report says 2022 may mark the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era

Breaking news! Based on a recent report by the independent climate and energy think tank Ember, global emissions from the power sector, which generates the most planet-warming carbon dioxide, may have peaked last year. This could potentially mark the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era.

In its fourth annual Global Electricity Review, the think tank analyzed power sector data from 78 countries, representing 93 percent of the world’s energy demand.

Reuters reported that wind and solar energy accounted for a record 12 percent of global electricity generation in 2022, a two percent increase from 2021.

ing April 27-29 at the Music Academy; just the second in-person event since launching in 2019. Aimed at sparking insights for creative leadership and development and formulating actionable tools and methodologies to unlock increased ingenuity, the summit features speakers from a wide swath of fields including the arts, industry, education, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and more.

Among the speakers are choreographer Bradley Rapier, producer Ben Everard, Disney creative’s Amy Jupiter, and Doug Jones, the malleable actor famed for portraying non-human creatures in film and TV shows via massive make-up, costumes, and visual effects. Jones’ most notable roles include collaborations with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro in several movies including Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Hell Boy, as well as on Star Trek Discovery, the latest venture in the Trekkie empire.

“I’m quite honored even to be asked to join this event given who is coming,” said Jones, who will be interviewed on stage at the closing night awards event at Hahn Hall. Admission to the closing night awards event is free to the general public, and will also feature a special presentation to EPIC honoree and fashion icon Kenneth Cole’s nonprofit Mental Health Coalition. “Film is the most collaborative of all the arts and as an actor

On Entertainment Page 304

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The survey found that last year, renewable energy sources and nuclear power together accounted for 39 percent of worldwide energy production. Solar increased by 24 percent, and wind by 17 percent from the previous year.

This will be the first time this has occurred outside of a recession, according to Ember’s report.

In 2022, the emissions intensity of the world’s electricity also fell to its lowest level ever, due to unprecedented growth in wind and solar power.

As higher gas prices increased the cost of fuel, gas-fired power generation decreased by 0.2 percent last year, while coal-fired power generation increased by 1.1 percent.

The power sector’s carbon emissions increased by 1.3 percent in 2022, but the growth of solar and wind mitigated the impact.

Assuming average growth in the demand for electricity and renewable energy, Ember forecasts that fossil fuel production will decrease by 0.3 percent this year.

This would indicate that emissions reached their ‘peak’ in 2022. A new era of declining power sector emissions is imminent.

The International Energy Agency has declared that the electricity sector –the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions – must be the first to reach net zero by 2040. According to Reuters, to reach this milestone, wind and solar would have to account for 41 percent of global electricity production by 2030.

Following the findings of the report, 2022 will be remembered as a pivotal year in the global transition to renewable energy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted numerous governments to reevaluate their strategies in light of soaring fossil fuel prices and security concerns regarding their reliance on fossil fuel imports. It also accelerated electrification, resulting in an increase in heat pumps, electric vehicles, and electrolyzers. These will drive emissions reductions in other sectors, and increase the impetus to develop clean energy more rapidly.

Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion perform at Campbell Hall this Friday, April 21 (Courtesy photo)

The Giving List RiteCare Childhood Language Center

of Santa Barbara

by Steven Libowitz

RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Santa Barbara, founded in 1984, is the only nonprofit in Santa Barbara County offering free language and speech therapy for children. As might be expected, the need is great, and with only two Speech-Language Pathologists on staff, RiteCare has waiting lists much longer than they would like.

That’s because the public school system has strict parameters on who qualifies for services provided internally. Many young children, those who might need support in their speech and language skills and would benefit greatly from individual therapy, are simply falling through the cracks.

“To qualify for speech therapy services at the school district, you have to fall within the bottom seventh percentile on standardized testing,” explained Summer Calvert, RiteCare’s Program Director who has worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist for nearly 20 years, including seven at the Santa Barbara County Education Office. There are some kids that definitely have a

speech and/or language delay but they’re not qualifying because their scores aren’t quite low enough.”

In addition, the research shows that early intervention is key in helping young kids at preschool age be ready for school, Calvert said. Evidence shows that undiagnosed, untreated childhood language disorders – difficulty understanding or communicating language – put children at a higher risk of social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems in adulthood.

“Intervening as early as possible, even below age three – when the district can start testing – is best for their success.”

To bridge those gaps, RiteCare has an easy access intake process. Children must be aged between two-and-a-half and five years old, and must not be receiving speech and language therapy from more than one source (speech therapist, private therapist, special day class). Once a parent contacts the center, Calvert or Speech-Language Pathologist and Center Director Julie DeAngelis schedules a screening within the month to determine the child’s priority level for the nonprofit’s programs; following which, the child

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is invariably placed on the waitlist.

“In the interim, we refer them out to the school district if they haven’t yet been screened there, as well as to other agencies, to private therapists, and to other resources that might help them while they wait,” Calvert said. “We help the families navigate that process because it can be a bit daunting for parents. We want to give them the tools that they need to find all the resources possible.”

And RiteCare starts supporting the child even before they are officially part of the program, she said.

“We don’t want them just to sit on this crazy waitlist that we have without anything happening. If – when they come in for this screening – we can instantly see that they’re pretty mild, we might do a little bit of therapy with them within that screening hour and teach the parents some things they can take home; some activities that they could do on their own to start working. We have them check in with us again after 30 days and let us know what’s happening so we can check the progress and see if there’s more we can offer.”

Once under RiteCare’s umbrella, each child receives extensive private individualized speech and language therapy, while the center also provides parents all the tools and essentials necessary for carrying out the skills learned in therapy each week. Parents are provided an opportunity to sit in on each session with their child, or to observe through a two-way mirror and listen in on their child’s session through a speaker system.

“Our center is really fun,” Calvert said. “The families are part of the session. We do a different theme every week and the kids are so excited to come and see what the theme is. There’s always an obstacle course, something that involves fine motor skills and literacy in addition to their speech and language goals. We work on that while they’re doing all of this fun stuff. For the kids, they’re coming to dress up and play

The Garden Tour is the major fundraiser for the Virginia Robinson Gardens with funds used to support restoration needs and its Children’s Science Program.

For tickets, go to http://www.robinsongardens.org/ or call 310-550-2068

with us and do all these fun activities. Most of the time they don’t realize how hard they’re actually working on learning how to say the ‘s’ sound, for example.”

Those efforts are also augmented by three programs: Camp Chit Chat, a socially interactive summer camp for preschool-age children with mild-to-moderate speech and language delays, created a dozen years ago to support school kids during summer break; Brain Lab, an after-school literacy program for older students ranging in age from first grade through sixth grade; and Super Brains, a small group of kindergarten through first-grade children working on social skills.

The RiteAid Center’s kids aren’t the only ones who are learning. Indeed, Calvert, who has multiple degrees in Speech-Language Pathology, just earned a dyslexia certification – a year-long process she said will increase the effectiveness of the center’s programs, as it aligns efforts with the science of reading. It’s part of the total effort of the Santa Barbara Center –one of 180 across the country – to respond to the needs of the community. It is this acute attentiveness to the community’s needs that earlier resulted in the three aforementioned programs to augment the core speech therapy.

Of course, having the capacity to help more kids earlier would be even more valuable.

“Our dream is to be able to hire one more therapist,” Calvert said. “If we had another person, our waitlist would be reduced by a pretty good amount. We’d be able to serve more children. That’s what we’re here for.”

Santa Barbara RiteCare

16 E. Carrillo Street, 4th Floor santabarbararitecarecenter.org

(805) 962-8469

Julie DeAngelis, Center Director Summer Calvert, Program Director

Are they dinosaurs or kids hard at work on their speech and language development?

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Brilliant Thoughts

Size and Sighs

by Ashleigh Brilliant

How big is it? Sometimes it doesn’t matter. Sometimes it matters a lot more than it should. I’m sorry to say that in most cases, bigger means better. That’s why bigger houses, cars, and diamonds generally cost more. But there has lately been a trend in the opposite direction. Now that so many devices are electronic and so much of the world’s business is conducted in a mysterious sphere called “online,” there are more and more advantages to occupying less and less space.

The one big exception is ourselves.

For some reason, many of the statistics into which we all somehow fit tend to fall into what’s called a “bellshaped curve.” In other words, when displayed on a graph, the majority generally cluster towards the middle, while extremes of high and low form minorities which tend to flatten the curve at either end.

As an example, let’s take intelligence. Putting aside the question of whether standardized intelligence tests have any real value, their results neatly ring the classic bell. Most people, we find, are of medium mental ability, while just a few are very high, or very low, on that scale. Forgive my immodesty, but my own rating happens to be at the upper end, which I can verify (if not actually prove) by my membership in MENSA, the organization for people with allegedly superior intelligence. To be admitted, you have to score in the top two percent on a scale measured by a standard test of what some genius labeled Intelligence Quotient – familiarly known as IQ. A quotient is the mathematical result of a division, and I suppose the IQ, at least originally, had something to do with dividing the number of answers you got right by the number you got wrong.

As you might expect, people with larger brains tend to be smarter – and the mighty power of evolution has resulted in people living today having larger brains than those from whom we evolved.

