The Legacy of Larry

The power of microgrids with the Clean Coalition, page 16

THE LEGACY OF LARRY

Ring Responsibility

The ring nets filled during the January storms – now they are ready to be emptied and have their permits renewed – but the question remains on who should manage and maintain the system in the future, page 5

After leading world-class exhibits, a $50 million renovation, and numerous other initiatives since 2008, Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director and CEO of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Larry J. Feinberg, is set for his November retirement. He sits down with the MJ to discuss his lauded legacy and what he has next in store. (Story starts on page 12)

Car Concourse

The cars were polished and these Montecitans rolled through this year’s Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach – the granddaddy of all car shows, page 22

Regal Regatta – Grab your captain’s hat and set sail for the SB Yacht Club and VNA Health’s annual Charity Regatta, P.18

Tri-Valley Vintages – Take a voyage through the vintages and standout wineries in Northern California’s Tri-Valley wine country, P.31

5 Ring Nets Support – TPRC is asking for the community’s support in helping place this project in the hands of local government

6 Village Beat – Bucket Brigade earns a welldeserved award, the CVA meet-and-greet, and this new invention is no pain in the neck

8 Montecito Miscellany – The planned Summerland fire station gets some support, ETC’s 10th, polo on the golf course, and more miscellany

10

Letters to the Editor – A beautiful lifestyle at Casa Dorinda and more responses on The New York Times ownership of the News-Press Tide Guide

12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

18 Charity Regatta – Get those sea legs ready and prepare for the annual boat race to support VNA Health

20 John E. Profant Foundation – It’s a night of dancing, food, and support for the arts at this year’s Fiesta Finale event

22 Concours d’Elegance – Take a ride along the grandaddy of all car shows and meet some of the Montecitans attending The Optimist Daily – What’s that on the horizon? A Montana court ruling with monumental implications on environmental responsibility.

25

Our Town – SBMA’s Larry J. Feinberg talks to the MJ about his extensive career before his November retirement

14 Your Westmont – The college has attracted a higher percentage of men in this year’s incoming class, and soccer hosts home games

16 The Giving List – The Clean Coalition brings powerful support with its efforts to help establish a community microgrid

26

Mind-Body Matters – It is easy to feel closed off or hurt after heartbreak, but keeping an open heart is vital for a happy life

Far Flung Travel – Muddy trails lie ahead after the island rains earlier this year; grab a camera and keep it dry

27

Brilliant Thoughts – Ashleigh is restless at “home” with the idea of the word and its many meanings

In Passing – The life and many philanthropic accomplishments of Carolyn Pesnell Amory

28

Travel Buzz – Comfort is not far from home when going to The Ritz-Carlton Bacara for a quick staycation

30

Celebrating Conservation – It’s all fun in the sun at the Santa Barbara Land Trust’s upcoming Picnic at the Preserve

31 Petite Wine Traveler – Take a tour through the art, history, and ripe vintages in Northern California’s Tri-Valley area

32

On Entertainment – David Benoit talks about the smoother side of his career, some other sounds around town, and two new film fests arrive

33 Community Voices – There’s problems afoot with the relocations of the McMenemy Trail

40 Calendar of Events – A night of drag revue, a day of Pacific Pride, plus the Colors of Love and more

42 Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads

43 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

Ring Nets Support

Help Keep the Ring Nets in for the Next Five

by Pat McElroy

Our hearts sank when on the 5th year anniversary of the 1/9/2018 Debris Flow, we had another event. And I know we were all concerned about the level of rain potentially coming down in Montecito with tropical storm Hilary. Studies have shown the debris flow events in our community can occur much more frequently than previously thought.

We are grateful for the community who rallied together to help us install debris flow nets into our canyons to act as a new mitigation. This was a novel idea, and we were allowed to test the concept and it has proven effective. But our original permits are set to expire this year and we need to have them extended.

On behalf of The Project for Resilient Communities we are, once again, reaching out to you for support. We are attempting to extend our permits for the six debris nets installed in the canyons of Montecito after the 1/9/2018 Debris Flow. Without this extension, we will be forced to remove the nets by the beginning of this year’s rainy season, which is predicted to be a heavy El Niño year. We are also asking Santa Barbara County to assume the maintenance and management of this debris flow mitigation system.

In the immediate wake of the 1/9 Debris Flow of 2018, we formed a private nonprofit and began looking at what we could do, as private citizens, to help to mitigate such a disaster in the future. We were supplied seed money by many generous local community leaders to research how other communities around the globe, who had experienced debris flows, had responded. We knew that local government was extremely stretched by back-to-back catastrophes in the Thomas Fire and 1/9 Debris Flow.

We tried to do what we could, as private citizens, to fill the gap. After much research, we decided that we would pursue the possibility of installing Geobrugg debris nets in the canyon impacted by the 1/9 Debris Flow. This system is found around the world in areas with consistent debris flows such as Switzerland, Japan, and the Philippines, as well as other areas in California and many of parts of the United States. Engineers and geologists envision a debris flow mitigation system that combines nets high up in the canyons to help slow down debris flows in their incipient phase and debris basin that collect the large debris deposits.

We raised six million dollars from private citizens and foundations – and permitted, constructed, and maintained the net system with all the conditions imposed on the only such installation in an Endangered Species Habitat in the United States for five years. We filled the gap during a time of crisis. It is time for this to be the responsibility of local government, not a small, private nonprofit.

We are asking you to raise your voice in support of this permit extension and ask the County to take over the maintenance of this system that augments the exiting County

Ring Nets Support Page 374

PROJECTS • 700 CLIENTS • 35 YEARS • ONE BUILDER

After helping fund and install the ring nets, TPRC is ready for local government to take over the maintenance and management of the project (photo by Harry Rabin)

Village Beat Montecito Community Trails Partnership Recognized

by Kelly Mahan Herrick

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) has awarded the Montecito Community Trails Partnership – a partnership between the County of Santa Barbara Public Works Department and the nonprofit Bucket Brigade – with a 2022 Challenge Award in the Suburban Disaster and Emergency Response category. CSAC’s Annual Challenge Awards recognize the innovative and creative spirit of California counties as they find new, effective, and cost-saving ways to provide programs and services to their citizens. The award program is an opportunity to spotlight best practices while recognizing staff for developing innovations in County government.

This year, CSAC received 370 entries, with just 18 selected to receive an award. The award recognizes the collaboration between Public Works and the Bucket Brigade to develop and build over 2.2 miles of pedestrian paths along high-volume travel routes throughout Montecito. The project, which was borne out of necessity following the 1/9 Debris Flow in 2018, was completed in less than two years, costing approximately 1/5 the cost of similar public works projects. The community support for the projects, including most adjacent owners and associations, was overwhelming, according to Public Works staff, who applied for the award.

With limited staffing and funding following the disaster, opportunity to build improvements such as installing a new network of community pedestrian paths, was difficult, but the community lacked safe, ADA-compliant paths on almost every road in our semi-rural area. The Bucket Brigade provided volunteers from the community to do the outreach and construction of some features, and they also fundraised to provide these services, requiring no County funding for their work. When opposition

arose, it was not the County explaining why the project was needed and beneficial; it was members of their community via the Bucket Brigade. The County provided the technical expertise for the projects, and funded the hard infrastructure including asphalt work, ADA ramps, and drainage work. The Bucket Brigade did the rest, and they fundraised for future path maintenance work.

Over 2.2 miles of pedestrian paths and trails have been built, and the Bucket Brigade is in the process of fundraising for an 8.5-mile trail network for $2.5 million. This partnership reduced the average design and construction cost by 60-80 percent. The Montecito Neighborhood Trail Network includes ADA-friendly decomposed granite pathways along main thoroughfares, informal compacted shale trails along side roads, and nature trails through open spaces and parks.

The Bucket Brigade started as a grassroots response to the debris flow, and has grown into an organization that organizes, trains, and deploys community members to work on disaster preparedness projects. The County and the Bucket Brigade are currently working on similar models in two other locations, including in the Santa Ynez Valley. By working together and developing a long-term plan, the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department and the Bucket Brigade leverage each other’s strengths to improve public safety in Montecito.

The hope is that this new recognition from a statewide entity will bring awareness to the potential opportunities possible when there is a partnership between local

Santa Barbara County Public Works Deputy Chris Sneddon and Bucket Brigade founder Abe Powell with the CSAC award

Montecito Miscellany

Come See the Stars

by Richard Mineards

Horrifying news!

A celebrity sightseeing jaunt which promises to take royal fans close to the Riven Rock estate of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is in the works.

The new guided tour, which will set visitors back $1,400 for a group of six, will take in many of the tony twosome’s hangouts in our rarefied enclave, according to the U.K. Mirror newspaper.

The sightseeing extravaganza is being advertised online as the Royal Celebrity Tour of Los Angeles and Montecito, which just happens to be run by a friend of Meghan’s estranged father Thomas Markle.

Photographer Karl Larsen, 54, claims Thomas approves of the new venture, which will take in a road close to the royal duo’s $15 million estate, as well as Meghan’s favorite stores and eateries.

Natascha Wittmann, L.A. correspondent for the top German magazine BILD, called for my thoughts on the idea.

I described it as “quite horrendous.”

What next, maps to celebrity homes being hawked on Coast Village Road?

Support Dispatched for Summerland Fire Station

I t’s all systems go for a new fire station in Summerland!

The goal is to open a state-of-the-art firehouse on the site of the former QAD headquarters on Ortega Hill, and plans and budgets are now being organized.

A new nonprofit, Santa Barbara South Coast Fire Fighter Foundation, has been formed and held its kickoff event at Bella Vista, the sprawling Summerland oceanside home of polo-playing hotel magnate Pat Nesbitt, whose wife Ursula is one of a tony triumvirate along with Gail Kvistad and Arlene Montesano Westbrook supporting the more than worthy cause.

“It is only two months since our first meeting and here we are,” gushed Brian Lombardi, an engineer with CarpinteriaSummerland firefighters and vice president of the new charity, which is having its first major fundraiser on February

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24 with, appropriately enough, a Disco Inferno bash, again at Bella Vista.

“And having an additional fire station also means lower insurance rates given considerably less fire risk with extra firefighters on hand and additional equipment,” explained Ursula.

Guests, including the ubiquitous KETYTV reporter John Palminteri, Candace White, Paul and Leigh Cashman, Virginia Dillon, Denise Decker, Dean Carey, Sarah Moore, Todd Jenkins, and Gary Kvistad, noshed on food provided by a host of local eateries, including The Nugget, Padaro Beach Grill, Los Arroyos, Jeannine’s, Brophy Brothers, and Ca’Dario, and quaffed vino from the Summerland Winery.

An Unshakable Audience

Note even a 5.1 earthquake near Ojai or Tropical Storm Hilary could impact the Ensemble Theatre Company’s annual Curtain Up! gala at the historic Santa Barbara Club, attracting 167 guests and raising around $260,000 for the popular New Vic theater, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

A 90-minute show preceded the boffo bash hosted by Joe Spano and Jenny Sullivan when the company looked back at shows over the last decade and its music with performers including

Miscellany Page

Henry Porter, firefighter Scott McMann and Clementine Porter with hosts Pat and Ursula Nesbitt (photo by Priscilla)

Foundation hosts and directors: Arlene Montesano Westbrook, Brian Lombardi, Ursula Nesbitt, and Gail Kvistad (photo by Priscilla)

Firefighters Scott McMann, Battalion Chief Noah Tunney, Gabe Aubert, and Brian Lombardi (photo by Priscilla)

David Catalfimo, Battalion Chief Noah Tunney, Captain Scott McMann, and Gary Kvistad (photo by Priscilla)

Letters to the Editor

Life at Casa Dorinda: Another Perspective

Icame to Casa Dorinda in October 2020, in the middle of Covid.

Despite the uncertainties and hurdles presented by the pandemic, I was thrilled at the prospect of moving here. As a single woman with no living relatives in this country, I had been exploring senior living communities for several years. Unlike many Casa residents, I was not a Santa Barbara local. Having lived and worked in Davis for over 30 years, I was ready to leave the heat of the Central Valley and was on the waiting list at a luxury senior community in San Francisco for six years. During that time, I became disenchanted with the city and decided to explore senior communities in Santa Barbara, an area with which I was somewhat familiar. Having done due diligence by checking out all the senior communities in Santa Barbara, the choice was clear: I fell in love with Casa Dorinda at first sight.

In March 2020, two days before the governor closed down the state because of the pandemic, I flew to Santa Barbara for my on-site medical examination. After passing the final hurdle for admission to Casa, I could focus on decorating my one-bedroom apartment. Among the most remarkable features of Casa, is that each apartment is unique. Depending on the condition of a vacant unit, Casa will renovate the apartment at its expense. In my case, the previous resident had lived there for many years and Casa took it down to the studs. Because I was unable to

visit the campus during the remodel, all decorating decisions had to be coordinated with Casa’s talented project manager virtually. Over the next few months, we chose flooring, appliances, countertops, paint color, etc. Apart from built-in cabinetry, cork flooring, and air-conditioning, Casa assumed all the costs, which included top-ofthe line appliances and other high-end products. The net result was a beautifully appointed apartment in which I immediately felt at home.

Over the years several apartments in my building have been remodeled. Whenever I contemplate complaining about the noise or inconvenience, I remind myself that my neighbors had to tolerate the renovation of my apartment and that, as members of a community, we must make compromises for the common good.

In October 2020, when I first moved to Casa, the entire community was in isolation. The Dining Room was closed, all activities were curtailed. For many months Casa’s dedicated dining staff delivered meals three times a day to our apartments, shopped for us off campus, and accommodated all our needs. Once vaccines became available, our medical staff arranged on-site vaccination clinics. Thanks to their hard work and diligence, we got through the pandemic relatively unscathed. In my experience, Casa has proven to be an extraordinary, caring community and I feel blessed to have been here during this difficult time.

Although it was before my time, many residents still vividly recall the extraordinary measures Casa took to protect its residents – including evacuating the entire campus – in the wake of recent fires and mudslides.

Since we have emerged from the pandemic, I have been able to experience Casa in its pre-Covid glory. Casa’s two dining venues have reopened, with their respective chefs engaging in a friendly competition, enticing residents with innovative new dishes. Activities, both on and off campus, have resumed. A sumptuous wine dinner, a trip to the Getty Museum, a pool party, art exhibits by residents, musical performances, and lectures by local off-campus speakers are just some of the events on this month’s calendar. Casa regularly provides transportation to musical and other cultural events, as well as to the Farmers Market and other shopping venues.

But what makes Casa special is the sense of community that emanates here. It is engendered by its staff, many of whom have worked here for decades. Within days of moving in, all the staff knew my name. But it is also attributable to the residents, who come from all walks of life and who truly care for one another’s well-being. I moved to a retirement community because, although I enjoyed living alone, I always knew I didn’t want to grow old in isolation. As an outgoing individual, I assumed I would find new companions at Casa. I did not anticipate making deep, meaningful friendships at this stage in my life. To my surprise and delight I have done so.

Coming to Casa Dorinda was one of the best decisions I ever made. I feel profoundly fortunate to be living here, surrounded by the natural beauty of Santa Barbara and secure in the knowledge that

MONTECITO TIDE GUIDE

I will be well-cared for the rest of my life.

Anna K. Kuhn

Casa Dorinda resident

Response to Randy Alcorn

In case anyone came away with the wrong impression of what I meant after reading Mr. Alcorn’s rebuttal to my letter in last week’s issue of Montecito Journal, you should know that even when I served as editor/publisher of Montecito Journal, I wrote a column for “the competition” – the Santa Barbara News-Press – in the mid-’90s. I did it to promote Montecito as a separate entity, but I am as sad as anyone that a city as vibrant and important as Santa Barbara no longer has a newspaper of record.

However.

The best example I can think of to buttress my contention that The New York Times didn’t know Santa Barbara nor much care about it, is a story it ran early on about “a Los Angeles-area lawyer.” That Los-Angeles area lawyer was a Santa Barbara lawyer and the “Los-Angeles area” in question was Santa Barbara. While one could forgive the staffer who ran with the Associated

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Press piece without inquiring into the identity of the lawyer – a prominent member of the legal community locally – the story (I forget the details) could easily have been enhanced with a little local knowledge, including a short interview with the subject.

That kind of thing happened often under the guardianship of The New York Times

There were so many other miscues that led many (including me) to understand that The New York Times had bigger fish to fry and couldn’t be bothered with the small stuff.

This area was beneath them.

As for the paper’s destruction, when most of the staff pulled the duct tape stunt on its new publisher, Wendy McCaw , it really was the beginning of the end. Many in the local “liberal” community canceled their subscriptions and took to bad-mouthing the paper and its publisher, causing its base of support to collapse.

True, she knew little of publishing and most certainly offended the delicate sensibilities of the editors and staffers who apparently felt they should have the last word on what was fit to print, not the owner. But it was Ms. McCaw who bore the final responsibility for the paper’s content.

Oh, and as to the “same kind of mind-numbing garbage” that virtually every newspaper prints. That description of editorial content has nothing to do with my political leanings; virtually all the news that’s fit to print these days is neither objective nor astute. It is, in fact, mostly recycled and unresearched rubbish.

In the end, the duct-taped staff got what it wanted: a dead newspaper.

Congratulations.

Jim Buckley

Agree With Alcorn

Thank you for publishing Randy Alcorn’s letter to MJ. It provided a needed remedy on the previous article published on the history of the NewsPress dating back to its acquisition by The New York Times.

My activist experience with the NewsPress coverage goes back 60 years, covering in detail a variety of significant local events (environmental litigation, key zoning issues, human rights, political campaigns, and the occasional case of public corruption). Under the guidance of first-rate editors and managers, the tradition of open journalism thrived before and after The NY Times ownership.

Francis Sarguis

Our Town

In Conversation With SBMA’s Larry J. Feinberg: “What is art if not pivotal?”

by Joanne A Calitri

This week, I talked with the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA), Larry J. Feinberg PhD, at his office about the legacy of his brilliant leadership since being appointed in 2008.

Under his progressive vision, we find his art expertise x business wisdom noted in the SBMA’s internationally lauded exhibitions, programming, outreach, curators, staffing, and long-standing DEAI museum policies.

Clearly, his most visible accomplishment is to have spawned and led his team, trustees, donors, and the community to raise the unprecedented and targeted $50 million for the Imagine More capital campaign. The funding provided historic renovations to ensure the museum’s structural integrity, the safety of its permanent collection, and create dedicated galleries for contemporary art and photography.

The SBMA’s higher level exhibitions with publications include, Through Vincent’s Eyes: Van Gogh & His Sources (2022); Inge Morath (2021); Puja and Piety: Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Art from the Indian Subcontinent (2016); The Paintings of Moholy-Nagy: The Shape of Things to Come (2015); Delacroix & the Matter of Finish (2013-14); The Artful Recluse: Painting, Poetry, & Politics in 17th-Century China (2013); Labour and Wait (2013); Pasadena to Santa Barbara: A Selected History of Art in Southern California, 1951-1969 (2012); Picasso & Braque: The Cubist Experiment (2011).

Like fellow art museum executive directors Glenn D. Lowry (MoMA NYC) and Timothy Potts (J. Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles), Feinberg holds a PhD in Art History from Harvard University. He also holds an MA in Art History from Harvard

and an Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. Feinberg was the acting Chief of Staff in the Office of Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations, under U.N. Under-Secretary General Olara Otunnu He is currently a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors, the Human Rights Watch Santa Barbara Committee, The Medici Archive Project Council of Scholars Florence and NYC, and the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization.

Q. When you first arrived in 2008 and assessed the museum, what were your top priorities, and are they accomplished?

A. I thought the museum was a gem, and that it could be much more ambitious. It had been a regional museum, and I wanted it to operate on a national and international level.

An area I was most concerned about at first was doing much more ambitious, important, scholarly, and world-class exhibitions. I brought in Eik Kahng as Chief Curator in 2009 to help spark our momentum in this regard, along with the upgrading of our internal

Our Town Page 244

SBMA’s Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director and Chief Executive Officer Larry J. Feinberg at the museum (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Your Westmont

The Warriors Are Coming

by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott

About 400 first-year and transfer students arrive on campus for the newly named Warrior Welcome August 24-27. Classes for the fall semester begin Monday, August 28.

On Wednesday, August 23, about 150 first-generation and international students and their families participate in First Connections, a pre-orientation welcome program designed for those who are the first in their family to attend college. This early welcome program helps students adjust to a new cultural experience and develop the interpersonal connections vital to thriving in college.

“The 73 first-generation students represent more than a four percent increase since last year due to Westmont’s commitment to supporting these students,” says Sonya Welch, coordinator of academic support services. “Westmont’s size makes it a great fit for first-gen students and gives them a better opportunity to connect with each other and their new college community.”

Bucking national trends, Westmont has seen a nine percent jump in male students from last year. Men make up 45 percent of the incoming class – the largest percentage at the college since the early 1980s. Nationally, colleges and universities have witnessed a significant decline in men attending college since the onset of the pandemic. New innovative programs such as engineering, data analytics, computer science, and the move to NCAA DII have helped attract more men.

“These inspirational and impressive students are becoming part of a joyful, caring community that will shape and refine them into graduates ready to lead and serve with integrity in every sphere of society,” says Irene Neller, vice president for enroll-

ment, marketing, and communications. “Our new students are admirable both intellectually and spiritually and bring a heartfelt approach to learning. With their curiosity, humility, and gratitude, they’ll contribute to making our world and their own communities better. We’re honored they’ve chosen to study here!”

Westmont awarded four-year academic scholarships ranging from $15,000 to nearly $43,000 each year to more than 95 percent of entering new students. Seventy-four high-achieving, first-year students selected as Augustinian Scholars have received scholarships ranging from $26,000 up to 85 percent of tuition. While less than a third of students submitted test scores as most colleges and universities have made reporting test scores optional, the average GPA remained steady with a middle range of 3.65-4.43, close to the highest recorded GPA in school history. Ninety-four first-year students come from the Tri-County region. Westmont’s partnership with college-bound programs

Your Westmont Page 374

“I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.” – Audrey Hepburn

President Gayle D. Beebe welcomes students and their families to campus

The new students represent 17 countries

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The Giving List Clean Coalition

by Steven Libowtiz

Craig Lewis was as horrified as any of us to hear of the Maui wildfires that have caused so much loss of life and destruction in Lahaina, with the death toll having climbed over 100 with nearly 1,000 other people still missing as of this writing. But the disaster also serves as another warning to residents of the South Coast, an area still recovering from the effects of the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flows five years ago.

“It’s a stark reminder of the vulnerability we have in Santa Barbara and how important it is to have energy resilience,” said Lewis, the founder and executive director of Clean Coalition, the nonprofit working to accelerate the transition to clean, renewable energy to power a self-contained electrical grid.

A powerline downed during a storm likely caused the first wildfire reported on the Hawaiian island, and it mushroomed from there.

“The utility kept the power lines energized even after they had sparked fires because the only way to power the pumps bringing water for fighting the fires was with electricity. They didn’t turn the power off because people needed to have electricity for their critical community facilities – communications, and the hospitals, police stations, and the fire department, including the water pumps to fight the fire. And the only way to get electricity to Lahaina was through the power lines,” he said. “So they were caught in this chicken-and-egg situation where they actually caused more fires and made a bad situation even worse.”

The solution for the “ridiculous Catch 22”?

Community microgrids.

Santa Barbara’s vulnerability is that nearly all of our energy, the region’s electrical grid known as the Goleta Load Pocket (GLP) that stretches from Point Conception to Lake Casitas, is served by transmission lines running through 40 miles of treacherous terrain threatened by wildfires, earthquakes, and mudslides. The two main lines share the same towers, so if one were to fall, both would stop working, largely plunging the region into electrical blackout. The only way to create independence and safety is to both generate and store enough electrical energy to be self-sustaining – i.e. community microgrids.

To make that happen for the Santa Barbara region would require 200 megawatts of locally generated solar, and 400 megawatt hours of local energy storage. The good news is that we’re well on our way to the storage number through projects that are either online or coming soon, but falling far short in generation.

“We are completely failing on the solar side,” Lewis said. “We need to get the

solar cranking inside of our local community in order for the community microgrid to become a reality. Which means we need people to be putting solar in place on their homes or businesses – anyone who owns anything from a big parking lot with a roof down to a residential home or condo.”

Everybody is a bit of an exaggeration, Lewis admits. Reaching a critical minimum actually requires just seven percent of the rooftops to have solar panels and storage.

“This is not like putting a man on the moon; it doesn’t require a massive initiative,” he said. “It’s actually very achievable. It’s just one out of every 15 homeowners and businesses moving forward.”

Clean Coalition has been instrumental in getting the ball rolling, having helped with facilitation with technical, feasibility, and implementation aspects of larger projects for businesses, schools, and governmental organizations as well as nonprofits. Its success includes the three big area high schools that are part of the Santa Barbara Unified School District as well as Montecito Union School.

“We do the feasibility study, we manage the request for proposal process, facilitate the contracting with the party that’s going to provide the construction, support the construction management, and handle monitoring and verification to make sure that what gets delivered is consistent with what was contracted,” Lewis said.

Clean Coalition is currently supporting Santa Barbara Humane in creating a microgrid at the nonprofit’s new facility, and working with Casa Dorinda in Montecito and several other retirement homes, which are considered critical facilities.

While the Clean Coalition is doing what it can to propel the effort toward energy resilience through a full community microgrid, its size limits its impact as there is more need for its services than the organization can currently meet. Financial support can exponentially increase its work toward implementation of the microgrid.

“Donations and contributions let us build our staff in order to do more,” Lewis said. “The formula is simple: money equals staff equals more impact.”

As the recovery efforts in Maui continue, the reminder is there that time is of the essence, Lewis said.

“The truth is Santa Barbara has to worry about exactly the same things that happened in Lahaina,” he said. “We now have the benefit of hindsight to say let’s not sit on our laurels about our progress in solar, and actually get our community microgrid in place.”

Clean Coalition

Craig Lewis, Executive Director www.clean-coalition.org

(650) 796-2353

The Clean Coalition collaborates with nonprofits, businesses, schools, and governmental organizations to help these organizations install solar projects

Solar arrays at the local high schools are one of its many successes

On Saturday Evening, September 16, 2023 we honor our 2023 Legends on stage at The Granada Theatre.

Brooks and Kate Firestone Philanthropists

Ensemble Theatre Company at The New Vic Cultural Organization

Fannie Flagg Artist

A Gala with captivating surprises. Unexpected bursts of talent to thrill. Enchanting visual experiences. Music and song to delight. Anecdotes from the heart. Experience the 2023 at The Granada Theatre.

For more information call 805.899.3000 or email Jill Seltzer, Vice President for Advancement, The Granada Theatre at jseltzer@granadasb . org.

The proceeds from the Legends Gala go directly towards supporting The Granada Theatre.

Season Preview Party

Charity Regatta

Yacht Club Prepares for Another Race Towards Support

by Sigrid Toye

The Santa Barbara Yacht Club (SBYC) has a beloved, fun-filled tradition of racing boats and raising funds through its annual Charity Regatta, this year on Saturday, September 9 from 11:30 am until 7 pm. The event is in support of the community care programs and services of VNA Health. The annual Charity Regatta, hosted by the Yacht Club for over 19 years, has cumulatively raised $2.3 million to support VNA Health Community Care programs. Through the generosity of the Regatta’s sponsors and the support of the SBYC members, the VNA Health Foundation provides subsidized care for VNA Health and supports all of its charitable Community Care programs and services.

The 2023 co-chairs of the Charity Regatta are SBYC Staff Commodore Francie Lufkin and Nick Sebastian, assisted by VNA Heath’s Foundation Director Lailan McGrath and Director of Development Easter Moorman, volunteers, and members of the Yacht Club Women. The Charity Regatta has been one of the most successful partnerships and its popularity has only grown over the years. The gratitude of members of the Yacht Club for VNA Heath’s services and compassionate care represents only a small portion of the greater Santa Barbara community who have also benefited from the organization’s services in an infinite number of ways.