But other aspects of our bodies are also subject to size comparisons. One measurement of note is that of sheer height. Whether being tall is really a positive attribute is open to question. But it’s a fact that most U.S. Presidents have been above average in that particular category. And I don’t know of many jobs in which employers are looking for little people. The main one seems to be the manufacture of airplanes, space vehicles, and similar craft, in which access to certain important areas is limited by the worker’s physical size.

While we are talking about areas of importance, allow me to skim sensitively over the delicate subject of the size of our sexual organs. In particular, the comparative dimensions of the erect male instrument are of legendary significance. In this connection, I cannot resist quoting for you a piece of doggerel which will enable me to demonstrate my own minimal knowledge – not only of this long-standing myth, but also of the Law and its use of Latin:

There was a young lawyer named Rex With a very small organ of sex; When charged with exposure He pled with composure, “De minimis non cura lex.”

That last line is a legal principle going back to Roman times, meaning “The Law does not concern itself with trivial matters.”

But the size of people in general has, for most of human history, always been associated with prowess. The biggest warriors were thought to be the best, and having a giant on your side was considered a guarantee of victory –unless your enemy’s giant was even bigger. The classic example is the Old Testament story of David and Goliath, as narrated in the Book of Samuel. The defiant Philistines have as their champion a huge warrior who is not afraid to come out challengingly in front of both armies. The Israelites have only a shepherd boy, but two other things are on their side – a weapon apparently little used in combat called a “sling” – and God. That being the case, it is really no contest.

One other factor, however, does make a big difference in the outcome: although covered with armor, Goliath has one weak exposed area: his forehead. That’s where a well-aimed missile from David’s sling finds its target.

And just to wrap up this discussion of size, let me conclude with one of my own Great Thoughts on the subject:

How can we be made of things so small, yet still be part of things so large?

Robert’s Big Questions

Alien Minds?

by Robert Bernstein

“Everyone is basically the same” is how many of us were raised. The intention was to see our commonality, rather than our differences. But, what if we truly see the world in very different ways? It’s as if we are alien species, trying to live together.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has tried to help us aliens understand each other better by understanding our differences. He delivered a series of five talks here at the UCSB Sage Center in 2008, which I attended.

Haidt developed a “Moral Foundation Theory” with five factors: 1) Harm vs Care; 2) Fairness and Reciprocity; 3) Ingroup Loyalty; 4) Respect for Authority; 5) Purity/Sanctity. What sets us apart is how much weight we give to each of these factors. Liberals give almost full weight to the first two.

For liberals, an act is “moral” as long as it causes no harm, and it is fair. But conservatives also care about loyalty to their group (country, religion, political party), respect for authority (president, police, military, boss), and purity (some things are just “icky”). The latter caused conservatives to be homophobic and transphobic for much of history.

Conservatives see liberals as literally lacking senses that are as plain as day to them. Liberals see conservatives as sensing things that just don’t matter. Liberals are proud to be color blind, as it were. Haidt wants each alien species to be sensitive to how the other species experiences the world. Imagine you step in poop before entering a room, but you can’t smell poop. Once you realize that it offends others, you can make an effort to avoid the problem and/or clean it up.

I recently learned of another such factor making us aliens: The “Time Perspective Theory” of psychologist Philip Zimbardo. He developed the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), a survey to classify people according to five categories: 1) Present-Oriented; 2) Present-Hedonistic; 3) Present-Fatalistic;

4) Future-Oriented; 5) Past-Oriented.

are able to plan for their own personal future. People get educated, work and save money. Of course, this is not true for Americans who live with gun violence and housing and food insecurity. For them, the future is so uncertain that it makes sense just to live for today.

Beyond this personal sense, many of us look to the future of the entire world with some mix of hope and concern. We are concerned about the Climate Crisis and how Artificial Intelligence may change the nature of work. We try to influence policy makers to share our concerns and take appropriate action. We see young people as offering fresh perspectives.

But for much of human history it made sense to be past-oriented. What worked in the past probably will work in the future. Young people just needed to learn traditions and the wisdom of their elders.

Conservatives have stayed in this mind set. They recoil at changing morality. They resist new ways of doing things. More importantly, they resist seeing the need for change. We have always burned fossil fuel, so what could possibly go wrong if we keep doing the same thing?

At some core level we are all the same. We want what is best for ourselves, our community and our children. It is good to see this commonality. But we also need to see how we are alien species trying to live together. We end up shouting at each other about wedge issues, spurred by those who profit from such division.

Perhaps we first need to understand how we are different before we can understand how to work together?

Beyond this, though, there is the reality of a changing world. Moralizing about restricting the sexual habits of consenting adults should never translate into law or policy. More importantly: We have dumped 100 million years of carbon into the atmosphere in about 100 years. We can sympathize with conservative sensibilities. But, in the end, we need to change how we do things. Or face disaster. The laws of physics do not care about our sensibilities.

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.

As with Haidt’s categories, each of us lives in our world, oblivious to the radically different way other alien species experience the world. People who live in a community of turmoil and unpredictability can easily become Present-Fatalistic and/or PresentHedonistic. Planning for a future that may never come is pointless. Live for the pleasures of the moment. Whatever will be, will be.

Most Americans and Europeans grow up with a sufficiently well-developed sense of security and stability that they

Robert Bernstein holds degrees from Physics departments of MIT and UCSB. Passion to understand the Big Questions of life, the universe and to be a good citizen of the planet. Visit facebook.com/ questionbig

“I say love, it is a flower. And you, its only seed.” – Bette Midler

Lompoc Civic Theater

‘The Revolutionists’ Dinner Theater to Lose Your Head Over

by Jeff Wing

The small-town civic theater is an enduring symbol; the unassuming downtown performance company – founded long ago by beloved local dandies – that secretly fuels the community’s daily life. The butcher, baker, and candlestick maker (the professional class, that is) have always been the gray-flannel measure of community progress. The town playhouse, though – dowdy little box of thespian magic under whose proscenium generations of our friends and neighbors stun us into quiet epiphany –this is the animating life force of the village. You exit the theater under watchful starlight, your inner life recharged. The art flame that vitalizes human culture rarely burns with more charming, earnest ferocity than in a town’s civic theater.

“Lompoc is often overlooked as a center of theatrical events in the Santa Ynez Valley,” says Emma Recher, Lompoc Civic Theater (LCT) Association board member and avid spokesperson. “The fact is, we’re a dynamic community fighting to revive our historic cinema and to provide amazing cultural opportunities for our residents.”

And that they are doing. Founded in 1972 by local devotees and thespians Walter Dundon, Kay La Rue, Al Thompson, and Marian Stave – and temporarily indisposed by a global pandemic whose name shall go unmentioned here – LCT has roared back into the follow spot with a stunning dinner theater production of Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists. Under Michelle Pittenger’s direction, the play is a wild, idea-spurring ride set in the France of 1793 – the year the Revolution’s head-removal enthusiasms started to get out of hand. Four women of the period, genuine historical figures, navigate the madness with scathing wit and wisdom. Ticket price for this evening of immersive dinner theater includes a French-inspired meal to be enjoyed before the performance.

Playwright Lauren Gunderson is two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for I and You and The Book of Will, the winner of the Lanford Wilson Award and the Otis Guernsey New Voices Award, a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and John Gassner Award for Playwriting.

“After a mandatory two-year hiatus, the LCT Association is back on track,” Recher says. “We’re offering four evenings of unforgettable dinner theater at the Mission Club (4300 Club House Rd, Lompoc, CA) on April 22, May 6, and June 10 and 17. The Revolutionists is a powerful and raucous play that will resonate with all who see it.” The Lompoc Theater Project can’t help but be positively affected by LCT’s colorful return. “We’re so proud to be bringing this production to the Santa Ynez Valley, and we hope to help revive our landmark theater in the process.”

Call 805-735-ACTI for Tickets & Info or Visit www.FreshTix.com

Doors open at 5:30. Reservations by Tuesday before each performance. Limited Seating Available; Includes Adult Language

Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club came under owner management in May of 2022. Warner is currently looking at world-renowned restaurant teams while he completes renovations and upgrades to club facilities.

“Working at a place like the Coral Casino feels like a pinnacle career point,” said Conforti. “The club is a merging of one of the most beautiful locations in the world with one of the most beautiful properties in the world. I look forward to getting to know the members of the Coral Casino – and my wife and I look forward to making this community our home.”

For membership inquiries contact: Kelly Campbell at (805) 455-2587, kcampbell@tymail.com or Johanna Dearinger at (805) 276-7669, jdearinger@tymail.com.

Evacuation Planning Survey

The County is seeking public involvement in a survey to help enhance emergency response plans and preparedness in local areas. The purpose of the survey is to understand constraints and behavior during emergencies such as wildfires, floods, chemical spills, and other catastrophic events.

The survey, which takes less than five minutes to complete, will directly inform the County’s Evacuation Modeling and Planning Project, which will assist the County in complying with new state laws requiring jurisdictions to map and evaluate evacuation routes and locations. The County is coordinating with the County Fire Department, County Office of Emergency Management, a consultant, and numerous other agencies to develop an evacuation modeling and planning process.

The survey and project are a part of the updates to the County’s Safety Element, which contains policies to protect the community from natural hazards. It addresses geologic, seismic, fire, and flood hazards. A copy of the Safety Element can be found at www.countyofsb.org/762/ Safety-Element-Update.

The Final Evacuation Route Plan will be completed in 2024 and will include a map and tool for community members to learn more about evacuation issues where they live and work.

The Safety Element is also undergoing other updates related to its wildfire policies and climate adaptation planning. To learn more about these other updates visit www.countyofsb.org/762/ Safety-Element-Update. To receive information on upcoming activities and updates on the project, register for the P&D Safety Element Update mailing list here: https://signup.e2ma.net/ signup/1883430/1753150/.

An English and Spanish version of the survey can be found at https://sbcsurvey. kld.engineering.

1/9 Debris Flow survivor Kim Cantin’s new memoir, Where Yellow Flowers Bloom, is a testament of a mother’s love and a wife’s devotion in the midst of sudden loss and trauma, with an enlightened perspective on mortality. Cantin will be signing the book at Tecolote Book Shop in the upper village on Saturday, April 29 at 3 pm.

In the early hours of January 9, 2018, heavy rainfall, combined with a denuded hillside from a recent wildfire, caused a series of mudflows in Montecito. The incident was responsible for 23 deaths and cost $177 million in property damage. News of the mudslide made national headlines, and among those headlines was the tragic story of the Cantin family.

Where Yellow Flowers Bloom chronicles the events following the mudslide and the devastation that took the lives of Kim’s husband, David Cantin, and their son, Jack Cantin. The book details Kim’s journey through mourning her husband’s death, following her intuition, and receiving extraordinary support from her community to find Jack’s remains.

According to Kim, her story is full of mysterious and awe-inspiring messages, signs, and synchronicities, and through her patience, perseverance and willingness to be open to help and to heal, she confirms love’s ability to connect and transcend beyond life.

The book is now available at local bookstores and on Amazon.com.

Tecolote Book Shop is located at 1470 East Valley Road.

Jeff Wing is a journalist, raconteur, autodidact, and polysyllable enthusiast who sees the Village as a dazzling kaleidoscope of stories—some of them a little nutty. Jeff can be reached at Jeff@montecitojournal.net

Debris flow survivor Kim Cantin has written a memoir and will be at a book signing at Tecolote on April 29 (photo by Doug Ellis Photography)

Kelly Mahan Herrick, also a licensed realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, has been editor at large for the Journal since 2007, reporting on news in Montecito and beyond.

Sō Percussion with Caroline Shaw

Let the Soil Play Its Simple Part

Works by Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion, Eric Cha-Beach, Angélica Negrón and Nathalie Joachim

Fri, Apr 21 / 8 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

Sō Percussion offers an “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam.” The New Yorker

Caroline Shaw’s remarkable ear for melody and Sō Percussion’s playful sense of rhythmic invention come together in this strikingly original music that dissolves the boundaries between classical and pop.

ARTEMIS

Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Alexa Tarantino, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda, Allison Miller

Mon, Apr 23 / 7 PM (note special time) / UCSB Campbell Hall

“A killer line-up of players… they all converge on this extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward, modern sound.” NPR

A powerhouse ensemble of modern jazz masters, each a composer and bandleader in their own right.

24th U.S. Poet Laureate

Ada Limón

Why We Need Poetry

Celebrating National Poetry Month!

Tue, Apr 25 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

Tickets start at $20 / FREE for all students (with valid ID)

“A poet whose verse exudes warmth and compassion, Limón is at the height of her creative powers.” Los Angeles Review of Books

The first woman of Mexican ancestry to be named U.S. poet laureate, Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry. Her latest, The Hurting Kind, was named one of The New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2022.

Celebrating Mother’s Day

Laura Dern & Diane Ladd

Honey,

Baby, Mine:

A Mother and Daughter Talk Life and Love

Wed, May 3 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

Join acclaimed actor Laura Dern (Big Little Lies, Twin Peaks, Jurassic Park) and her mother, Academy Award-winner Diane Ladd (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Chinatown), for a deeply personal conversation on love, art, ambition and legacy inspired by their own heart-to-hearts.

Santa Barbara Debut

GREAT FOOD

DRINKS

Foraging Thyme

Spring Asparagus

by Melissa Petitto

Warm weather is trickling in slowly, Santa Barbara – and I am here for it! Spring in the farmers’ market is such a glorious time, crowded as it is with all the vegetables that begin popping up after our rainy months… artichokes, snap peas, fava beans, arugula, and asparagus… just to name a few. This week I was drawn to the sublime asparagus – sprightly spears that come in an array of colors from green to white to purple, and from super thick to the pencil thin ones. I tend to love the ones in the middle, those perfectly plump green asparagus that taste just like spring – grassy, bitter in their earthiness, and subtly sweet. Is there a better description of what spring is? The asparagus contains a vast array of health benefits, ranging from its small amounts of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and riboflavin, to its high doses of Vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting and bone health, to folate, which is necessary for cell growth and DNA formation. Asparagus also contains antioxidants Vitamin E and Vitamin C, and polyphenols such as quercetin. The dietary and insoluble fiber in asparagus is excellent for digestive health, reducing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes, and is a wonderful prebiotic to feed the healthy bacteria in your gut. I tend to love my asparagus prepared simply, letting the beauty of its flavor shine through. Below is one of my favorite asparagus recipes; I hope you love it, too!

Roasted Asparagus with Almonds, Dill, and Crispy Capers

Yield: Serves 6

1 pound asparagus, woody ends removed

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Topping:

2 tablespoons Miyoko’s butter

3/4 cup sliced almonds

2 tablespoons Miyoko’s butter

1/2 cup baby capers, drained and dried on a paper towel

1/2 cup fresh dill, roughly chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, toss together the asparagus, olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

3. Transfer to the oven and roast for 8 to 12 minutes or until the asparagus is tender and lightly caramelized. Time will depend on thickness of asparagus. Transfer to a serving platter while you prepare the topping.

4. In a small sauté pan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted add the almonds and fry for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the almonds from burning. Pour the butter over the cooked asparagus.

5. In the same sauté pan, add 2 more tablespoons butter and melt. Add the capers and fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until crispy. Drain on paper towels. Add the capers to the asparagus and top with the chopped dill. Serve hot or room temperature.

Melissa Petitto, R.D., is an executive chef and co-founder at Thymeless My Chef SB, was a celebrity personal chef for 16 years, just finished her 10th cookbook, and is an expert on nutrition and wellness.

Santa Barbara by the Glass

To the Wine Lover Go the Spoils: May Offers Myriad Events Inspired by the Grape

by Gabe Saglie

Santa Barbara’s wine industry is rolling out the red carpet. MidMay is studded with a bevy of events aimed at maximizing the enjoyment of, and understanding of, locally-produced wines. Here’s a snapshot of some of the key events presented by both the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience’s “Taste of Santa Barbara,” making a triumphant return, as well as the inaugural “Behind the Scenes” series put on by regional vintners.

Taste of Santa Barbara

After a deliciously successful launch last year, this weeklong series of events, done in partnership with the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, makes a comeback. Slated for May 15 through 21, the line-up of 13 culinary events aims to please and, this year, to draw an even more diverse audience. “It’s really important to us that the Taste of Santa Barbara is accessible to our entire community, so this year we’ve expanded our programming to offer a variety of events that appeal to all our audiences,” says Executive Director Donna Yen. Inspired by Santa Barbara County’s bounty, the goal here is to deepen the connection between us consumers and our neighboring food and wine industries. These are my top three picks of events sure to wow wine lovers.

Coastal HideawaysInc.

The Farmer & The Cook: This exploration of the relationship between Santa Barbara County’s farms and restaurants takes the form of a four-course dinner at bouchon Restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara. The night begins outdoors with wine and appetizers, as Inside Julia’s Kitchen podcast host Todd Schulkin moderates a conversation between executive chef Nate Van Etten and local purveyors. The meal, driven by seasonal local ingredients, takes place in the dining room, paired with premium wines by Liquid Farm and Margerum Wine Co. Tuesday, May 16, 6-9 pm, $150/pp (or $200 with add-on farmers market visit prior to the dinner event)

Cherry Bombe: Female talent is in the spotlight during this afternoon celebration at the newly-imagined Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection in Los Olivos. Fêted local women winemakers, chefs, and producers include Tara Gomez and Mireia Taribó, winemakers for the Lompoc-based label Camins 2 Dreams, Sherry Villanueva, CEO of Acme Hospitality (which runs dining faves like Santa Barbara’s The Lark and Loquita), and Chef Daisy Ryan of Los Alamo’s Bell’s Restaurant, winner of a one-star rating from the Michelin Guide. Mattei’s Executive Chef, Rhoda

Magbitang, will offer tasty bites. Tickets for this one are moving quickly!

Saturday, May 20, 3-5:30 pm, $100/pp

Taste of Santa Barbara Wines: The beautiful historic setting of El Presidio de Santa Barbara Historic Park elevates this lovely walk-around tasting of some of the best local wines. I really enjoyed this event last year, which saw many winemakers appear in person to pour and mingle. Specialty foods and a popup store by Heritage Goods and Supply enhance the afternoon.

Sunday, May 21, 1-4 pm, $60/pp

Buy tickets and find out more at sbce.events.