Founded in 1908, VNA Health is California’s third oldest Visiting Nurse Association – VNA – and continues to be a leading nonprofit provider of com-

prehensive in-home healthcare, helping patients and their families live well at any age or stage in life. VNA Health provides Home Health Care, Palliative Care, Hospice Care, Bereavement Care, and Community Care programs such as the Loan Closet, Music Therapy, Pet Therapy, and We Honor Veterans. VNA Health also offers Serenity House, a home away from home, for patients who need 24/7 in-patient care. Over 9,200 patients and families are cared for every year, and more than 6,200 of them benefit from VNA Health’s charitable Community Care. This year, Palliative Care Professionals are to be honored as the 2023 Celebrity Skippers – from Cottage Hospital, RidleyTree Cancer Center, Sansum Clinic, and VNA Health. VNA Health provides an individualized Palliative Care program for people with palliative care needs with an emphasis on control of pain and other symptoms, advance care planning, and transition of care needs. This type of care is centered on both the patient and family or caregiver and respects and responds to the unique differences in family, caregiver, lifestyle, values, culture, and wishes. Licensed to serve the communities of Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, and San Luis Obispo County, the vision of VNA Health is that every person lives with health and dignity.

Admission to the event is open to EVERYONE… so invite friends and family to this fabulous day of boat racing, beach fun, and a tasty BBQ. Do support this fabulous charitable event, especially if you too have benefitted from their extensive and caring services. Tickets are $150 and $30 for kids. For more information about VNA Health go online to vna.health or call (805) 965-5555.

VNA Development Director Easter Moorman, VNA Foundation Director Lailan McGrath, and event co-chair Francie Lufkin (courtesy photo)

VNA Health and Santa Barbara Yacht Club are getting ready for their annual Charity Regatta (courtesy photo)

John E. Profant Foundation

Fiesta Finale Spotlights the Foundation’s Support for the Arts

career at Northrup Aircraft, John’s dream was to pursue his own creative interests and establish a venue to give back to the artistic community from which he had gained so much. Sadly, this was not to be as he died shortly after retiring.

In honor of her husband’s memory, Lyn Profant made his dream a reality for the benefit others by establishing the John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts in support of developing visual and performance artists, regardless of circumstance or age. As co-founder Mignonne Profant explained, “We realize that life can often get in the way in the pursuit of our dreams. Our scholarship application has no age limits. Our recipients have ranged in age from 9 to 75!”

by Sigrid Toye

Brightly-colored ruffles rim the hem of traditional Spanish dress, fluttering fans stir the air, the strum of guitars, clicking castanets, and high-heeled shoes are all reminders that August has been a special time in Santa Barbara with the celebration of Old Spanish Days! Music, dance, and vaquero traditions have had their day with the Fiesta parades along Cabrillo. ‘Viva la Fiesta’ and sprinkles of confetti waved Adios to Old Spanish Days on the evening of August 6 for the 24th Fiesta Finale Gala hosted by the John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts in support of aspiring artists of all ages.

The Foundation has a history spanning five generations and is deeply connected to the arts in Santa Barbara. The Profant story began almost a century ago when, in 1922, Dr. Henry Profant and his wife, both musicians, arrived in Santa Barbara to join Dr. William Sansum in founding the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation, then known as “The Clinic.”

Dr. Profant entertained his patients by playing the piano on house calls and claimed it was never clear to him which was more effective in promoting health – the music or the medicine! The Profants also entertained their guests with music and their home became Santa Barbara’s version of a ‘Salon’ where musicians and artists gathered regularly. The couple established the family’s interests in CAMA, helped to promote the Music Academy of the West, and hosted parties and musical events in the Santa Barbara Courthouse Gardens celebrating Old Spanish Days, a legacy which continues to this day.

John Profant, their son and a dancer, met his future wife Lyn, a ballerina, at the El Paseo Restaurant during 1950s Fiesta week – a day that would change both their lives. It was their mutual love of the arts and interest in creative pursuits that charted their course as a couple and as parents of their four daughters. After having completed a successful

The Foundation’s mission continues in the capable hands of Lyn, her daughters, and members of the Profant family. For almost a century, the Profant Foundation’s mission has cultivated and promoted the arts and the cultural heritage of Santa Barbara. Guests at the 2023 Fiesta Finale Gala, the Foundation’s major fundraiser, were welcomed into the Profant family as they celebrated the broad spectrum of creativity in the city of Santa Barbara at El Paseo Restaurant – where it all started!

The evening is filled with traditional dance and costume, plus a Tableau Vivant – or living art piece

In attendance at the 24th Fiesta Finale fundraiser, over 200 dinner guests were treated to an evening of music, dance, and the yearly Tableau Vivant – bringing a work of art to life – at El Paseo restaurant under the stars. Guests included 2023 El Presidente David Bolton and Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse, who joined members of the community as well as supporters and recipients of the organization’s mission. The John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts has funded exhibits and performances and given over a quarter million in scholarships over the years.

For more information: https://profantfoundation.org.

Sigrid Toye is an Educational and Behavior Therapist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology, a freelance writer, and a storyteller. She loves all things creative, including her two (adult) artist children.

The Profant family and this year’s scholarship recipients (courtesy photo)

Fiesta Finale is held each year at El Paseo, in the very spot where John and Lyn Profant originally met (courtesy photo)

(courtesy photo)

Tommy Emmanuel, Mar

Robin Wall Kimmerer, Nov 14

Sona

Feb 22

Sedaris , Nov 4 Mountain Stage with Kathy Mattea , Feb 4

Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends, Oct 25

Adam Grant, Nov 16

Midori with Festival Strings Lucerne, Nov 8

Rhiannon Giddens, Nov 9 & Apr 23

Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer featuring Rakesh Chaurasia, Nov 15

Concours d’Elegance

Local Connections at Pebble Beach

A Youth-led Environmental Victory Creates a Paradigm Shift in Montana’s Legal Landscape

Agroup of youth environmental activists scored a landmark legal victory in Montana, marking a critical step forward in the ongoing battle against climate change. This judicial win has sparked debate on constitutional rights, environmental responsibility, and the possibility of legal routes to promote tangible change in the battle against the global climate crisis.

The legal road that resulted in this momentous verdict began when a group of young activists launched a case against state authorities, claiming that unrestrained fossil fuel production was undermining their constitutional rights. District Court Judge Kathy Seeley ruled unanimously that these young people had a constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment, bringing climate change into the realm of legal rights and obligations.

The trial, the first of its sort in the United States, has focused attention on the complicated interplay between climate change, legal systems, and government accountability.

This judicial victory has far-reaching repercussions that extend beyond Montana’s borders. According to Harvard Law School Professor Richard Lazarus, “To be sure, it is a state court, not a federal court and the ruling is based on a state constitution and not the U.S. Constitution, but it is still clearly a major, pathbreaking win for climate plaintiffs.”

by Rick Carter

Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, carries stature.

Whether you call it the grandaddy of all car shows, the world’s most prestigious car show, or the world’s premier celebration of the automobile, just being a witness to this esteemed event is an experience to enjoy. This year’s Concours was held August 15-20. And it has the distinction of being the oldest Concours in the U.S. It started in 1950 as a social gathering in conjunction with the Pebble Beach Road Race. Over the years, the Concours has grown into a week-long festival for car enthusiasts.

One of the events of the Concours, the “Tour d’Elegance” came about because through the years there was criticism that

these were beautiful cars, but could they actually be driven on the road? It was decided in 1998 that entries prove themselves in a scenic 70-mile road tour of the area. Today, those who choose to take the challenge don’t go unrewarded. Each entry who completes the tour successfully receives a green ribbon. When the judging takes place on the final day, and two cars tie for first in a class, the one with the green ribbon will get the judges’ nod. Also up for grabs is the “Elegance in Motion” trophy. Other sidebars include the Motoring Classic that covers a roughly 1,500-mile road trip from the Pacific Northwest to Pebble Beach. Additionally, there are forums, auctions, and much more, all leading up to the climactic final day where the cars are displayed on the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links. A team of highly experienced judges will select winners for each

The ruling openly declares that environmental protection is a fundamental right possessed by all citizens, particularly the younger generations who would bear the weight of environmental degradation.

The thorny issue of fossil fuel production and its influence on climate change is at the center of this lawsuit. The plaintiffs contended that the state’s approval of fossil fuel activities violated their right to a healthy environment. Their concerns are well-founded: Montana is a major coal producer with huge oil and gas reserves. The court battle centered on whether the state’s policies were causing “irreversible climate injuries,” a sentiment shared by Judge Seeley.

While this win has received interest within Montana, its reverberations can be heard far beyond state lines. The verdict joins a small set of global legal decisions emphasizing governments’ responsibility to protect populations from the negative effects of climate change. This could pave the way for similar legal challenges to be waged around the world, showing a road toward holding governments accountable for their role in creating adverse environmental effects.

The court triumph also serves as a beacon of hope for young activists, who are increasingly taking the lead in climate advocacy.

class and ultimately the prestigious “Best of Show” trophy.

If you think it’s prestigious to have a car entered in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, imagine the honor of being a judge. Winners of each class are selected by a group of individuals. These individuals consist of Chief Class Judges, Honorary Team Leaders, the Chief Judge, the Chairman, and the Chief Honorary Judge. Together they cast their votes for which car receives the trophy.

Each car goes through a stringent examination. The competitiveness is intense. The Concours forces restoration of a vehicle to surpass “mint” condition, which would be the state of the vehicle when it originally left the factory. Concoursquality cars often add upholstery, paint, plating, and mechanical restoration that far exceeds when the car was new.

What about local connections, you ask?

Yes, there are several. Let’s begin with Karra Canum, from Montecito, who arrived with her classy BMW. Concours

d’Elegance or Competition of Elegance is exactly what took place between Karra and her 1937 BMW 326 Cabriolet. Both were definitely elegant, and before the day ended, Karra’s Cabriolet was adorned with three ribbons and a beautiful trophy. One of the three ribbons was for one of the events of the Concours, the “Pebble Beach Motoring Classic.” Karra did the 1,500-mile trek in her ‘37 BMW immediately after the car’s restoration.

Another local, Peter Hageman, was on the Selection Committee and a Chief Class Judge for Pre- and Post-War Classes this year. Peter’s been involved with the Concours for nearly 30 years. Accompanying Peter was his son Paul, who was also a judge. Both Paul and his dad were stylishly dressed to show off their entry. The two brought a 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer. It was prominently displayed in the very first

Karra Canum with her 1937 BMW 326 Cabriolet, trophy, and three ribbons (photo by Rick Carter Photography)

Peter Hageman taking a seat in his 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer (photo by Rick Carter Photography) Concours d’Elegance Page

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procedures and standards of art presentation.

This is a very sophisticated community; I thought they would appreciate high quality shows, and it turned out to be true. We want to have a whole range of voices in the art here. We also want to show the art of the great masters – Van Gogh, Picasso – which some might consider elitist, it is not. The greatest artists have the most to say and teach us about their cultures and ourselves. There are many people in Santa Barbara who will never get to NYC or Europe to view art, and the SBMA may be their only chance to view a Botticelli, Titian, Van Gogh, or Monet. Great art inspires people; I’d like to think that if a spot welder goes into a museum and views art by Rembrandt, he is inspired to do the best spot welds he’s ever done!

In addition to raising the bar on the exhibition program, I wanted to do more in education, which was always a part of the SBMA’s mission. Fortunately, I found on staff Patsy Hicks who took it on and greatly expanded our educational work in conjunction with the local schools. We may still be the only museum in the U.S. that has 100% participation of local schools and their students in museum activities. A large percentage of the students are Latinx. Pre-COVID we had 25,000 students participating in our programs in a town of 95,000 people. All students are given family passes. Several years ago, we made an adjustment in our admissions policy so that K-12 students, their teachers, and active Military personnel can visit for free anytime.

We wanted to be a leader in the country in what we are doing in exhibitions and education, and we are.

Your key accomplishments for the SBMA?

The most visible is the renovation of the SBMA. It’s wonderful that the staff, trustees, and the whole community came together as it was absolutely necessary. The museum had some structural, seismic, and other deficiencies that needed to be addressed, all of which are done.

Next were the elevation of the exhibitions and the education programs, which complement the exhibitions. Our education department outreach includes people with disabilities.

What we have done with diversity is an important part of the museum’s mission. Before DEAI and Social Justice issues became fashionable, we were at it early on. The first major show done after I arrived here 15 years ago was curated by Julie Joyce on the AngloNigerian artist Yinka Shonibare [London] whose works address colonialism and race and filled the main floor of the museum. The second major show was the Warsaw ghetto photographs of Roman Vishniac and Jeff Gusky. We opened the show on Kristallnacht. From the museum, we led a march down State Street to the Jewish Federation. In the march, passersby asked what we were marching for and when they heard, joined in. By the time we arrived at the federation, we couldn’t all fit in the building!

Since then, our curators have never looked back, bringing works of many different voices, with a particular emphasis on exhibitions by artists who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, female, minorities, and LGBTIQA. Our exhibition titled, The Architecture of Collage (2022-23), is African American Marshall Brown’s first solo museum exhibition and most comprehensive presentation of his collages to date. We acquired four works by the accomplished Ethiopian American artist Awol Erizku, and the Janna Ireland exhibition is upcoming. Kahng’s Van Gogh exhibition was the first international loan exhibition following the renovations. It was a community wide phenomenon with partner institutions – the Santa Barbara Symphony, Opera Santa Barbara, Ensemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History,

MOXI, Lotusland, Belmond El Encanto, La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts, 10 West Gallery, The Crafter’s Library, Sullivan Goss – An American Gallery, local restaurants, and hotels, thus bringing an art experience and economic stimulus to the entire locale.

We are also very proud of the great diversity of our staff in terms of ethnicity, LGBTIQA, and the fact that virtually every department head is a woman, and some are women of color.

Did you model the SBMA after another art museum?