Behind the Scenes

Winemaker Bryan Babcock called to give me a heads up about this inaugural event by several of Santa Barbara’s top vintners – the Montecito resident was pumped by the way these events pull back the curtain and offer consumers intimate experiences around grape growing and winemaking. Set for May 19-21 at locales across wine country, the opening day event at Roblar Winery in Santa Ynez introduces wine buffs to the nuances of Santa Barbara County’s seven distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Of the six events that follow throughout the weekend, here are three that really stand out to me.

Sustainable, Organic, Biodynamic: This Saturday lunch at the beautiful Fess Parker Ranch in Los Olivos will explore the differences and similarities between these three wine-growing philosophies – a deep dive into the complexities of practices aimed at producing worldclass grapes in an environmentally friendly way. Fess Parker winemaker phenom Blair Fox hosts a cast representing Cambria Winery, Piazza Family Wines, and Duvarita Vineyard. Valley Piggery will pair wines with locally-sourced fare

Vineyard will debut its new on-property tasting room next month, which will host an event spotlighting Santa Barbara’s new generation of winemakers (Courtesy photo)

(including vegetarian options).

Saturday, May 20, Noon-2 pm, $150/pp

The Evolution of the Sta. Rita Hills –Pinot Noir and Beyond: This event – hosted by Bryan Babcock at his namesake vineyard along Highway 246 – should be a real eye-opener, enhanced by some of the best wines in the county. “The potential here is so exciting,” Babcock told me, touting this exploration of how Sta. Rita Hills, a cool growing region made world-famous by the pinot noir and chardonnay it produces, is quickly becoming an enviable home for Rhône grapes like syrah and grenache, among others. Wines by Alma Rosa, Melville, Peake Ranch, and LaBarge will also be poured.

Saturday, May 20, 2:30-4 pm, $100/pp

The Next Generation of Winemaking in Santa Barbara County: The setting alone in The Gatehouse – the new visitor center in Bien Nacido Vineyard, which gives the public onsite access to this storied growing site for the first time ever – is a draw here. And then there are the personalities – the younger generations of families that pioneered wine growing in Santa Barbara County and that are now leading the way forward with innovation and flair. These include Nicholas Miller of Miller Family Wines, which planted Bien Nacido in the Santa Maria Valley 50 years ago, hosts Greer Shull of Fess Parker Winery, Chase Carhartt of Carhartt Family Wines, Peter Stolpman of Stolpman Family Vineyards, and Bingo Wathen of Foxen Winery. Tastings and lunch are included.

Sunday, May 21, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, $150/pp

For tickets and more info, go to sbcountywines.com/ behind-the-scenes

See you in May, cheers!

Gabe Saglie has been covering the Santa Barbara wine scene for more than 15 years through columns, TV, and radio. He’s a senior editor with Travelzoo and is a leading expert on travel deals, tips, and trends.

you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett

Julia Child is part of the inspiration behind Taste of Santa Barbara that returns for its second year next month (photo by Paul Child)

Bien Nacido

Fess Parker Winery in Los Olivos will host a wine tasting event exploring sustainable, organic, and biodynamic grape growing practices (Courtesy photo)

As a partner to, and inspired by Deckers Brands Art of Kindness , we believe kindness has the power to not only brighten someone's day, but to also create a ripple effect of positivity. When we show kindness to others, it can inspire them to do the same, creating a chain reaction of positive actions and attitudes.

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

— Dalai Lama

I’m just one cog in the wheel. But I’m happy to share my creative process.”

For Jones, that’s all about transcending the complex prosthetics, makeup, and uncomfortable challenges to embody the humanity of the character, such as the Amphibian Man in The Shape of Water, which won the Best Picture Oscar in 2018.

“It’s about making the character come alive as an organic being and not just a guy in an alien suit.”

Visit www.epicimpactsociety.org for details on the summit, or www.eventbrite. com/e/2023-epic-innovation-awardstickets-611767241287 for tickets to the awards show.

Theater Talk: Anya Arrives in Town

Anastasia – the Broadway musical inspired by the 1997 animated film and

the 1956 live-action movie that ran in New York from 2017-2020 and has been performed more than 2,500 times worldwide – has its Santa Barbara debut at The Granada Theatre on April 25-26 as part of The American Theatre Guild’s Broadway in Santa Barbara series. The show uses the musical genre to adapt the legend of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, who may have escaped the execution of her family. Years later, an amnesiac orphan named Anya hopes to find some trace of her family by partnering with two con men whose agenda is to take advantage of her likeness to the Grand Duchess. Anastasia takes audiences on a journey from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the nightlife of Paris in the 1920s following Anya and her companions who are also trying to elude a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her as they

embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.

Anastasia comes from a decorated team that features book by the celebrated playwright Terrence McNally, a lush score and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, the Tony Awardwinning creators of the Broadway classic Ragtime, and tour direction by Sarah Hartmann based on original direction by Tony winner Darko Tresnjak. Visit www.BroadwaySantaBarbara.com or www.GranadaSB.org.

Also on Local Stages This Week

Ensemble Theatre Company’s area premiere of Lucy Kirkwood’s 2016 drama The Children winds up its three-week run at the New Vic on April 23. ETC favorite helmer Jenny Sullivan directs the trio of well-traveled actors Michael Butler, Linda Purl, and Nancy Travis – all of whom are familiar to recent ETC audiences – in the play inspired by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear explosion in Japan. Set at a remote cottage on the coast of Britain after a tsunami wreaks havoc on a nuclear reactor, the lives of two retired nuclear physicists – a married couple – are further disrupted by the mysterious appearance of a long-lost colleague, who confronts them with a stunning moral dilemma: What does the older generation owe to those who are young? Visit www.ETC.org.

Also closing on April 23 is Out of the Box’s Central Coast premiere of Once. The multiple Tony-winning musical adapted from the 2007 cult indie film serves up a charming and artist-inspiring tale –the romantic union of an Irish busker musician ready to give up on his dream and the songwriting Czech immigrant who reignites his creative spark, the two drawn together by their shared love of music. The simple story features a complex production that requires five of the actors to play their own instruments on stage at the black box theater known as Center Stage. Visit www.centerstagetheater.org.

There are two more weeks left in the world premiere – and likely singular production – of George and Emily Get Married. Written and directed by Rick Mokler, George and Emily Get Married updates the story of the young lovers from Thornton Wilder’s classic Our Town, transporting them from the fictional American small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, to present-day Santa Barbara. Mokler cast many of his old colleagues in the ode to love and marriage. Info at www.theatregroupsbcc.com.

Meanwhile, the world premiere of Dark of the Moon, Jonathan Prince’s musical adaptation of a once-popular 1945 Broadway play, closed April 16th at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, the packed house for the final show on Sunday night whooping and hollering at the play’s every antic, heart-wounding turn. In the story of star-crossed love and the intolerance that threatens it, townsfolk and members of a witches coven clash over an immortal “witch-boy” willing to give up his immortality to be with the human girl with whom he has fallen desperately in love. As a developmental production, I’m not allowed to formally review it, but suffice to say that there are so many fun moments and memorable songs – plus a lump-in-the-throat ending – that Dark of the Moon is likely to follow in the footsteps of several other shows that debuted at RTC and found their way to Broadway, and beyond.

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

flower does not use words to announce its arrival to the world; it just blooms.” – Matshona Dhliwayo

ETC’s The Children wraps up its three-week run at the New Vic this Sunday, April 23 (photo by Zach Mendez)

Actors and musicians blend roles in Out of the Box’s Once (Courtesy photo)

George and Emily Get Married is an interpretation of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, adapted for our town (photo by Ben Crop)

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01-NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS CALLING FOR BIDS

1. OWNER: Montecito Union School District

2. PROJECT IDENTIFICATION NAME: 2223-2 Terraces Secure Perimeter Fence Replacement

3. PROJECT LOCATION: 385 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Replace existing fence with vinyl coated chain link, per the specifications. The bid shall include but not limited to:

975+/- linear feet of fencing.

One 4 foot man gate.

Two 10 foot leaf swinging drive gates. Alternate pricing for 8 foot high fencing.

This project is anticipated to start approximately June 13, 2023 and is anticipated to be completed by July 28, 2023

Summary: Section includes chain-link fences and swing gates, Polymer Coated. Supply all materials, labor etc. to remove existing fence and reinstall new fence, posts, gates, fabric, hardware for complete system.

5. BID DEADLINE: Bids are due on May 24, 2023, no later than 1:00 p.m. (School Office Clock)

6. PLACE AND METHOD OF BID RECEIPT: All Bids must be sealed. Personal delivery, courier, or mailed via United States Postal Service and addressed to Montecito Union School District, 385 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. ATTN: Virginia Alvarez

7. PLACE PLANS ARE ON FILE: Montecito Union School District, Business Department, 385 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, and www.tricoblue.com

8. ALTERNATES: If alternate bids are called for, the contract will be awarded to the lowest bid price on the base contract without consideration of the prices on the additive or deductive items.

9. MANDATORY JOB WALK: Meet at Montecito Union School Office on Wednesday, May 10 at 10:30 a.m. sharp. Attendance at the entire job walk is mandatory and failure to attend the entire job walk may result in your bid being rejected as non-responsive. Contact OWNER for details on required job walks and related documentation.