When I came to Santa Barbara, I did have a specific model in mind: the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. The Kimbell always did very important shows with scholarly lectures and symposiums. I thought if people will go to Ft. Worth in the summer for a symposium when it is 110 degrees, they certainly will come to Santa Barbara to see what we are doing!

What new staff policies did you initiate?

The key policies I initiated are:

– Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes. We go by the Jesuit motto, ask forgiveness not permission, and I add, stay within budget!

– We have a zero-tolerance policy for disrespectful behavior.

– For many years this museum did shows of important artists but did not acquire works by those artists. So, we made it a semi-official policy that if we do an exhibition of a significant artist, we should acquire at least one of their works, and we’ve done that for 15 years.

How does the museum since your tenure compare nationally and internationally?

I would describe us as a medium-size museum with a very good collection of 25,000 objects. We’ve taken pride in the fact that we punch above our weight. In light of our size, we can’t do a show of 200 works by Monet like the Met would do, but we scale it down and make sure that what we deliver is excellent and on the level of the Met. Certainly, we have a constituency that comes from Chicago, New York, and Washington and would not appreciate a museum that did not deliver at that level consistently. I’m proud of the fact that our exhibitions and their publications are done at a high scholarly level. They are recognized in the art world and have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Art News. Our reputation for scholarship, high quality exhibitions, and our curators who have high stature in the field, is the why and how other museums will lend great art to us for our exhibitions.

How did you decide to be the director of an art museum?

Actually, I wanted to be an artist, I’ve drawn pictures as far back as I can remember. In high school I painted, drew, and cast sculptures in bronze. I started out as a studio artist. During summer break from college, I went to the St. Louis Art Museum exhibit of works by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. I thought these artists lived 500 years ago and I can’t touch this! Right there I decided to study these artists and make a career out of art by working in an art museum. When I retire, I plan to go back to my art!

What did you do to ensure that you would have a successful career path?

The best way I prepared myself was to get my PhD and MA in Art History, and to develop a broad knowledge of art history because art museums cover many different fields of art. The museums have excellent curators who compete for gallery space and funding. The museum director needs to be very knowledgeable to make those hard decisions about which shows to go with and which ones you don’t, and you want to be fair. I also hold an MBA degree, as the position requires you to direct business strategies, marketing strategies, and human resource policies. With an MBA, you will at least know the questions to ask, and be aware of what you don’t know.

My work as a chief curator provided me with the experience required for negotiating funding, working with a museum board, trustees, donors, and building relationships with my peers in the field, as well as creating valuable working relationships with museums.

I have experience as a lecturer, researcher, and author to provide insight into those areas of museum work. I also enjoyed working on boards for other organizations which rounds out one’s expertise.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

These past 15 years seem to have gone by in a flash. I’ve enjoyed seeing the transformation of our museum. I do hope that the community takes pride in it, as I have, recognizing it for the jewel that it is, and that the SBMA continues to flourish.

411: www.sbma.net

Larry J. Feinberg in his office with his favorite painting by artist Eamon Ore-Giron, Infinite Regress LXV (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Joanne A Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com

Mind-Body Matters

Keeping Your Heart Open Is a Rebellious Act

by Rebecca Capps

Most of us have experienced heartbreak at some point that caused us to wonder if opening up our hearts again is even possible or worth it. Nothing is quite as uplifting and powerful as love — and nothing is as devastating and painful as its loss. You may feel heartbroken or emotionally closed off from the prospect of love. Without knowing what healthy expressions of love look and feel like, it’s understandable why you may have a difficult time creating them in your own life. Instead of judging your experience, meet yourself where you’re at and view it as an invitation to delve deeper into self-compassion and realign with love – both in how you express and receive it. Ultimately, love is a moment-to-moment practice of opening the heart, which comes from a space of deep trust. Living in such a way – with your heart open – takes faith because the standard view of life is one of struggle. But the way of the heart is the opposite; it is the experience of flow based on the understanding that the more you love, the more you will attract people and experiences to love.

Choosing to love is a choice to expand versus contract, even after the heart has been broken. Similar to how you cannot stop your lungs from breathing or your heart from beating, love is an involuntary

part of your essence; it is the glue that connects you to everything. Opening the heart does not cost anything, nor does it require sacrifice. What it does require, though, is dropping the expectation that you will get crushed by life whenever you let your guard down. Letting your guard down can feel tough because the mind is trained to expect the worst and believe in the myth of separation. We have been trained to see ourselves as separate from nature and each other. Many of our political leaders even embody this ethos of division, thus, unconsciously promoting fear-based stories to influence and rule our lives, which is the opposite of love. Moreover, love is often an abused term; it’s something many people say but struggle to actually put into practice or fully experience. However, no matter your life circumstances, you always have the power to either expand in love or contract in fear.

A guarded heart is a defense against an absence of love. Thus, awakening the heart involves clearing out old belief systems and unconscious patterns that perpetuate imbalances in the ability to love and be loved. As Marianne Williamson declares, “Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us.”

As such, healing the heart and establishing meaning beyond suffering means becoming a seeker of deeper truths and adopting a new paradigm. The new healing paradigm to adopt is understanding that you are not a passive bystander; instead, you are an active agent in creating reality — including the manifestation of love!

By gaining a fluent understanding of healing your heart, you also access the many miracles of this life. A Course in Miracles declares that “Miracles are natural. Something is wrong when they don’t happen.” If you feel unlucky in love or do not have lasting, meaningful relationships, you may doubt yourself and your ability to live miraculously. Nothing is more devastating than losing faith in the miracles of life or sitting in the absence of love. Without love to glue us together, we separate from the parts of ourselves that cause us to feel whole. The absence of love shuts us off from miracles and causes us to pull away from others. However, when we understand that love is something we create and co-create with others, we begin to take our power back. It means we know that love is enhanced by love. For example, putting this into practice means loving your kids unconditionally because it encourages their highest potential. In your vocation, focusing on love means building on genuine compassion and care because you know it

will bring out the best in your employees or co-workers. And, if you have a partner, practicing love means accepting them for who they are without always trying to change them. When the sole focus is love, you push through the inevitable obstacles on your path and manifest the highest order of good for all. What is created in love can awaken and inspire miracles. Ultimately, choosing to open the heart is a rebellious act, especially when the impulse is to close or protect it. Holding a perspective of love means seeing yourself reflected in everyone you meet and that there’s nothing to defend. It means releasing negative patterns and beliefs to maximize your capacity for love. Your highest self isn’t just an idea that’s “out there” or “woo wooey”… it’s a way of being that you must come to understand if you desire to get closer to love. And when you open yourself up to the shifts in consciousness required to experience love, you will eventually become the person you’ve always dreamed of becoming. Where there’s love, there is no question; it just is. As Jack Kornfield said: “The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. What seeds will you plant there?”

I hope you plant love, you little rebel.

Rebecca Capps, LMFT is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Wellness Coach who specializes in the treatment of Eating Disorders and Addictions. mindbodythrive. com; rebecca@mind bodythrive.com

Far Flung Travel Island Canyon Chronicles

by Chuck Graham

The mud was something to behold. However, the narrow, serpentine-like side canyons of Scorpion Canyon were green, lush, and oozing with moisture. The many rushing waterfalls were perpetually soothing as water flowed uninhibited to the main canyon carrying that aquatic melody to the cobbled shoreline at Scorpion Anchorage. It felt like I was experiencing my own little island fairytale.

After leading a recent kayak tour at Scorpion Anchorage, located near the southeast end of Santa Cruz Island, I looked forward to those many side canyons that are almost always dry any other year. With the winter California has experienced, getting there required more effort. The footing on the island has always been an issue. There’s lots of loose rock, much erosion, and my steps and handholds needed to be precise. Which rock to latch onto and trust was a guessing game.

Nevertheless, the rhythms of croaking Pacific green tree frogs were inces -

sant the entire length of Scorpion Canyon, draining toward the ocean. These amphibians hunker down during drought years, burrowing into the mud for years. Once a wet winter arrives, they are happily croaking away in the canyon. From December 2022 – March 2023, to say they were content would be an understatement.

Island Microclimate

Anyone that visits the Channel Islands National Park hears the ocean hammering away at the sheer, volcanic cliffs, or waves rushing up the cobbled shoreline while the Island Packers ferry approaches the pier. However, from December 2022 through March 2023, those pelagic soundwaves were competing with multiple waterfalls spilling off the islands and resonating throughout prominent canyons and their side-canyon tributaries.

One of the storms in early March 2023 was unlike all the previous storms of 2022/23. It was humid. By the time I ascended my first side canyon, I was drenched in sweat. I stripped down to my running shorts and ditched my shirt. My trail shoes were soddened. And after reaching my first ridgeline, pea soup fog swept across Santa Cruz Island, engulfing me. I had about 60 feet of visibility in all directions.

This was before daylight savings, and I kind of underestimated my time as darkness quickly approached. No worries. I had my headlamp, and carefully picked my way toward the trail that leads to Montañon Ridge.

I carefully traversed my way into two more side canyons marveling at giant coreopsis and silver lupine blooms brightening those narrow, open bookshaped draws. Waterfalls were in every canyon, something I hadn’t seen since the last El Niño episode during the winter of 2018/19. And of course, I drank from those crystal-clear island waters, headwaters alive and flowing at the base of island oak groves, lemonade berry, manzanita, and island hazardia.

Embracing the Island Loam

As visibility deteriorated into a misty night, I thought I found a decent route out of the last of my side canyons and up to the Montañon Ridge Trail. I crossed the steady flow of a creek and began scrambling up a steep canyon wall. Unfortunately, I picked a muddy track.

I was still in shorts and trail shoes. I had my camera out the whole time, and my camera pack on my back. Suddenly, all the ground beneath my feet started to give way. I can only imagine what this must’ve looked like. It had to be comical. My left foot started to slide outward, and then my right foot started to go in the opposite direction. Before I knew it, I was doing the splits and descending quickly. So, I used my elbows to dig into the mud to stop my unwanted momentum.

It was so gooey, I was now up to my wrists in mud, and there went my camera. It was caked in mud like some sort of face mask, but at least I stopped. Undeterred, I managed some decent

footing and clawed my way out of the mud and into a rocky outcropping. I used the wet grasses to wipe myself and camera free of mud, mostly.

It would be another two hours to get back to the campground in Scorpion Canyon. The mud was so slick, it felt like I was on ice skates. Even the island foxes were trying to avoid it. I went down several more times slipping and sliding down the old ranch roads. The dewy fog persisted the entire way; visibility was 20 feet, maybe.

In just another few short weeks all this moisture would be in the rearview mirror. Temperatures will rise and the northwest winds will dry the island out. And as I’m paddling folks up the island and into one of those menacing headwinds, I’ll be looking back fondly on the winter that was, and all the mud still encrusted on my camera.

The local foxes got the message – avoid the mud

Looking for waterfalls (and not to fall)

Found one!

Chuck Graham is a freelance writer and photographer based in Carpinteria, where he also leads kayak tours and backpacking trips in Channel Islands National Park

Brilliant Thoughts Home

Groan

by Ashleigh Brilliant

Despite all the sentimental claptrap about “Home,” still in circulation, there are many good reasons why that word is virtually meaningless, if not actually offensive, to many people, in various situations.

I personally can remember a time (in the prosperous years after World War II, when the “American Empire” seemed to be about to replace the British), when, in different parts of the world, Americans travelling abroad were so unpopular that they were often greeted with the message, usually scrawled on some surface as graffiti, “YANKEE GO HOME!”

And even today, within our own borders, people who don’t choose to go home voluntarily can still, sometimes, as a penalty for misbehavior, be SENT Home, especially from school – or even from Summer Camp.

All this assumes that they have something called Home to go to, or to be sent to. In recent times, however, more attention has been given to those designated as “Homeless.” The official definition of that term, at least in some quarters, is “not having an address at which you can receive mail.”

One of my first published epigrams was somewhat ambivalent on this whole subject: “Home is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.” But I eventually became more negative, with utterances like:

“Why do I keep coming home, every time I try to trace my troubles to their source?”

Not that life at home with my own parents was so unbearable. I was simply too intelligent for my mother, and too rebellious for my father. And, for both of them, thanks to the government-funded British school system, I was eventually too well educated to be happy living with them.

Maybe we should be glad that there aren’t more songs about Home. There probably would be, if our language provided more words that rhyme with it. By far the most commonly used is “roam” – which at least is convenient when contrasting travel with its opposite, as in “wherever I roam, there’s no place…” But Irving Berlin managed, despite the strain, to fit “foam” into “God Bless America,” depicting a land stretching “from the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam.”

There are however many places called “home” where the situation makes the use of that term almost ironic, if not contradictory. Our society is dappled with “homes” for the elderly, for the handicapped, for orphans, for the mentally impaired, and many other such institutions, including, of course, homes for the homeless. Indeed, it can seem very threatening when some unfortunate person becomes aware that their own family is seriously considering putting them “into a home.”

One of our best-known folk songs, “Home on the Range,” almost makes a mockery of that whole concept. The “Home” it depicts, is populated by Buffalos, Deer, and Antelopes, who apparently wander freely, while at “play” – (with each other?) Such a land never existed, and if it did, it could certainly not have been any person’s “home.” Deer and Antelope apparently are still to be found (and hunted) in Kansas, the state in which the lyrics of this song were written (from a poem by an ear, nose, and throat doctor with the rather unmusical name of Brewster M. Higley. His own original home was in Ohio, but he had come to Kansas from Indiana, to take advantage of the “Homestead Act,” of 1862, which gave free land in the West to settlers who agreed to farm it. The song’s melody was composed by Daniel Kelley, a friend of Higley’s. It is now officially (since 1947) the Kansas State Song. But, as you probably know, the Buffalo, having provided subsistence for Native Americans for centuries, were, in a few years, hunted nearly to extinction by heavily armed American hunters of the “Buffalo Bill” variety – and wild members of the species are now as unlikely to be seen roaming in Kansas as they are in Buffalo, New York.

In Passing

Carolyn Pesnell Amory

Carolyn Pesnell Amory passed away August 13th at 101 years. Carolyn led an exciting life and was well-known for her charity work. From 1979 to 1985

Carolyn was Chairman of the Board of the New York City Division of the American Cancer Society receiving every award given by the Society and breaking many fundraising records as well. With her daughter Michele, they co-authored Gourmet Guide for Busy People by Famous People, a book now on its fourth printing with recipes by celebrities and all benefiting the American Cancer Society.