10. This is a prevailing wage project. OWNER has ascertained the general prevailing rate of per diem wages in the locality in which this work is to be performed for each craft or type of worker needed to execute this contract. These rates are on file at OWNER’s office, and a copy may be obtained upon request, or at www.dir.ca.gov. Contractor shall post a copy of these rates at the job site. ALL PROJECTS OVER $1,000 ARE SUBJECT TO PREVAILING WAGE MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT BY THE LABOR COMMISSIONER.

It shall be mandatory upon the contractor to whom the contract is awarded (CONTRACTOR), and upon any SUBCONTRACTOR, to pay not less than the specified rates to all workers employed by them in the execution of the contract.

11. A Payment Bond for contracts over $25,000 and a Performance Bond for all contracts will be required prior to commencement of work. These bonds shall be in the amounts and form called for in the Contract Documents.

12. Pursuant to the provisions of Public Contract Code Section 22300, CONTRACTOR may substitute certain securities for any funds withheld by OWNER to ensure CONTRACTOR’s performance under the contract. At the request and expense of CONTRACTOR, securities equivalent to any amount withheld shall be deposited, at the discretion of OWNER, with either OWNER or a state or federally chartered bank as the escrow agent, who shall then pay any funds otherwise subject to retention to CONTRACTOR. Upon satisfactory completion of the contract, the securities shall be returned to CONTRACTOR.

Securities eligible for investment shall include those listed in Government Code Section 16430, bank and savings and loan certificates of deposit, interest bearing demand deposit accounts, standby letters of credit, or any other security mutually agreed to by CONTRACTOR and OWNER. CONTRACTOR shall be the beneficial owner of any securities substituted for funds withheld and shall receive any interest on them. The escrow agreement shall be in the form indicated in the Contract Documents.

13. To bid on or perform the work stated in this Notice, CONTRACTOR must possess a valid and active contractor's license of the following classification(s) C-13, or A or B No CONTRACTOR or subcontractor shall be qualified to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, subject to the requirements of § 4104 of the Public Contract Code, for a public works project (submitted on or after March 1, 2015) unless currently registered with the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and qualified to perform public work pursuant to Labor Code § 1725.5. No CONTRACTOR or subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works project (awarded after April 1, 2015) unless registered with the DIR. DIR’s web registration portal is: www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Contractors.html

14. CONTRACTOR and all subcontractors must furnish electronic certified payroll records (eCPR) to the Labor Commissioner monthly in PDF format. Registration at www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Certified-Payroll-Reporting.html is required to use the eCPR system.

The following notice is given as required by Labor Code Section 1771.5(b)(1): CONTRACTOR and any subcontractors are required to review and comply with the provisions of the California Labor Code, Part 7, Chapter 1, beginning with Section 1720, as more fully discussed in the Contract Documents. These sections contain specific requirements concerning, for example, determination and payment of prevailing wages, retention, inspection, and auditing payroll records, use of apprentices, payment of overtime compensation, securing workers’ compensation insurance, and various criminal penalties or fines which may be imposed for violations of the requir ements of the chapter. Submission of a bid constitutes CONTRACTOR’s representation that CONTRACTOR has thoroughly reviewed these requirements.

15. OWNER will retain 5% of the amount of any progress payments.

16. This Project does not require prequalification pursuant to AB 1565 of all general contractors and all mechanical, electrical and plumbing subcontractors

17. BID PACKET is available at www.tricoblue.com and will be provided at the job walk.

Advertisement Dates: Montecito Journal Print Dates – April 20, 27 and May 4, 2023.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Invitation to Bid No. 2023-002

Loft Office Remodel Fire Station 91

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

DEADLINE EXTENDED: April 27, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

ITB# 2023-002 – Loft Office Remodel Fire Station 91

Bid Opening – Thursday, April 27, 2023 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 “Station 91 Loft Office Project –General Contractor Bid” and returned to:

Montecito Fire Protection District

Attn: Scott Chapman, Battalion Chief 595 San Ysidro Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Bids will be accepted until 2:00 pm April 27, 2023. Bids received after this time will be returned unopened. Faxed bids will not be accepted.

Published April 20, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Atacama Optics & Electronics; Atacama Light, 2520 Emerson St, Summerland, CA 93067. Atacama, LLC, 2520 Emerson St, Summerland, CA 93067. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on February 22, 2023. 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. 20230000477. Published April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/ are doing business as: Vox Geekus, 606 Alamo Pintado Rd STE 3-107, Solvang, CA 93463. Michael A White, 3681 Sagunto St #204, Santa Ynez, CA 93460. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 20, 2023. 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. 2023-0000751. Published April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/ are doing business as:

Street #31, Carpinteria, CA 93013. SCSB Protective Services, 5455 8 th Street #31, Carpinteria, CA 93013. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 22, 2023. 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. 20230000775. Published April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/ are doing business as: Bird’s Wood Finishing Co., 2416 De La Vina St., Apt 7, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Sergio Ocampo, 2416 De La Vina St., Apt 7, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on February 23, 2023. 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. 2023-0000491.

Published March 29, April 5, 12, 19, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Garcia Rock and Water Design, 686 Edgewood Drive, Goleta, CA 93117. Santa Barbara Waterfalls, INC., 686 Edgewood Drive,

Goleta, CA 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 20, 2023. 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. 2023-0000743.

Published March 29, April 5, 12, 19, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 23CV01246.

To all interested parties: Petitioner Valentina Lash filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to Tina Valentina Lash . The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed April 11, 2023 by Terri Chavez. Hearing date: June 5, 2023 at 10 am in Dept. 5, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published April 19, 26, May 3, 10, 2023.

and a tribute to 40 Years of MIDI with Resonant Alien featuring Hardgroove on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage.

At the TEC Experience, host Larry Batiste reminded us of the Sugar Hill Gang, Chic sampling their own music, Run DMC x Aerosmith, Biz Markie; female rappers Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, and Missy Elliott; West Coast rappers N.W.A., Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, MC Hammer, Too Short, Digital Underground, E-40, G-Eazy, and 2Pac; and Hip Hop with R&B artists like Method Man x Mary J. Blige.

And a tribute was given to Hip Hop gear – Roland Rhythm Composer TR-808, Technics SL 2000 turntables, Gemini PreAmps, E-Mu Systems, Inc. SP-1200, MPC 3000 Pads, Ensoniq ASR10, Korg Triton pro music workstation, and Akai’s S950 sampler, the MPC60 and MPC60II.

Black music industry leaders like Prodigal Sunn, OG Arabian Prince, Queen Cora Coleman, Michèle Vice-Maslin, Ray Williams, Ron Harris, Deraj, DJ Johnny Juice, and brothers Victor, Roy, Regi, and Joseph Wooten shared their expertise on education panels.

In Chuck D’s award acceptance speech, he said: “DJs pay homage to the musicians, the artists, the name of the record, the songwriters, the musicianship. That is where we come from as DJ culture, to be able to explain to the world the beauty and gift of music. The important factor is we had to know where these sounds came from. We knew that a DJ could be a band like Run DMC said, but you have to have the knowledge of the records. In this day I think it is disrespectful to make light of scholarship, because people just think they can be what they want to be by looking at a screen and think they’re a scholar too. Scholars read everything, the good, bad and ugly – and then have a conversation about it. That is the same thing about technologists, DJs, and musicians – they can play anything but they process it to a point where you can dig it, pick it up and it’s palatable to your taste, and they spend time at it. They do the good, bad and ugly so they possibly can come up with something that can be a universal language. That’s the gift of music.

Where we’re going right now, Artificial Intelligence is not getting dumber. You look around and it looks like society is falling off into stupidity, and AI is coming on like a locomotive on nuclear steroids in outer space. I know, I’ve heard all the talk how music is this and musicians are that and we are being invaded. You’ve all seen the speed of data GPT, and it ain’t wack. Prince Rogers Nelson said, ‘Try your best to be on top of the technology or it will be on top of you.’ And one thing we know, you might not like, but everybody’s got the gadget in their pocket attached to their hip. How do we dance with it as musicians, artists, creators, technologists, DJs, bass players, guitarists, and people who say I don’t have to write this speech all I have to do is pour it in a GPT blender, how we deal with that? What’s the next two and three generations look like? That’s the challenge. It’s hard to challenge that when you’re drunk or high, AI is not on cocaine. This is the turning point, we’re two years past the pandemic, what is 2024 looking like? Let the music stay free. Peace.” And top notes from Hardgroove and Chuck D’s Black to the Future talk on Hip Hop at 50 with over 500 attendees:

Brian Hardgroove (BH): Why did Hip Hop last 50 years?

Chuck D (CD): We were more aware, and we knew Hip Hop was going to last over 50 years. It is a sight, sound, story style which has creativity, musicianship, dance culture and graffiti art culture. Most people don’t have a clear definition of Rap and Hip Hop; Rap is a vocal on top of music, it is a vocal platform.

BH: How does Hip Hop push the dial to move culture forward?

CD: We need more people like you! We need to stop the corporate spectacle that has become music. Be spectacular not a spectacle. Hip Hop has always been embracing, intelligent, genius, and had scientists who know the technology to engineer and produce it. In the U.S., music was the number one influencer of people and culture, now it is sports, which has used music in its platform to push its place forward. The airwaves used to be public, but corporations took that over. The last century we all had music in the crib, and musicians respected the music that came before us, we knew who wrote it, produced it, wrote the liner notes, and the engineers. Get out of your bubbles. Look at what other countries and cultures are doing with music, Hip Hop and Rap have been worldwide for a long time, and it started right here. Use your devices as tools, not as toys which is soc-med [social media]. Don’t let the tech make you stupid and lazy, manage your devices before they manage you. Things are moving fast in 2024 and 2026, and you need to stay awake, it’s the cheapest price you’ll have to pay.

BH: Tell us about being inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame.

CD: Rock Hall said for the TV show we have a younger person do the induction speech. I said we love what you do but we have our own plans how we are going to do this. We come from Black Music, we want to honor our heroes instead of somebody inducting us, we don’t think we’re the most important thing. We want Harry Belafonte to induct us or we’re not showing up. We’re honoring somebody who laid the groundwork for us to be here in the first place that America wants to forget quickly. We felt dignified and honored to honor our hero honoring us. You have to

fight for what is right if you have the power to do so at that particular time. When it comes to the arts, there is a longer trail of what made it to be – instead of thinking it’s a bunch of bones we stand on. You’re recording music and making technology on the shoulders of unacknowledged giants. When I look at any screen, I think of Philo Farnsworth; he was one of the cats who realized people could look at a screen and you got TV, but he’s one of the names that got pushed to the back like thousands of unacknowledged heroes, which you can choose to honor. This is where the humanity of music, the arts, and culture unite us with similarities and knocks our differences to the side.

As a wrap to this report, I asked Hardgroove what the larger message is. He replied:

“The larger message is to change the viewpoints of non-black people and black people about how the Black voice and culture is siloed in America, to clearly define what is Hip Hop, what is Rap, and to give credit, respect, and appreciation to all who contributed to these art forms. Black people in America have to do what we know is right and stop caring what ‘they’ think, what White people think and what other Black people think.”

Thanks Brian. Batiste said that Hip Hop replaced rock as the voice of the people. The people did speak at NAMM, are we listening?

411: https://rapstation.com www.nammfoundation.org

Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation, the 85 guests, including students from Santa Barbara High School’s Visual Art and Design Academy, drove to Mission Santa Barbara for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour and talk on artist Edwin Deakin, who died in 1923, and a rare opportunity to see his 21 luminous California Missions paintings at the mission’s archive library with Monica Orozco , executive director of the historic landmark.

Among the tony torrent were David Bolton , Maria McCall , Katherine Murray-Morse , Dana and Andrea Newquist , Dacia Harwood , David Barnett, Orman Gaspar, Erin Graffy, John Doordan, Keith Moore, Nancy

Schlosser , Christine Vanderbilt Holland, Judy Alexander, and Tine Van Hirtum

Wine Helping People Helping People

To Santa Ynez for People Helping People’s annual Vino de Sueños at Fred Brander’s vineyard, supporting farm workers with lifesaving services – which raised $35,000.

Founding vineyards of the popular event include Alma Rosa, Clos Pepe, Foxen, Feliz Noche, Presidio, Longoria, and Buttonwood. Vino de Sueños features artisanal food, wines, dynamic paintings and sculpture, and live music

“Celebrating Synergy” was this year’s theme with artists including Chris Chapman, Pat Roberts, Susan Belloni, Peggy Brierton, Jim Farnum, Kevin Gleason, Rebecca Gomez, Sharon Tate, Seyburn Zorthian, and William Galzerano

Local chefs included Jake Francis of the Valley Piggery, the Los Olivos Wine & Merchant Cafe, culinary event director Jamie Edlin, and the Corner House Cafe.

A delightful day out for a good cause with more than 200 guests.

SBS Sneak Peak

Santa Barbara Symphony’s 2023-24 season promises to be an absolute cracker!

Veteran maestro Nir Kabaretti has

enlisted a record-breaking 23 guest artists, including eight vocal soloists, four choral groups, two trios, and a guest conductor to perform at the venerable Granada.

“They cost a lot, but enrich the community,” he told VIP donors at a “sneak peek” reception in the McCune Founders Room.

With a $3.5 million annual budget he added: “We are now able to plan like never before!”

The new season will open in October with a 200-year-anniversary celebration of Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9,” where more than 150 singers from local choruses – Santa Barbara Choral Society, Quire of Voyces, Westmont College Choir, and the Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus – will join the orchestra on the cavernous stage. Other highlights will include Mozart, Mahler, Dvořák, and Ravel.

There will also be opera “fan favorites,” including Verdi and Puccini, as well as a program of epic film scenes with the orchestra from Hollywood’s Golden Age at an Oscar Celebration.

Among the music lovers getting the news were Janet Garufis , Fred and Nancy Golden, Marilyn Gilbert, Renee Grubb, Todd and Allyson Aldrich ,

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” – Henri Matisse

Students and teachers from Santa Barbara High School Visual Arts & Design Academy (photo by Dirk Brandts)

Keith Moore, Joan Jackson, Sara Pelton, Sonia Alexander, and John Doordan (photo by Dirk Brandts)

Daniel Barnett, Maria McCall, Andrea and Dana Newquist, and Katherine MurrayMorse (photo by Dirk Brandts)

Artist Rebecca Gomez with her featured art painting (photo by Claire Hartnell Photography)

Rick Weber of Avalan Wealth is bidding on “Feeling Good” bronze sculpture by Pat Roberts (photo by Claire Hartnell Photography)

Mario Diaz, Tasting Manager of The Brander Vineyard, pouring Brander’s Rosé (photo by Claire Hartnell Photography)

Carla Amussen, Mashey Bernstein, and Marilyn Gilbert (photo by Juli Askew)

Janet Garufis and Mercedes Millington (photo by Juli Askew)

Howard Jay Smith and Tricia Dixon (photo by Juli Askew)

Aaron and Kandy Budgor , Dan Burnham, Mashey Bernstein, Howard Jay Smith and Tricia Dixon, George Konstantinow , Peter and Kathryn Martin, Mercedes Millington, Sybil Rosen, Robert Weinman, and Stefan and Christine Riesenfeld

Just 24 hours later the symphony presented Beethoven Dreams, with Kabaretti curating a Beethoven-centric program renewing the company’s enduring collaborative relationship with the Ensemble Theatre Company’s artistic director Jonathan Fox, who directed the West Coast premiere of Ella Milch-Sheriff’s staged monodrama The Eternal Stranger, the German composer’s poetic “Piano Concerto No. 4” played by renowned Ukrainian-born American pianist Inna Faliks with his “Symphony No.4” concluding the entertaining program.

That New Store Smell

International fragrance candle manufacturers Diptyque, Floris, and Jo Malone had better watch out.

Terry Pillow , owner of Homer Montecito on Coast Village Road, is about to get on their wick, launching his own perfumed candle – fittingly enough exuding the scent of bridle leather which pervades his bijou 220 square foot boutique that opened in December.

“Everybody commented on the smell of bridle leather,” says Terry, 70, who formerly worked with Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Coach, and Tommy Bahama. “It’s the result of vegetable tanning. Only a very small amount of leather tanned worldwide is vegetable tanned, a process that goes back thousands of years.

“Hides are put into vats with nothing more than bark from deciduous trees along with spring water. The process can take over a year to totally tan the hide, where the majority of hides are tanned with harmful chemicals that takes only weeks.”

Terry says he was asked repeatedly if the smell could be captured as a home fragrance, so he enlisted friends, Rafael Adón and Jeff Brierley, to create a scent that would capture the aroma of the cozy store.

“After experimenting with many mixtures of oils we finally hit it,” adds Terry. “The result is a very subtle earthy natural fragrance that doesn’t overpower the smell of your own space, but works with other fragrances to create a truly unique smell.”

The fragrance is being introduced as a

double wick candle made in Montecito, retailing for $85.

Terry hopes to launch other products as appropriate...

Danish String Quartet on the Third Round

The ever-entertaining Danish String Quartet was back in our Eden by the Beach courtesy of UCSB Arts & Lectures at Campbell Hall.

The Fab Four – violinists Frederik Oland and Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin, and violist Asbjørn Nørgaard – performed Part 3 of The Doppelganger Project.

The Grammy-nominated quartet, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, continued its work featuring the music of Austrian composer Franz Schubert – an ambitious four-year international project pairing world premieres from four renowned composers with late major chamber works by Schubert, who died in 1828.

They can’t come back soon enough...

Two Rockin’ and Swayin’ Eves

The historic Lobero, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, was the place to be to catch up on yesteryear.

Having known singer Elton John and his manager John Reid well in the ‘80s, I attended many of his concerts at New York’s Madison Square Garden and one particularly memorable one in 1980 when – dressed as Donald Duck – Elton performed a free concert on the Great Lawn of Central Park in front of 400,000 people.

So it was interesting to watch Elton Dan and his five-piece Rocket Band from Kansas City, Missouri, pay tribute to the 76-year-old British rocker with many of his hit songs during the two-hour show including “Your Song,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Daniel”, wrapping with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

It was a wonderfully fitting tribute to Elton by Dan, 58, who has been playing the piano since the age of 10 and first saw his idol perform at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

Elton is currently on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour that began in September 2018, and will end in Stockholm, Sweden, in July. More than 300 concerts worldwide.