In addition, Carolyn served as a National Trustee for the Boys Club of America and was the first woman elected to the National Board of Directors. Other boards and committees included the New York Council on Alcoholism and the Museum of the City of New York.

Upon moving to Santa Barbara, Carolyn helped raise money and friends for the Elings Park Foundation and eventually went on to become Chairman of the Board. And with making new friends in the community, Carolyn soon found herself on the Board of Directors of Direct Relief International and President of the Santa Barbara Council on Alcoholism. While on the Council, Carolyn found and chaired the Amethyst Ball, now in its 36th year! In later years, Carolyn devoted her attention to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

In 1986, Carolyn was chosen Woman of Achievement in New York City and featured with a photo exhibit at B. Altman. From 1980 to 1992 she chaired the Saks Fifth Avenue Designer’s Show, which honored six charities and six designers. Carolyn and Adolfo represented the American Cancer Society. In 1980, Carolyn was presented with the Gold Medal of the City of Paris, that city’s highest award, by Jacques Chirac, then Mayor of Paris. Finally, in 1984 Carolyn was invested as a Dame in the most Venerable Order of St. John, by order of her Majesty, the Queen of England.

Carolyn is pre-deceased by her husband, Pete Peck of Montecito. Carolyn is survived by her children: Marsha, Michele, Robyn, and Grant; her grandchildren: Whitney, Brooke, and Serena; and her great grandchildren Meredith, Allie, Alex, Will, Gracie, Griffin and Gates. Service private.

As for discouraging words – the liquor laws in Kansas, which is still a “Dry” State, continue to be the most severe in the country. And that line about “the skies” being “not cloudy all day” has always puzzled me. Does it mean “never cloudy,” or “cloudy, but not all the time”?

Whatever it means, that song is still considered the unofficial anthem of the American West.

And I myself do sometimes have positive feelings about Home:

“My feet can travel in any direction, but my heart always points home.”

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.

Carolyn Pesnell Amory will be remembered for her extensive charitable work

Travel Buzz

Ritz-Carlton Bacara: Out-of-this-World Experience in Our Own Backyard

by Leslie Andrea Westbrook

Why would anyone want to spend $55 million for a three-day trip to the moon on SpaceX (estimated cost in the future) when they could merely drive 15 minutes from Montecito to The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort and book an “out of this world” spa experience? I indulged in “Body Melt,” an 80-minute treatment that has been on the spa menu since the resort opened in the

year 2000 – and a bit more – on a busy July Sunday at the 358-room resort, set on 78 acres, that could easily accommodate the entire population of Summerland.

I also sampled the newly launched and lovely (seated) brunch at Bacara’s upscale restaurant Angel Oak. I shared my room that evening and a casual beachside dinner with my friend Collin and his son Henry (7) who happened to be passing through on their way back home from a grandparent visit. We had a perfect little mini vacation while the sun was shining, at long last, in Santa Barbara (well, Goleta).

The day got off to a stellar start during a relaxing brunch, when I spotted Doobie Brother/Steely Dan singer-keyboardist-songwriter Michael McDonald and his wife, singer Amy Holland, digging into the Santa Barbara smoked salmon. I savored the duck confit hash with perfectly runny poached eggs; fresh pastries that were scrumptious; and the artisan Bloody Marys were damn good (I had a Virgin Mary, being it was Sunday). Goleta-based guitarist – folk musician Joshua Jenkins, of Pocket Fox, strummed away on his electric guitar adding a nice musical backdrop to the Pacific Ocean coastline views on the outdoor patio. Jenkins remained “cool, calm, and collected” despite the famous crooner in his “audience.”

Fully sated, I took a lovely walk to view the beach (packed and beware of tar!) before hitting the gorgeous 48,000-squarefoot three-level spa. The best pool on the property (there are three) is here, in my opinion: adults only, saltwater, and no pounding boom-boom music. A quick dip and to the spa lounge where one of the therapists quietly paged “Jennifer Aniston” not once, but twice. We didn’t spot the actress, but it did offer a wee secondary famous person spotting thrill.

The Body Melt began with a salt/oil body exfoliation. This was just the beginning before lift-off! This 30-minute full body scrub was followed by a warm Swedish Shower in the treatment room that soothed my aching lower lumbar. The pièce de résis-

tance was the deep, strong-handed massage by Santa Barbara native Deborah, who has not only worked at the spa for over two decades but is an acupuncturist with a wellness practice in the Goodland. I chose “Fortifying” oil over “Positivity” for my treatment since I was already brimming with positivity. Just when I thought I’d been spoiled beyond belief, I was wrapped in a blanket (that I swore was a spacesuit), given a scalp massage, and I lifted off to space! Wheeeee… A nice soft landing (and an ending I never wanted to come) ensued and I floated to the spa lounge where a glass of bubbly was served while I waited for my vibrating body to re-enter the universe.

I’d booked a quick trip/break to NYC about a month ago, but after spending two days at Santa Barbara Airport, where I encountered five rescheduled-cancelled-delayed flights, I said “phooey” to summer travel that involved airplanes. I was staying as far away as I could from summer airport travel. To clear my head, the idea of a short

drive, brief rest/mini-vacation appealed, especially after experiencing some of the terrific and tasty new menu offerings at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s several dining venues that range from fancy (the aforementioned Angel Oak, which has a sublime lobster truffle pasta dish) to the casual – the new Haskell’s food truck at the public beach (which will be there until September 3).

My friend Collin and his son Henry arrived at 6 pm, just in time to indulge in a tasty and complimentary sunset tequila cocktail infused with butterfly pea flower, aptly named Après Sea. We were hungry and went in search of dinner! We walked down to the Bistro (it was closed), but I really wanted to go to Haskell’s food truck, which we were told would be open until sunset. The walk from the resort down the dirt path and over a wooden bridge from the manicured grounds that suddenly gives way to native scrub and fragrant sage was magical (“This is like a best-kept secret!” Collin exclaimed). We were lucky and happy to be the food truck’s last order of the day. Collin’s savory smash burger was quickly consumed, Henry made a good dent on the huge Wagyu hot dog, and I managed two out of the three yummy shrimp tacos. Shared waffle fries and cocktails from a can made for a filling and satisfying dinner by the sea. Bottles of wine ($43-$63) are available from Stolpman, Margerum, and Brewer-Clifton; the truck was sold out of the popular Aperol spritz ($9). I will be back.

We snuggled in for a quiet night in our handsome, comfortable, Spanish-style room with dark woods and a patio overlooking a lovely green garden. “Rustic elegant” is how my friend Collin dubbed the decor, as Henry soaked in the tub with shutters that opened to the room while watching cartoons on his dad’s laptop. I had vivid weird dreams that night – even “Ellen” made an appearance! Turns out the resort has events cast with our residents: Jean-Michel Cousteau in November (11th) and Montecito-turned-Summerland author/poet Diana Raab is holding a writing workshop early next year.

Perhaps my vivid dreams were due to the lovely butterfly pea flower infusion used in the cocktail the night before. Revered as a holy flower in India and Southeast Asia, the flower boasts antioxidant properties.

Set on 78 acres, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara is a local trove of comfort and luxury (courtesy photo)

The Angel Oak brunch is on Sundays only, but worth the trip (courtesy photo)

The staycation started off with a Virgin Bloody Mary and gentle tunes (photo by Leslie Andrea Westbrook)

The butterfly pea flower has spiritual meaning in many cultures and is typically considered a symbol of transformation, renewal, and hope.

In the early morning before checking out, I sauntered down for a swim in the spa pool – which I had all to myself except for birdsong, a wee bunny rabbit that greeted me at the gate, and a small sparrow who drank at the water’s edge. I finished my stay with a soak in the water/chromo therapy spa where the soothing waters changed from aquamarine to silver to yes, pea flower blue… followed by a steam and sauna before heading home having had a transformational stay and renewal – all in the matter of just 24 hours.

One week before my overnight staycation, a very nice (form) welcome letter arrived via email from the “Ladies and Gentlemen” of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Those familiar with the Ritz-Carlton brand, know their motto well: “Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.” With a storied Boston history, I’ve watched this brand expand over the decades from a somewhat stuffy style of hospitality that was a bit at odds with our laid-back California lifestyle. As the East Coast formula became a bit more relaxed, the brand remained extremely service oriented. Ladies and gentlemen serving guests these days are lovely, beautiful, handsome, and come from all over the world: gorgeous Nini from Georgia (the country, not the state) who checked cars entering from her umbrella kiosk at the end of the gorgeous entrance/drive. I passed muster and entered the lovely porte-cochère where great valet staff took care of business in the chaos. Sweet, soft-spoken international trainee Shafiq from Uganda warmly greeted me at the spa; Carpinteria neighbor Stan aptly took care of me at check out.

Note to Hotels: America’s national park

Coastal HideawaysInc.

Celebrating Conservation

Picnic at the Preserve

Looking east from the

Barbara County assisted the Carpinteria Friends of the Bluffs to acquire this portion of the land and preserve it as open space for the people.

hotels often have their employees wear name tags that also identify where they are from. I find this a great conversation starter. It might be nice if other hotels adopted this for travelers, no?

What to Know, Before You Go

Ritz-Carlton Club Members have access to a private building with complimentary breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and dessert offerings every day. Regarding refreshments, Club Members also have access to a wide variety of beverages ranging from smoothies to coffee and fresh juices. Members also may partake in complimentary beer and wine as well as build their own cocktail at a self-serve bar. Additionally, the club offers private concierge service, laundry service, and much more.

Brunch at Angel Oak is Sundays only from 10 am – 1 pm; dinner is served seven nights a week from 5 pm – 9 pm. Book a spa service and use the facilities for the day including the lovely saltwater pool.

Haskell’s food truck will be onsite until September 3 and is open from 2 pm until sunset but be forewarned: they run out of items like the kale salad and popular Aperol spritz towards the end of busy days!

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara 8301 Hollister Ave., Goleta (805) 968-0100 www.ritzcarlton.com

by Hattie Beresford

From the Carpinteria Bluffs to Arroyo Hondo Preserve on the Gaviota Coast; from Ennisbrook Open Space in Montecito to the Hibbits Ranch in Lompoc, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County has worked to conserve, preserve, and protect over 31,890 acres of land as well as trail easements. With the increased density and rapid suburbanization of the natural landscape, county residents have become ever more aware of the intrinsic and essential value of open space and preserved agricultural and wilderness areas.

With 18 new projects in the pipeline, the Trust hopes to double the amount of land currently conserved. To introduce the public to their work and raise funds for the projects, the Land Trust is hosting “Picnic at the Preserve” on Sunday, September 10 from 11:30 am to 4 pm. Attendees will enjoy live music, local wines and refreshments, and a picnic lunch at the beautiful Arroyo Hondo Preserve. Experiential informational stations and hiking will be available, as will a live auction of a select number of exciting and choice items and travel destinations.

Come support the Land Trust and enjoy a day on the preserve on Sunday, September 10

As part of the fund raising, an exclusive online auction will open to the public on September 1. It will feature Land Trust items and experiences tailored to the whole family. To explore sponsorship opportunities for “Picnic at the Preserve,” contact Hilary Doubleday at hdoubleday@landtrust.org. Individual tickets are limited and can be purchased through https://events.handbid.com/auctions/picnic-at-the-preserve-2023. For those new to the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County (as well as longtime devotees), a beautiful, informative, and poignant video showing the work of the Trust can be viewed at www. sblandtrust.org.

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

Carpinteria Bluff Path toward Rincon. The Land Trust for Santa

A rare variate of Mariposa Lily, Calochortus fimbriatus, is considered “fairly endangered” in California and grows in the uplands of Arroyo Hondo

Visit Haskell’s food truck while you still can (photo by Leslie Andrea Westbrook)

Leslie A. Westbrook is a Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel writer and journalist who loves exploring the globe. A 3rd generation Californian., Leslie also assists clients sell fine art, antiques, and collectibles via auction. lesliewestbrook.com

Petite Wine Traveler

Unveiling the Treasures: Discovering Tri-Valley

by Jamie Knee

With summer in full swing, my husband, our chihuahua, and I embarked on a thrilling road trip from Santa Barbara to the TriValley area. The Tri-Valley is a triangular-shaped region just 35 miles east of San Francisco. From the top of Mount Diablo, you can see the three valleys that give the region its name, and the three cities that encompass the area: Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, and the town of Danville. Each has its own downtown style and vibe, which make it entirely unique. We were excited to discover these hidden gems that promised us a long weekend filled with great wine, delectable cuisine, rich history, exciting outdoor activities, and many pet-friendly facilities. With the Tesla fully charged and our spirits high, we set off on an adventure that would leave a lasting impression.

Our first stop was Livermore Valley Wine Country, a charming part of the TriValley, featuring one of California’s oldest wine regions. Its extensive history dates back to the 1760s when Spanish Missionaries planted the first grapes in the region. Livermore Valley has played a significant role in California’s winemaking heritage, and it continues to thrive today. The region’s unique microclimate and diverse soil types create the perfect conditions for growing a wide variety of grapes.

Livermore Valley Wine Country beckoned us with its vineyard-covered hills and award-winning wineries. With so many amazing wineries to choose from, we couldn’t resist indulging in several in the area. One standout was Garré Vineyard and Winery,

where we immersed ourselves in Italian heritage and family tradition. Owned by the Molinaro family, this winery in Livermore Valley offers a taste of California wines crafted in the Italian style. Their award-winning wines and warm, welcoming ambiance made it a must-visit. We also couldn’t miss Wood Family Vineyards, a family-run urban winery located in “The Block” area of Livermore Valley’s East End.

Rhonda Wood, one of the few female winemakers in the area, guided us through their exceptional wines. We were even fortunate enough to taste several wines from their library collection, guided by Harrison Wood, the executive vice president, including a Cabernet Franc from 2014. Another notable winery was Las Positas Vineyards, where dedication to Old World craftsmanship and New World pioneer spirit sets them apart. We had the privilege of touring the facility and savoring their small-lot, handcrafted wines. To enhance the experience, Chef Curt Pipes delighted us with unique food pairings on their picturesque patio overlooking the vineyards. It was a sensory journey that showcased the harmonious marriage of wine and cuisine. What made it even more special was the fact that Chef Curt received his culinary training at our very own Santa Barbara City College.

Our exploration of Livermore’s wine history didn’t end there. We had the pleasure of visiting Steven Kent Winery, a testament to the region’s winemaking legacy. Established in 1996, the winery had a specific emphasis on crafting exceptional Cabernet wines. What set this winery apart was its rich lineage. Winemakers Steven K. Mirassou and his wife, Beth, proudly traced their heritage back to one of America’s oldest Wine Traveler Page 334

Grabbing a little wine off the wall at Livermore

A mural at Darcie Kent Winery

On Entertainment

Benoit Brings It All… Including Charlie Brown

Schnelle on drums, who is a young and sensitive straight-ahead jazz player. It’s a wide variety. We’ll be featuring songs from my most recent record Midnight Rendezvous, a big band song, and some of my standards people expect to hear, including “Kei’s Song,” “Freedom at Midnight.” And I always pay tribute to Dave Brubeck, closing with “Blue Rondo à la Turk,” which is challenging but lots of fun. What’s really exciting is my longtime friend David Pack (of Ambrosia fame), who is now living up there, is going to sit in and do a couple of his hits. He asked me to play the “Candide Overture” by Leonard Bernstein, which I transcribed for solo piano, and haven’t played in years. But it’s the maestro’s birthday (105). So it’s a wide variety.

Sounds Around Town: Reunion Time at SOhO

by Steven Libowitz

Jazz pianist and composer David Benoit is best known for his big-selling contemporary jazz albums of the 1980-’90s, including three Grammy nominations and a lot of hits. But the 70-year-old Palos Verdes resident whose influences include Leonard Bernstein and Bill Evans has had a much more expansive career. Here are excerpts from our conversation earlier this week in advance of Benoit’s concert at the Lobero on August 25.

Q. You’ve been called the founding father of contemporary jazz due to your early endeavors in the genre. Does that expression fit? In some circles, it’s like smooth jazz is a pejorative.

A. I align myself more with contemporary jazz, because I come from the Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Michael Franks school where the music still had some complexity as well as melodic content. You’d even hear an odd time bar once in a while. Sadly, what it turned into, smooth jazz, does deserve to be pejorative because it got so bad, and a lot of what you hear on radio is wallpaper. What I do is very listenable, but it has musical integrity. I stay close to my [Oscar] Peterson. But if I’m a founding father, I’m just one of them.

Your long and varied career has veered in many directions: composing film and TV scores, conducting and playing with a number of symphony orchestras, deejaying on a jazz radio show, serving as an educator, not to mention the Peanut music projects. Most musicians don’t wear that many hats, at least not for as long as you have. How do you decide what direction to go in?

I’ve always had a lot on my plate. It’s my Type A personality; I just love to work. It’s a little less right now, because the youth orchestra I work with just lost its funding. But I’ll probably get something going again at the beginning of the year. And I did just land a new record deal and I’m heading off to Europe in September to record my first allbig-band record. I’m also working on a cello concerto I’ll probably finish next summer.

I’m a big fan of Vince Guaraldi and his music from the Peanuts TV shows. I know you have orchestrated a lot of his music and also composed for music for the TV specials after he passed away. What drew you to that?

It’s been a part of my DNA going back to when I read the comics as a kid. I really really related to Charlie Brown, because I was depressed and felt like one of those lonely kid losers. It took me a long time to find my own voice. Hearing that first Christmas show was so cool. I wanted to play like that. That’s what inspired me to be a piano player, which changed my life. I was Charlie Brown before I became Schroeder, if I can say that… In 1985, I gave “Linus and Lucy,” which people hadn’t heard as a standalone song, a funk groove, and put it out there, and it was the No. 1 radio hit for quite a while.

What are you planning for the Lobero show?

It’s basically a one-off on our way back from a festival in Los Gatos with the best trio I’ve ever had: Roberto Vally on bass, who has been on a million sessions, and Dan

Two of the most tenured Santa Barbara dance-party (mostly) cover bands are not only each appearing at SOhO this week, they’re also playing on the same night. Both Area 51, which has been fronted by the charismatic singer and Montecito resident Michael Andrews since its inception, now partnered on stage with Laura Schlieske, will be joined by the more R&B-flavored Raw Silk, featuring the sinuous vocal stylings of lead singer Leslie Lembo, who will likely mix in a number of originals with the cover tunes. Fans can catch, and bop along to, both bands at their longtime stomping grounds of SOhO on Friday, August 25, starting at 8:30 pm. Adding to the week’s wonders, Mari Martin, who shared lead singer duties with Andrews in Area 51 for decades before departing for points east a dozen years ago, is also back for a gig at SOhO with her own band performing eclectic covers three days later on August 28. Laudable and danceable locals also showing up at SOhO this weekend in a pre-Labor Day blowout: Piano Bar denizen Jason Libs and his latest band, the Liberation, on August 26, and Gypsy jazz band The Idiomatiques on August 27.

The Mosaic Locale in downtown Santa Barbara hosts an Eighties-themed end-ofsummer dance party bash on Saturday, August 26, featuring live music by Joystix, energetically curated music of the era from DJ Darla Bea, and food and drink by Draughtsmen and Goodland Waffles & Melts. Raffles, prizes for the best costumes, a photo booth, and some surprises round out the fun. Details and tickets at https:// djdarlabea.ticketsauce.com/e/totally-80s-pool-less-pool-party.

There’s another film festival arriving in town, one that focuses exclusively on truly independent movies and shorts as well as cinematic projects from youth. The inaugural Santa Barbara Indie Film Fest, which will screen a total of nearly 50 films over 10 programming blocks at August 26-27 at the Alhecama Theatre downtown, is a homegrown event, and represents something of a full-circle journey for its creator.

A Reel-y Good Time

Dave Haws worked at Metropolitan Theatres while still in high school, including during the wintertime film festival, which sparked not only a lifelong love for movies, but also the desire to make a living in the industry. Haws, who was born and raised in Santa Barbara, headed out of town to get an education, majored in cinema arts at Cal State Northridge and remained in the L.A. area to pursue a career in the film industry, mostly in non-glamorous roles. Haws has worked in the camera and lighting departments on movies and other video projects, but also directed shorts, music videos, and commercials.

The bug to create the SB Indie Fest bit after he moved back to town with his wife and kids, even in the backyard of the highly visible SBIFF, which draws huge crowds and a wide swath of Oscar nominees to the annual 11-day February festival.

“We wanted to do a festival that’s truly independent, something to showcase small filmmakers who might not have a voice anywhere else, and to give student filmmakers an outlet to have their work seen that’s more about the art of storytelling on film than a platform like TikTok or YouTube,” explained Haws, who is also serving as the fest’s

An Evening with David Benoit takes place on August 25 at the Lobero Theatre. Visit www.lobero.org for tickets and more information.

David Benoit plays the Lobero this Friday, August 25

After years of exploring different roles in Hollywood, Dave Haws (on the camera) is launching the first SB Indie Film Fest

winemaking families, known for producing wine in San Jose even before the historic event of the Lincoln assassination. Their passion for Cabernet Franc, a grape variety they believed deserved more recognition in the area, led them to initiate the unique and exciting event called “CabFranc a Palooza” to promote Cabernet Franc in Livermore Valley.

But the Tri-Valley experience wasn’t just about wine. Downtown Pleasanton, a town brimming with character and history, captivated us with its charm. As we strolled through its picturesque streets, we were greeted by a delightful blend of boutique shops, restaurants, and a vibrant atmosphere. The town’s historic buildings whispered tales of a bygone era, complete with secret underground tunnels and intriguing stories of racehorses, bandits, and ghostly encounters. We couldn’t help but marvel at the well-preserved architecture that transported us back in time.

Livermore, another gem within the Tri-Valley, had its own allure. Known for its thriving arts and cultural scene, it offered a unique blend of history and contemporary attractions. The Bankhead Theater, a state-of-the-art performing arts venue, showcased a diverse range of productions, from plays and musicals to concerts and ballet performances. As pet owners, we were thrilled to discover that the Tri-Valley was a haven for our four-legged companion. Many wineries, restaurants, and outdoor venues welcomed pets with open arms. We were able to enjoy wine tastings at several wineries, explore downtown streets, and even dine at pet-friendly restaurants without any concerns. The warm and inclusive atmosphere made our trip even more enjoyable and memorable.

To refuel our energy, we stopped at Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard for dinner. This family-owned restaurant impressed us with its commitment to using organic and sustainable ingredients. Their dedication to transforming traditional recipes into modern culinary delights was evident in every dish we savored. The extensive wine list offered both local and international selections, and we settled for a Champagne flight that perfectly complemented the Asian cuisine. The dog-friendly outdoor patio allowed us to enjoy our meal in the company of our beloved chihuahua, making it a truly pet-friendly dining experience.

Community Voices

Finding a Different Path

by Dave Everett

“So I promise that I’m not going to build a trail that has landslides.” – Montecito Trails Foundation representative to CRAHTAC, 11/14/22 How soon promises are broken… We can’t predict when weather will cause damage to trails, but thanks to highly trained agency staff such as geologists, we are given insight to the types of locations that are best suited for trails versus ones that are going to be susceptible to landslides and stability issues. Such is the case with the McMenemy Trail relocation project, which was approved by the Santa Barbara County Riding and Hiking Trails Advisory Committee (CRAHTAC) in November of 2022. CRAHTAC and the many others that have now seen the email from the USFS Geologist were warned specifically, “The proposed trail is located along a mid-slope, on both sides of the drainage with potential initiation of landslides impacting the trail as a result a very wet winter/saturated hillside and/or seismic shaking.” Also noted in the Geologist’s email, the current McMenemy Trail location has no geological hazards and is stable. This Geologist’s email was sent to CRAHTAC twice, first in September 2022, then again in November 2022.

widening areas when possible, and making the trail more sustainable during heavy downpours. These improvements have led to the return of horseback riders to this trail, which has not been possible in years past due to neglected trail conditions.

That being said, the main reason given publicly to relocate McMenemy Trail to the canyon a short distance to the north was due to “shortcutting” of switchbacks along the McMenemy Trail. Shortcutting or cutting in layman’s terms is veering off trail and creating unofficial trails up and down the hillsides. This former switchback “cutting” problem was completely eradicated this past winter by blocking the unofficial paths and full regrowth of a hillsides formerly shortcut has occurred with zero erosion issues or even a trace exists that this problem ever occurred. So, I will be the first to ask the question, “Why is this relocation project still moving forward?” I recently asked both the County of Santa Barbara and USFS if the reroute was still going ahead and got the same answer from both agencies that this reroute was still in the works in one stage or another.

Jamie Knee is a global wine communicator and travel writer, authoring numerous articles for wine and travel lifestyle publications. She’s hosted 100+ winemaker interviews, judged at 10+ international wine competitions, and holds multiple wine, sommelier, and educator certifications. Based in Montecito, she shares her passion for wine with her husband, Joel, and chihuahua Dolce.

As the sun began to set on our final day, we reflected on our unforgettable journey through the Tri-Valley. This hidden gem had truly exceeded our expectations, captivating us with its diverse offerings and warm hospitality. From the historic wineries in Livermore Valley, where the spirit of California winemaking was brought to life, to the culinary adventures that delighted our taste buds at every turn, the Tri-Valley had revealed itself as a true paradise for wine enthusiasts, food lovers, and pet owners. I invite you to head north and get ready to uncork a new adventure, where every sip, every bite, and every wag of the tail is an invitation to indulge in the beauty of this California hidden gem.

The Geologist was absolutely correct and in January of 2023, less than eight weeks after the McMenemy reroute was approved by CRAHTAC, heavy rains caused numerous major landslides along the reroute, destabilizing the hillside and creating safety issues for the proposed trail. Since then, I have learned that a second, newer reroute of McMenemy Trail has been initiated, along a different route than was approved by CRAHTAC in 11/14/22. This new reroute, first identified in June of 2023, passes along the base of one active slide and through another major active slide. The area of the June 2023 reroute passes through the head or uppermost part of the canyon and traverses even steeper hillsides, which could be even more susceptible to landslides in the future and given the large amount of boulders present on the surface of these hillsides, rock fall may also be an issue in this area as well.

It should be noted that the current McMenemy Trail in the vicinity of switchbacks suffered no significant damage from the January 2023 rains and this entire section of trail is completely safe and stable and is in the best condition it has been in for years. Just prior to the storm, major repairs were made on the current McMenemy Trail removing rutted areas,

A better question could have been, “Why is the McMenemy Trail reroute still moving forward after the January 2023 storms caused five landslides on the hillsides of the canyon where the proposed trail was set to pass as well as leaving one ravine highly eroded?” These landslides prove that a high degree of instability on hillsides of the proposed reroute exists and should be viewed as a preview of what is to come if the reroute is completed as proposed. These active landslide problems are in addition to other areas of instability described by the USFS Geologist which included: two dormant landslides or as described by the Geologist “head scarps” and one area of undercutting that, as he described following heavy flows, “might be a challenge to keep stable.” It is a fact that the canyon where McMenemy Trail will be relocated has no route that currently does not contain major storm damage or will be prone to it.

As we are all well aware, in January of 2023 the Santa Barbara Front Country Trails System and beyond received an unprecedented amount of rainfall and suffered catastrophic trail damage in the form of landslides, washouts, and rock fall amongst other types of stability issues. Repairs on many areas are ongoing and will take months if not years to complete, and having participated in much of the repair process thus far, I can tell you that many of

A good-looking vine over at Concannon Winery

This 350-year-old oak in Danville is a testament to the history of the area

Morganfield Burnett, Miriam Dance, Hunter Hawkins, Jonathan McEuen, and Shawn Thies, to a band accompaniment directed by John Enrico Douglas with Tariqh Akoni on guitar, Randy Tico on bass, and drummer Austin Beede.