Just 48 hours later, I was back at the theater for Roy Orbison Returns, a tribute by Wiley Ray and the five-piece Big

O Band, to the multi-Grammy Award winning “Pretty Woman” singer who died in 1988 at the all-too early age of 52 – the same year he co-founded The Traveling Wilburys with former Beatle George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and ELO’s Jeff Lynne

The 90-minute show covered 30 years of musical history, including many of Orbison’s collaborations, and featured dramatic lighting and creative staging. The aural menu included hits like “Only the Lonely,” “Crying,” and “You Got It.”

A delightful evening...

Saint Osborn

and queen back to the palace.

The gilded carriage was first used for the coronation of King William IV in 1831 and has been used to transport every newly crowned sovereign since with the late Queen Elizabeth II describing the experience as “horrible” given the primitive leather straps suspension.

It was first used by King George III before Queen Victoria’s uncle, known as the Sailor King, likened traveling in it to “being aboard a ship tossing in a rough sea.”

For good measure his niece described her trip in it to be crowned as “distressing” given the “extreme oscillation.”

Both carriages are normally on display in the Royal Mews behind Buckingham Palace.

‘Law & Order’ Re-ordered

Mega producer Dick Wolf, 76, best known for his long running TV series Law & Order, has just had all six of his drama series in the Chicago and Law & Order franchises renewed for another season by NBC.

That means by next year Montecitobased Wolf will have stamped his name on more than 84 seasons of TV for the Peacock Network, including 25 seasons of Law & Order: SVU

In an extraordinary statistic, Wolf has produced more seasons of TV than years he has been alive...

Chip Off the Old Block

It has gone from broadcasting to beatification for an old friend Lisa Osborn, who used to interview me on her NPR radio show when she first arrived in our Eden by the Beach eight years ago.

She is now Saint Barbara, succeeding Lynn Kirst, the Journal’s bridle correspondent, having been selected for the heavenly spot by the Native Daughters of the Golden West Reina Del Mar Parlor 126.

Lisa will play an integral part during Fiesta joining the Old Spanish Days El Presidente David Bolton and the newly selected Spirit and Junior Spirit of Fiesta.

She is a native southern Californian and worked as a news anchor on an L.A. news-talk radio station, including KFWB and KFI.

Lisa is also a voiceover talent.

A Royal Ride

It’s not a tale of two cities, but two distinctly different carriages when King Charles III is crowned at London’s historic Westminster Abbey next month.

The monarch and Queen Camilla will be transported from Buckingham Palace to the 1,000-year-old abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach built in Australia in 2014 with hydraulic suspension, electric windows, and air conditioning.

It is in stark contrast to the opulent but 253-year-old Gold State Coach which will transport the newly crowned king

Montecito actor Rob Lowe presented his son, John Owen, 28, a chip to mark five years of sobriety during their joint appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show

The host-actress discussed her own sobriety with the tony twosome while Rob, 59, also talked about his own sobriety journey revealing he has now gone 33 years without alcohol.

“I love you and I’m proud of you,” Rob told his son.

Sightings

Former Dallas actor Patrick Duffy noshing at Opal...Montecito comedienne Carol Burnett in L.A. to appear on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show...Actor Christopher Lloyd picking up his New York Times at Pierre Lafond.

Pip! Pip!

From musings on the Royals to celebrity real estate deals, Richard Mineards is our man on the society scene and has been for more than 15 years

Homer Montecito owner Terry Pillow launches fragrance candle collection (Courtesy photo)

Lisa Osborn achieves sainthood (photo by Priscilla)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Calendar of Events

by Steven Libowitz

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

Cutting Remarks – The documentary A Thousand Cuts follows Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa , co-founder and CEO of online news site Rappler and the recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. The documentary explores her fight against journalistic persecution in the Philippines during the administration of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte . Known for her decades of investigative work in the Philippines and for her recent efforts in combating fake news, Ressa has been subject to intense scrutiny by Duterte and his supporters, leading to a controversial arrest in 2019 for cyber libel. Through Ressa’s story and that of her colleagues, A Thousand Cuts explores the worldwide erosion of press freedoms, the emergence of social media disinformation campaigns, and the threats posed by authoritarian governments to democracy and our very sense of truth. Director Ramona S. Diaz joins moderator UCSB Film’s Miguel Penabella for a post-screening discussion. Ressa will be on campus herself next month for her “How to Stand Up to a Dictator” presentation.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Pollock Theater, UCSB campus

COST: free (reservations recommended)

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

The World at Your Feet – The line-up for Camerata Pacifica’s April concert at Hahn Hall features a sensational multicultural roster of Sooyun Kim (Korea) on flute, Irina Zahharenkova (Estonia) on piano, Ben Goldscheider (England) on French horn and Jonathan Swensen (Denmark) on cello. They’ll be performing music by Korean, Georgian, Ukrainian, Estonian, Russian, and American composers, including Isang Yun’s “Etude No. 5 for Solo Flute,” Taktakishvili’s “Sonata for Flute & Piano in C Major,” Gomelskaya’s solo flute piece “The Hint Only,” Pärt’s “Partita, Op. 2,” Rachmaninoff’s ‘Andante’ from the “G Minor Cello Sonata” (arranged for French horn by Ben Goldscheider), and the world premiere of Libby Larsen’s “Horn Trio,” which was commissioned by Joan Davidson in memory of her husband John Schnittker. That makes for an evening that, as the

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

IV Infused with Jugglers – The 47th annual Isla Vista Juggling Festival promises a plethora of pins, clubs, balls, beach bags and other assorted items tossed in the air all weekend long. The IV gathering – the longest-running juggling festival in the world – skipped two years because of the pandemic and scaled back to only outdoor events last spring but is back to boasting a full schedule at, and adjacent to, the UCSB campus. Jugglers from all over the Western U.S. and beyond come to our seaside college town to share their skills and camaraderie with other participants, fans and anyone curious about the once-again growing circus art. All are invited to observe and/ or participate – just about all of the jugglers are happy to share hints with beginners or even show you a technique. The weekend of open practice, impromptu performances, spontaneous passing partnering and more will pause on Saturday night for the annual Juggling and Vaudeville show at Isla Vista Theater, followed by nighttime Glow Juggling in People’s Park. As always, the festival, which began in the wake of the rape and murder of local activist and juggler Patty Laney, serves as a fundraiser for STESA (Standing Together to End Sexual Assault - aka Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center).

WHEN: 6-11 pm tonight, 10 am - 5 pm tomorrow & Sunday (Show 7:30 pm, Glow 10 pm)

WHERE: UCSB Multi-Activity Court

COST: free (Show coasts $17 general, $8 for seniors, students & kids)

INFO: www.sbjuggle.org/html/NextFest.html

ensemble puts it, serves as “a multicultural wonder of virtuosity, romanticism, beauty and exhilaration.”

WHEN: 7:30 pm

WHERE: Hahn Hall, Music Academy of the West campus, 1070 Fairway Road COST: $68

INFO: (805) 884-8410 or www.cameratapacifica.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

‘Sound & Smoke’ – UCSB Dance grad student and local choreographer Meredith Cabaniss Ventura’s new work is an interdisciplinary exploration of early modern dance and its intersections with the mythical decadence of Germany’s Weimar-era cabaret. The evening-length performance features dancers from Ventura’s company, Selah Dance Collective, which was founded in 2014, as well as undergraduate UCSB students and community members. “Sound and Smoke” grew out of Ventura’s choreography for an installation at L’ahah Association in Paris last July 2022 presented in collaboration with the exhibit Homeshaping/Homeshaking: Modern Odysseys. In the interim, the work has developed into a more extensive investigation of “dancing death” and the staging of women’s deaths in theatrical representation – often written or directed by men – within the context of modern dance history. Selah Dance Collective blends popular culture and music with references to historical, literary, and avant-garde figures in a collaboration with dramaturg Cassie Archer, a fellow grad student.

WHEN: 7:30 pm tonight & tomorrow

WHERE: UCSB Hatlen Theater

COST: $17 in advance; $18 at the door

INFO: (805) 893-2064 or www.theaterdance.ucsb.edu

Have ‘Faith’ in PlayFest – Jon Klein’s Faithless – selected as the Honoree play following an international competition – gets the honor of a staged reading at PlayFest; Santa Barbara’s 10th annual Festival of New Plays. The comic drama follows an aging atheist named Gus who, while recovering from cancer, is forced to deal with his two grown stepchildren – a Presbyterian minister who is suffering from a crisis of faith, and a woman who seems to have had a glimpse of the afterlife after a head injury. Adding another angle to the situation, Gus’ adopted teenage daughter has suddenly decided she’d like to be a nun. Klein –the author of more than 30 produced plays which have been staged Off-Broadway and at many prestigious regional theaters including South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa – will conduct a talkback with the audience immediately following the reading of Faithless. The festival also features a free playwriting workshop taught by Klein and is open to the general public ages 16 and up. Participants will be led through a series of brief individual and group writing exercises to explore and deepen their playwriting skills and begin to create a short written theatrical work. No experience is necessary to attend. PlayFest

Santa Barbara is under the artistic direction of R. Michael Gros in partnership with the Santa Barbara Public Library.

WHEN: Workshop 10-11:30 am, play reading 6 pm

WHERE: Faulkner Gallery at Santa Barbara Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu St.