A shuttle bus transported supporters to the West Victoria Street locale, while others chose to walk the few blocks up Chapala Street, umbrellas in hand.

Among the theater fans turning out for

Birdies for Horsies

Golf clubs replaced mallets when Santa Barbara Polo Club’s Polo Training Center hosted its 5th annual golf tournament at the Montecito Club with 18 teams rais-

ing a hefty $100,000 for the Carpinteriabased facility.

Players went round the Jack Nicklausdesigned 18-hole course in foursomes during the Farmers & Merchants Banksponsored event, although a BMW donated by a local dealer for a hole-inone went unclaimed.

“It’s certainly one of the best ever charity events we’ve hosted,” says Rhys Williams, center president. “It’s a heavenly location and Ty Warner’s staff have been ever more helpful.”

The award for longest drive went to Will Busch with 330 yards, Closest to the Pin to Fergus Gould, and female MVP Margarita Lande

Guitarist Maitland Ward entertained the guests including Pat Nesbitt, Chuck Lande, Nolan Nicholson, polo club manager David Sigman, Bayne and Piers Bossom, Chris and Mindy Denson, Carter Cox, Jeff and Naima Scheraga, and Jesse Bray.

Ballet on Board

State Street Ballet founder Rodney Gustafson is transitioning to founding director, with appointments of Megan Philipp as artistic director and Cecily MacDougall as executive director.

“As we approach our 30th year, I am focused on evolving our repertoire toward a new generation of artistic vision,” says Gustafson, a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre in New York. “I’m confident Megan and Cecily are the team to lead that initiative.

“Today we are an established, vibrant company who have just completed the 2022-23 season, which included 54 performances in 17 countries throughout the

the unusual night that even a mercurial Mother Nature couldn’t affect were Anne Towbes, Dan and Meg Burnham, Howard

Jay Smith and Patricia Dixon, David and

Anne Gersh, Harry and Judi Weisbart, Robert Weinman, Eve Bernstein, Simon and Euzetta Williams, Joan Rutkowski, Scott and Edie DeVine, Sybil Rosen, Meredith Baxter, Deborah Bertling,

George Konstantinow, Beno Budgor, Dana White, and Kandy Luria-Budgor

Classical guitarist Chris Fossek entertained.

Ginny Brush, Dana White, Helene Segal, George Konstantinow, Eve Bernstein, Jenny Sullivan, and Bob Weinman (photo by Priscilla)

Gwen Baker, Dan Burnham, Hunter Hawkins, Meg Burnham, Henry Baker, and Anne Towbes (photo by Priscilla)

Rose Jaffe and Harriet Mosson with Deborah and Peter Bertling (photo by Priscilla)

Overall Winning Golf Team, “US Air Force”: Mariano Long, Captain Pat Nesbitt, Arthur Porter, and Tom Sharpy (photo by Priscilla)

With humor and fun, President Rhys tried to auction a new haircut for top American polo pro Jesse Bray, despite protests from the ladies (photo by Priscilla)

Carter Fox (Bossom Team), Vaughn Miller Jr., and Kristos “Keko” Magrini from Jesse Bray’s “Polo Pros” team (photo by Priscilla)

Rick Porter and Lisabeth Aubrey (photo by Priscilla)

world, with sold-out houses in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. It’s now time to expand our leadership team.”

Philipp will take over her position, currently held by Gustafson and co-artistic director William Soleau, next month, while MacDougall, current associate executive director, will be promoted to executive director in January.

Philipp joined State Street Ballet in 2013 and spent eight years in New York as a performing artist, teacher, and choreographer, and worked in administration at ABT. She was also faculty and curriculum coordinator at the Joffrey Ballet Chicago.

MacDougall joined the company in 2009 and, in addition to dancing with State Street Ballet for 10 years, also founded and directed Library Dances, part of the troupe’s educational outreach program.

A Promising Touch

Montecito author and wellness expert Michelle Ebbin got invaluable promotion for her new book The Touch Remedy when she appeared on the top ABC syn-

dicated daytime TV talk show LIVE With Kelly and Mark in New York.

She guided the husband-and-wife hosts through reflexology techniques on her segment, which went viral, appearing in People magazine, the London Daily Mail, and Entertainment Weekly, among other media outlets, with the book becoming a number one bestseller on Amazon.

Michelle first appeared on the show in 2004 with her son Jackson, who was then just six months old, to promote her tome Hands on Baby Massage. He is now 19 years old and joined his mother and the show hosts backstage for a photograph.

Let the Games Begin

After jetting to Japan and Singapore, Prince Harry has released a new Hollywood-style Heart of Invictus trailer on Netflix as the Riven Rock resident prepares for the games to kick off in Germany next month.

Netflix tweeted a trailer for the Invictus Games that featured the Duke of Sussex, 38, on stage at the event, which he founded to help disabled veterans in 2014.

King Charles III’s youngest son is filmed meeting competitors and his voice is heard saying, “Everyone is going to struggle at some point.”

The documentary, which follows veterans as they prepared for the Invictus Games, will be released at month’s end.

Harry will jet off to Dusseldorf with wife Meghan Markle for the event that starts on September 9 and ends September 16.

Dude, Where’s My Airbnb?

Actor Ashton Kutcher is following in Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow’s footsteps and renting out his oceanfront Carpinteria guest house on Airbnb.

Bookings started last week for the “oceanside oasis” for a one-night stay for up to four guests in the one-bedroom, one-bathroom property with panoramic views of the Santa Ynez mountains.

“We’ll capture some content together to commemorate your SoCal stay,” the Iowaborn 45-year-old and Ukrainian actress wife, Mila Kunis, promised on the listing.

“Meals and snacks will be provided, so let us know if there are any allergies or dietary restrictions we should need to know.”

The tony twosome also ask that guests do not take photographs or shoot videos without asking them first.

The guest house is located on the 3,100-square-foot six-bedroom, six-bathroom estate they share with their daughter Wyatt, 8, and son, Dimitri, 6.

Status Update

More than 3.5 million people lost their “dollar millionaire” status last year during the first fall in global wealth since the 2008 financial crisis, according to a new study.

The number of adults with assets totaling $1 million dropped from 62.9 million at the end of 2021 to 59.4 million at the end of last year, according to the Global Wealth Report launched by Credit Suisse and UBS.

The number of millionaires in the U.S. fell by 1.8 million to 22.7 million, but there are still far more than in any other nation.

The world’s privately held wealth fell 2.4 percent to $454.4 trillion at the end of last year, as $11.3 trillion was stripped from the value of personal assets by high inflation and weakened currencies.

A Good Fella

My heartiest congratulations to my former New York Magazine colleague Nick Pileggi, 90, whose movie Goodfellas has been voted the best gangster movie of all time.

On the website Ranker, the film got over 1,700 of the 7,500 votes, more than 500 ahead of The Godfather in second.

Martin Scorsese’s 1990 classic is also on top of the site’s list of films based on non-fiction books ahead of Schindler’s List and Apollo 13

The list also features The Godfather Part II in third with another Scorsese collaboration with Robert De Niro ranked fourth in 1995’s Casino.

Goodfellas was based on Pileggi’s 1985 New York Times bestselling book Wiseguy: A Mafia Family

The most affable and capable of colleagues, Pileggi, who was married to the late writer-filmmaker Nora Ephron for

25 years, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and won a BAFTA in the same category.

Remembering Carolyn Amory

On a deeply personal note, I mark the passing of Carolyn Amory, who has moved to more heavenly pastures at the age of 101 after spending the last chapter of her glorious and fascinating life at Casa Dorinda. When I first moved to Montecito from my home in L.A.’s Hancock Park in 2007, I would see Carolyn regularly at her magnificent home in Birnam Wood, having known her artist son Robyn Geddes for many years in the ‘70s and ‘80s when he worked at The Factory for the artist Andy Warhol, who was my Upper Eastside neighbor in Manhattan. Carolyn, a lady of enormous style and finesse, also represented the international auction house Sotheby’s and would often host lunches at her home to show the latest collection of magnificent jewels up for sale. Like the extraordinary baubles and bangles she represented, Carolyn was also a rare and unique gem who will be much missed.

Sightings

Meghan Markle enjoying the Taylor Swift concert in L.A... Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi celebrating their 15th anniversary with a coastal cruise on Charlie Munger’s Channel Cat... Fashion designer Michael Kors breakfasting at the Rosewood Miramar. Pip! Pip!

Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa, Jackson

Ebbin, Michelle

Ebbin, and Cassidy

Ebbin (photo courtesy of LIVE With Kelly and Mark)

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

Megan Philipp is new State Street Ballet artistic director (photo by Heidi Bergseteren)

Cecily MacDougall is new executive director (photo by Heidi Bergseteren)

The late Carolyn Amory with columnist and longtime friend Richard Mineards

these areas will need to be monitored for years to come as the hillsides remain very unstable. Ideally in trail planning one wants to keep a trail as far as possible from landslides and other stability issues. Historically speaking in the Santa Barbara region, never has a trail been moved from a stable, safe location without any damage to a location riddled with landslides. I would be willing to bet that no trail in any location in the world has ever been moved from a stable hillside to one that contains active landslides. Sometimes it’s good to be the first at something… this is not one of those cases.

The Montecito Trails Foundation promised the CRAHTAC and the public they were “not going to build a trail that has landslides,” at the November 2022 meeting yet the project is still underway (24:07 of the uploaded CRAHTAC meeting video).

It is my experience that once a landslide has begun it is extremely difficult to stop it from sliding again and again. The West Fork of Cold Spring Trail landslide is a prime example of this and even after constructing a major support wall the slide continues to plague this location year after year.

As a member of the trail-using community, we have come to believe that the best interests related to our trails are being protected night and day by committees such as the County of Santa Barbara appointed CRAHTAC. After observing this process unfold over the past year plus and learning the background of this relocation, I have

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

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

Junk Hauling, 2541 Modoc Rd Apt 29, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Isais Sanchez Jaimes, 2541 Modoc Rd Apt 29, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on August 9, 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. 2023-0001958. Published

August 23, 30, September 6, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT:

The following person(s) has (have) abandoned the use of the Fictitious Business

Name(s): Taste of Santa Rita Hills; Moretti Wine Co., 2923 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA, 93441. Moretti-Bloom Enterprises, 2923 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA, 93441. This statement was originally filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 10, 2022. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL), filed August 4, 2023. Original FBN No. 20220001532. FBN 2023-0001914. Published August 23, 30, September 6, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

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

Below, 2155 Ortega Hill Rd #28, Summerland, CA 93067. Barbara K Popp,

come to learn this relocation is not in the public’s best interest. CRAHTAC has not represented the public at large, as one of its own appointed members initiated the relocation of McMenemy Trail some two years ago, never disclosing publicly the move was underway and quite certainly violating rules by which this committee is supposed to uphold. It wasn’t until last year that the public was first made aware that a relocation of McMenemy Trail was underway once the Montecito Trails Foundation took lead of the relocation project. We the public should have a say in how a trail is managed and if any significant changes were to occur, we would be able to participate fully.

My warning to the thousands of people you represent in the trail-user community who still believe the public’s best interest are at the forefront, think again! The future of our trail system is in jeopardy and until major changes have been made to CRAHTAC, trails that our forefathers worked so hard to establish are at risk! It would appear that anyone who has any reason for relocating a trail may do so, no matter how flimsy the reasoning or who it benefits. The decision made by CRAHTAC in November of 2022 is a prime example; it put the needs of one organization over the trail-using population as a whole. My hope is that this relocation will be broken down and studied to learn from it for future generations to prevent this from ever happening again.

2155 Ortega Hill Rd #28, Summerland, CA 93067. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on August 15, 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. 2023-0002018. Published August 23, 30, September 6, 13, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Chi Foods, 5266 Hollister Ave Ste 311, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Imlakesh Organics INC, 5266 Hollister Ave Ste 311, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 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. 2023-0001810. Published

August 16, 23, 30, September 6, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Pacific Passion Co., 7375 Freeman Pl #B, Goleta, CA 93117. Melanie R Bray, 7375 Freeman Pl #B, Goleta, CA 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 12, 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

program director.

Haws ambitiously invited entries in a wide variety of categories, from short animated films and documentaries to music videos, short narratives, and full feature documentary and fiction movies. The genres encompass everything from comedy to personal journeys to activism in action.

The 14 hours of programming were culled from more than 60 hours of films that were submitted and juried by a panel of industry professionals Haws has worked with over the years.

“What we’re screening is the best of the best,” Haws said.

Which, Haws said, is surprisingly good, especially given it’s the festival’s first year.

“I was absolutely floored by how much high-quality work we received, shockingly good short films that are incredibly powerful. As a filmmaker myself, I found myself wondering why aren’t these people working on films or shows in Hollywood right now.”

Like SBIFF, the Indie Fest will also have opportunities for Q&As with filmmakers after the screenings, as well as an award presentation on Saturday night. It’s all to celebrate the art of making movies, geared toward up and comers whose ideas are much bigger than their budgets.

Much like the festival itself, which hopes the first year will lead to many more down the road.

“We want to have these new voices in cinema get seen here in Santa Barbara, which is just 90 miles from Hollywood,” Haws said. “But this first year, we’re making this thing on duct tape and string.”

Visit www.sbindiefilmfest.com for tickets as well as festival details and the full film schedule and descriptions.

correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2023-0001730.

Published August 9, 16, 23, 30, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MindBody Thrive, LLC, 228 Cooper Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. Mind-Body Thrive, 228 Cooper Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 24, 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. 2023-0001825.

Published August 9, 16, 23, 30, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: The Inquisitive Canine; Joan Hunter Coaching, 1187 Coast Village Road 1-290, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Summit Road Enterprises, LLC, 1187 Coast Village Road 1-290, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 28, 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. 2023-0001861.