COST: free

INFO: (805) 710-0537 or www.facebook.com/PlayFestSantaBarbara/

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

The Dove Rings True – Opera Santa Barbara concludes its ambitious and expansive 2022-23 season with the abridged version of Richard Wagner’s The Valkyrie (Die Walküre) created by composer Jonathan Dove and stage director

Montecito

“She wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes.” – Arundhati Roy

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Uke Got It – George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain seemed like a novelty act the first time the all-ukuleleall-the-time ensemble entertained at Campbell Hall. Now, the apparently annual visit from the eight member, four-stringsper-person group is highly anticipated, with audiences eager to find out which unexpected artist will get the uke treatment. Lady Gaga, Wagner, Talking Heads have all been afforded the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain’s affable artistry and insanity, as the ensemble brings its punk rock sensibilities and restrained British humor to whatever repertoire seems right. Devilishly irreverent as well as exceedingly eclectic, the orchestra has become a U.K. national treasure adored the world over, praised by the likes of The New York Times for “Sheer fun and outright daffiness tied to first-rate musicality and comic timing.”

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Campbell Hall

COST: $15-$50

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

Graham Vick. Drawn from Wagner’s epic saga The Ring of the Nibelung, The Valkyrie continues the company’s venture into the world of Wagner following the success of Das Rheingold in June 2021, OSB’s first-ever wager on Wagner. Since originally premiering in the U.K. in 1990, the “Dove Ring” adaptation has made it possible for smaller companies to introduce the much-admired but often intimidating work to new audiences in an accessible way, while still satisfying Wagner fans. In this version, the plot about star-crossed lovers, a god struggling to hold on to power, and a warrior maiden defying her father’s wishes, unfolds at a cinematic pace while character interactions become more intimate. Dove’s masterful orchestral reduction beautifully reflects the splendor of the original score while bringing out Wagner’s iconic musical motifs and details. The cast for OSB’s production – which will be sung in German with English translation supertitles – features Greek-American soprano Alexandra Loutsion as Brünhilde, bass-baritone Wayne Tigges as Wotan, tenor Robert Stahley and soprano Julie Davis as Siegmund and Sieglinde, and mezzo soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen and bass Colin Ramsey returning as Fricka and Hunding. OSB’s Valkyrie was conceived and will be directed by Crystal Manich, who directed OSB’s Das Rheingold in 2021 as well as the company’s productions of The Cunning Little Vixen in 2017 and Il Postino in 2020.

WHEN: 2:30 pm

WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.

COST: $99-$169

INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.com

MONDAY, APRIL 24

Bach by Hadelich – Augustin Hadelich, who is rightfully considered one of the great violinists of our time and is often referred to by colleagues as a “musician’s musician,” returns to the Lobero Theatre for a solo recital. Hadelich, who won a Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2016 and was named Musical America’s 2018 Instrumentalist of the Year, most recently released a recording of Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. He’ll perform “Partitas Nos. 2 and 3” (BWV 1004 and 1006) from the Grammy-nominated album, as well as Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Blue/s Forms and Eugène Ysaÿe’s “Sonata in A Minor, ‘Obsession,’ Op.27, No.2.” Hadelich, who plays the “Leduc, ex-Szeryng” violin fashioned by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù in 1744, performs this time around as part of CAMA’s Masterseries.

WHEN: 7:30 PM

WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.

COST: $45-$55

INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.com

ESTATE/SENIOR SERVICES

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TUTORING SERVICE

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Call Now (805) 453-6086

ATTENTION WRITERS

Seeking a Writing Partner. I write very creative “screenplays” but without an agent, breaking into the industry is nearly impossible. One entertainment executive told me if I could get my scripts converted into “novels”, it would be easier to find a “publisher,” plus the studios and production companies are now approaching publishers to find new material for movies! Joe, 805-658-1545

RENTAL WANTED

We buy Classic Cars Running or not. Foreign/Domestic Porsche/Mercedes Etc. We come to you. Call Steven - 805-699-0684 Website - Avantiauto.group

KNIFE SHARPENING SERVICES

EDC Mobile Sharpening is a locally owned and operated in Santa Barbara. We specialize in (No-Entry) House Calls, Businesses and Special Events. Call 805-696-0525 to schedule an appointment.

TILE RESTORATION

POSITION WANTED

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Organize receipts for taxes, pay bills, write checks, reservations, scheduling. Confidential. Semi-retired professional. Excellent references.

Sandra (805) 636-3089

Trusted, Experienced Caregiver, CA State registered and background checked. Vaccinated. Loving and caring provides transportation, medications, etc. Lina 650-281-6492

Horticulturist and Fine Gardener seeking employment from Montecito to Ojai. My specialty is organic vegetable and flower gardens. Résumé sent by request. Excellent local references. Call or text Rose at 805-565-3006

Hi! Randall Here. You’ve missed my pruning talents. The soil is drying out. Time to plant that organic garden you’ve always wanted. Handy Randy consultation & installation. 805.966.4030

CAREGIVERS NEEDED - PROVIDE ONE ON ONE CARE TO SENIOR IN THE COMFORT OF HER HOME WHILE ASSISTING WITH DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES.

Requirements - A kind, patient, caring heart & driver.

Pay: $25-30 per hr & 5 days a Week

Email me at (andyctrangegrading@gmail. com) for more details about the job.

MARKETING WANTED

Marketing Wizard/Promoter needed for breakthrough Health Restoration System. I have developed what I believe to be the most advanced Health Restoration System ever devised. Virtually 100% clinical success, yet I haven’t been able to effectively market my service to Santa Barbara and Montecito, never mind the World.

Dr Joe Migliore DC 805 560-0630

www.TheHumanTuneUp.com

PERSONAL SERVICES

Tell Your Story

How did you get to be where you are today? What were your challenges? What is your Love Story? I can help you tell your story in an unforgettable way – with a book that will live on for many generations. The books I write are as thorough and entertaining as acclaimed biographies you’ve read. I also assist with books you write – planning, editing and publishing

David Wilk Great references.

(805) 455-5980

www.BiographyDavidWilk.com

Housing needed. I’m the MJ arts editor and Giving List columnist. I have to relocate from my rental cottage after 17 years. Got great response here but things have fallen through, so I’m still looking for solo space (cottage, ADU, ???) locally, rent up to low-mid $2Ks, available ASAP(check with me). No pets or smoking. Great references Any ideas? Call Steven at (805) 837-7262 or email sml.givinglist@gmail.com.

AVAILABLE FOR RENT

Montecito, Santa Barbara, Ca Furnished home for rent $30,000.00 per mo. with a 5yr. lease, 4bd+4ba, nanny quarters, & guest hse + pool Bob 310-472-0870

Amazing Furnished condo across from East Beach 2 + 2 Pvt garage, pool, gym, tennis, pickle ball $6500/mo. Short/long lease considered. Submit pref. Text owner 805-358-0052

ITEMS FOR SALE

For sale!! Priceless Lao tzu 7’x4’ Brian805smith@gmail. com

$10 MINIMUM TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

It’s Simple. Charge is $3 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $10 per week/issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email text to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860 and we will respond with a cost.

Deadline for inclusion is Friday before 2 pm. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)

Local tile setter of 35 years is now doing small jobs only. Services include grout cleaning and repair, caulking, sealing, replacing damaged tiles and basic plumbing needs. Call Doug Watts at 805-729-3211 for a free estimate.

DONATIONS NEEDED

Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary Menagerie 2430 Lillie Avenue

Summerland, CA 93067 (805) 969-1944

Donate to the Parrot Pantry!

At SB Bird Sanctuary, backyard farmer’s bounty is our birds best bowl of food! The flock goes bananas for your apples, oranges & other homegrown fruits & veggies.

Volunteers

Do you have a special talent or skill? Do you need community service hours? The flock at SB Bird Sanctuary could always use some extra love and socialization. Call us and let’s talk about how you can help. (805) 969-1944

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

K-9 PALS need volunteers to be foster parents for our dogs while they are waiting for their forever homes. For more information info@k-9pals.org or 805-570-0415

ByPeteMuller&FrankLongo

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SQUADTHATOFTENSAVESLIVES PARAMEDICS

TAKE A TOUR TODAY at bhhscalifornia.com

LIC# 02008932 / 01413354

1138 HILL RD, SANTA BARBARA 4BD/4BA • $8,500,000 Encell / Gough, 805.565.4896 / 805.455.3030 LIC# 00976141 / 01047947

2025 CREEKSIDE RD, MONTECITO ±2.49 acres • $3,800,000 Jill Nelsen, 805.453.2848 LIC# 02050427

7098 SUNLAND AVE, LA CONCHITA DEL MAR 4BD/3BA • $1,398,000

Felipe Castañeda, 805.636.4410 LIC# 02103365

1556 MIRAMAR BEACH, MONTECITO 2BD/3BA • $9,995,000 Nancy Kogevinas, 805.450.6233 LIC# 01209514

723 VIA MANANA, MONTECITO 4BD/3½BA • $5,450,000 Cristal Clarke, 805.886.9378 LIC# 00968247

1006 FAIRWAY RD, MONTECITO 2BD/3BA • $2,750,000 Ken Switzer, 805.680.4622 LIC# 01245644

808 SAN YSIDRO LN, MONTECITO 6BD/6½BA • $18,500,000 The Easter Team, 805.455.6294 LIC# 00917775