Published August 9, 16, 23, 30, 2023

Further Focus on Film: Projecting the Coastal Media Project

The Carsey-Wolf Center’s nine-week intensive environmental media production and documentary studies program involves students from a wide range of backgrounds collaborating to produce short films that tell vital and timely stories about the coastal environment. This year’s quartet of shorts include the very up-to-date Stranded, which dives into the phenomenon that resulted in more than 1,000 reports of sick or dead sea lions and dolphins washing up on shorelines from Santa Barbara all the way down to San Diego earlier this summer due to domoic acid, a neurotoxin released during harmful algal blooms. The film explores the concurrent rehabilitation efforts and urges viewers to become an advocate for marine mammal conservation in our community.

Also screening: 841, which refers to Sea Otter #841, the frisky critter who has been catching waves and biting surfboards for months, capturing the attention of citizens, scientists, and journalists around the world for her ability to evade capture. Sand Symphony explores an overlooked part of the coast through sand connoisseur Tim Rudnick and sand sculptor Tony Cheatom as they highlight the importance of sand for themselves, others, and the environment. The Salt on Our Skin examines the shorefront environment from an equal access perspective, noting how over the years the rich coastal environment has fostered diversity of people and nature, but local barriers have deterred or prevented the gathering of many groups in Southern California.

The 2023 Coastal Media Project shorts premiere 7-9 pm on Friday, August 25, at the Pollock Theater on the UCSB campus. Admission is free but reservations are recommended. Visit www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu.

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

The SB Indie Film Fest will be hosted at the Alhecama Theatre on August 26 and 27

Flood Control Operation. We have a very short window to accomplish this critical goal and we cannot do it without your help.

We have made this as simple as possible. With two clicks on the link found on tprcsb.org you can send an email to all five of Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors. It is that easy.

We also ask that you consider donating to support this cause by clicking on the donation button on the website.

On the website are four short films that tell our story as well. Also, on the site there is an award-winning study done by Engineering Geologists Larry Gurrola and J. David Rogers that details the debris flow history of Southern Santa Barbara County. As you may recall in the wake of the 2018 Debris Flow, we were told that such an event was not likely again for another 500 or 1,000 years. This study shows that there have been 41 such events since 1820 and that does not count the floods of 1/9/2023 that occurred five years to the day after the tragedy of 2018.

In addition, there is a copy of the Annual Report, done by Storrer Environmental which we have submitted every year, detailing the environmental conditions in the canyons, for the County of Santa Barbara and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. We have had no environmental violations during the period of the installation.

As you may be aware, our net is upper San Ysidro Canyon, filled on 1/9. All our contractors have been signed up and we are prepared to empty the net once we have final approval of the regulatory agencies.

Thanks to the support of Congressman Salud Carbajal, we have qualified for FEMA reimbursement for the cleanout. If a small, private nonprofit can qualify, it is certain that the same courtesy would be applied to local government if a future need arises. Especially in Santa Barbara County, which regularly deals with FEMA disaster-related funding.

All the nets are on private lands. We have secured the permission of the landowners for five more years of the nets being in place. We have also provided them with insurance until 2029. Additionally, we have started the permitting process with Santa Barbara County and the regulatory agencies for this extension. What we need now is your support.

The events of the past week, as well as Santa Barbara County’s well-documented history with natural disasters, shows us that we need to be prepared for the next event. It is said that for each dollar spent on disaster preparedness, we can save up to 15 dollars in response costs. We believe that the debris nets are an innovative mitigation that helps prepare our community to be better prepared for the inevitability of the next flooding or debris flow event.

As the Gurrola-Rogers study shows, it is not a question of if we will be hit again by a debris flow event, it is when. We feel very strongly that our nets will enhance our safety during such an occurrence. Removing the nets at this time would be a massive step backwards. We need your voices to be heard to save this community-funded project. Please add your name and voice to keep this critical system in place.

Once again, go to tprcsb.org and with a few clicks add your name to our cause. You can make a real difference. We are counting on you.

serving under-represented students, such as PEAC, REACH, Mission Scholars, AVID, and others in Santa Barbara, has blossomed significantly. Generous scholarships have provided 80 percent or more of the total costs for tuition, room, and board. Students expressed the most interest in majoring in economics and business, kinesiology, and psychology.

Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing welcomes 23 new nursing students to the accelerated program. Athletes on the men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball teams began training camps earlier in the month, preparing for their inaugural NCAA Division II seasons.

Families will move their students into residence halls throughout the day August 24 before the Welcome Session, a celebratory opening event of Warrior Welcome 2023, on Thursday, August 24, at 3:30 pm in Murchison Gym. The event includes an official welcome from President Gayle D. Beebe, now in his 17th year as president, with an introduction to this year’s Warrior Welcome Team representing Student Life, professors and staff.

The Service of Commitment, a formal ceremony with professors wearing robes who welcome students to the Westmont community, takes place Friday, August 25, at 3:30 pm beginning in Murchison Gym. Following the service at about 4:30 pm, a bagpipe fanfare, a longstanding Westmont tradition, will lead new students on their First Walk through the Formal Gardens to

Kerrwood Lawn, anticipating their Last Walk that occurs at Commencement from Kerrwood to Thorrington Field.

Warriors Host Home Soccer Action

Men’s and women’s soccer play their first exhibition games on Thorrington Field. Fresh off an exhibition against UC Santa Barbara at Harder Stadium, the men will battle CSU San Bernardino on Thursday, August 24, at noon. The Warriors’ junior goalie Brady Highfill of Bakersfield tallied 10 saves in the game against the Gauchos, impressing the crowd on several dazzling plays. The women will square off against California Lutheran on Saturday, August 26, at 3 pm on Thorrington Field. This is the fifth year for head coach Jenny Jaggard, who has amassed an impressive record of 52-12-9.

Students take the First Walk up to Kerrwood Hall

Goalie Brady Highfill against UCSB

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

The debris nets successfully filled during the January 9, 2023 storm and are ready to be emptied (photo by Harry Rabin)

Pat McElroy is the Executive Director of The Project for Resilient Communities

government and nonprofit organizations. To learn more about more walking paths in Montecito, visit https://sbbucketbrigade.org/walk-montecito.

Successful Storm Preparation

“Establishing a genuine rapport with local merchants is not just good business, it’s a testament to our commitment to being an integral part of the neighborhood tapestry.”

As the group enjoyed refreshments, Coast Village Association Executive Director Beth Sullivan announced that the Coast Village Association is beginning the marketing plan for the district through a new website, logo, and revival of social media with new campaigns in the coming months. Upcoming promotions are also in the works – from Celebrate Locals, to Coast Village Week, and a Holiday Sip & Stroll that culminates in a tree lighting with Santa, carolers, and musicians. Sullivan has been busy visiting every store, restaurant, and business on the road to meet business owners and employees, and to glean feedback about what merchants would like to see from the new iteration of the Coast Village Association, which is now backed by property tax revenues thanks to a new improvement district.

Sullivan said the Association is aiming to achieve a balance between preserving the past and embracing the present, while determining the possibilities for the future. “The goal of building a community feeling on the street that fuels collaboration to chart the course for Coast Village is obviously moving forward,” she said.

As Tropical Storm Hilary threatened to bring significant rainfall to Southern California and into Santa Barbara County this past weekend, Montecito Fire Protection District remained in close communication with National Weather Service partners to determine how Montecito may be affected. In response, a sandbag filling station was set up at Lower Manning Park for community members to utilize. “The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade filled dozens of sandbags for people and we appreciate their assistance to the community,” said Montecito Fire Chief David Neels.

“Fortunately, Tropical Storm Hilary tracked further east than originally projected and resulted in minor impacts along the South Coast. Our watershed handled the minimal runoff appropriately. With it being such an unusual storm event for our area, we really appreciate that the community took the potential threats seriously and took initiative to prepare,” Neels added.

During the middle of the storm watch, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit near Ojai, and was felt throughout Montecito and Santa Barbara areas; another reminder for residents to formulate emergency preparedness plans for every type of disaster.

To sign up for emergency alerts and access preparedness information, visit www. readySBC.org.

Coast Village Association Meet & Greet

Earlier this month, the Rosewood Miramar Beach hosted the Coast Village Association for another Meet & Greet; an opportunity for merchants in the Lower Village to gather and discuss ideas and concerns.

Over 40 merchants from retail stores, art galleries, restaurants, markets, and services joined together to meet the Rosewood’s guest services’ department as well as hotel executives. Miramar Managing Director Rick Fidel, Director of Programming Hannah Rock, and Concierge Sofia Roussos were in attendance with their teams to form connections with the local business owners.

“This mixer was very important to us as a partner to Coast Village,” said Fidel.

In Business: Dorso Inc.

Local entrepreneur Robb Ferer and Santa Barbara Chiropractor, Hunter Ford D.C., along with mechanical engineer Grant Draper, have invented a new product, called a Dorso Mount, that connects percussive massage devices to massage canes. The device has had positive traction online, selling to patients as well as to sports teams, gyms, and physical therapists across the country.

It all started during a chiropractic visit when Ferer, a patient of Ford’s, asked how he could use his percussion massage gun on his back at home on his own, and Ford didn’t have a viable answer. They both concluded that many people invest in a massage “gun” but can only use it on the half of their body. Robb, an entrepreneur who has helped co-create several successful companies, put together some initial designs and worked with Ford to come up with a viable and chiropractor-approved solution. Draper was recruited to bring his expertise in engineering and 3D printing; he produced the initial prototypes for the mount and pressure point cane. After almost two years of fine-tuning, the Dorso Mount and Dorso Cane (pressure point cane) were officially launched.

The Dorso Mount connects massage guns (percussion devices used for relaxing tight muscles) to massage canes (acupressure devices used to target hard-to-reach trigger points on the back and other areas of the body), allowing users to reap all the benefits of percussion massage with the added reach of the cane. “No more having to ask a reluctant spouse or friend for help,” Ferer said.

“We created Dorso so that people could find the relief they need from home without always having to seek professional help. People are happier when they’re in less pain,” Ferer said.

For more information, and to order, visit www. getdorso.com.

A sandbag station was set up last weekend for Montecito residents to prepare their properties for an incoming storm thanks to Tropical Storm Hilary

Coast Village merchants gathered with Rosewood Miramar executives to discuss partnership opportunities

Coast Village Association Executive Director Beth Sullivan (center) with Miramar Managing Director Rick Fidel and Director of Programming Hannah Rock

Local entrepreneurs and chiropractor Hunter Ford D.C. have developed a mount that connects percussive massage devices to massage canes

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.

spot in the European Classic Touring section.

Locals Lee and Julia Carr brought their 1953 Ghia Cadillac Coupe. Lee and Julia were both in elegant attire. The Ghia got its name from the creator, Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin, Italy. A number of the design features of the ‘53 Ghia Cadillac have gone on to inspire other car manufacturers to incorporate the same features. To name just a few, they include the use of quad headlights. The Ghia was the very first use of quad 5 ¾-inch headlights in an automobile anywhere in the world. In fact, quad headlights were not legal in the U.S. until 1957. The nose (front/center) of the Ghia is said to resemble the fuselage of an airplane and incorporates an “egg crate” grill, which is later seen beginning in 1962 with the traditional Rolls-Royce grille. Also, in this ‘53 Ghia there were contrasting side coves with multiple horizontal chrome ribs, to be seen in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s Corvettes.

Among the many car enthusiasts on the 18th fairway of the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course was another local, Billy Gerard, and his friend Robert Bradford from Woodside, California. They suggested a photograph together by Montecito’s Craig

McCaw’s 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Saoutchik Torpedo Roadster.

There were a couple of judges I was unable to locate in the crowd of thousands of spectators. They were Rob Miller and Roy Miller (no relation). Roy Miller marked his 21st year as a judge at the Concours. He is recognized for his knowledge and expertise in maintaining, restoring, and appraising vintage Jaguars, MGs, Austin-Healeys, Triumphs, and Pre WWII-American Cars in the Santa Barbara area. Besides being a judge, Roy was also due to present the FIVA Trophy. Another local who frequents the Concours is Dana Newquist. Dana made it to the Concours week of festivities but had to leave Pebble Beach before the Sunday finale, due to the storm warning in Santa Barbara.

A special thank-you to Jim Crook, owner of Milpas Motors, who helped put me in contact with several of the people, and who also attended the Concours.

Paul Hageman was a judge and attended with his father, Peter (photo by Rick Carter Photography)

Julia and Lee Carr brought their 1953 Ghia Cadillac Coupe (photo by Rick Carter Photography)

Rick Carter is a local photographer who photographed the Santa Barbara Concours d’Elegance in the ‘80s and ‘90s when it was held at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club and when the beneficiaries were Crane School and the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation.

Karra Canum in her 1937 BMW 326 Cabriolet (photo by Rick Carter Photography)

Peter Hageman’s 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer (photo by Rick Carter Photography)

Julia and Lee Carr’s 1953 Ghia Cadillac Coupe (photo by Rick Carter Photography)

Craig McCaw’s 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Saoutchik Torpedo Roadster (photo by Rick Carter Photography)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Calendar of Events

by Steven Libowitz

ONGOING

Arts al Fresco for Free – Nope, it’s not over yet. But UCSB A&L’s sci-fi summer film series Out of this World does indeed come to a close this week, with Nope wrapping up its seven nights of weekly screenings at the stunning site of the historic Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens. The last movie is also the latest in the series, as Oscar-winning filmmaker Jordan Peele’s Nope, which came out just last year, is the unnervingly real but terrifying tale of Hollywood animal wrangler OJ (Daniel Kaluuya, also the star of Peele’s breakthrough film Get Out) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) and neighbor, a former child star turned family theme park ringmaster, investigate unexplained phenomena at their California ranch. It’s the last chance this season to soak up the film series atmosphere on Anacapa Street… Roar & Pour, which returns to the plaza in front of the Granada Theatre, just this month, also winds up its four weekly concerts from diverse local bands. The 1970s-leaning versatile hits and originals band, the Doublewide Kings – who uncannily cover a wide range of rock legends from Van Morrison to the Allman Brothers to the Rolling Stones, play August 24. Roar & Pour goes silent and dry following the August 31 date with Something This Way Magic, the group created by the local DeTar Music Studios that takes the listener on a journey through catalog favorites from Queen, Muse, Steely Dan, Journey, and others.

WHEN: 6-8 pm

WHERE: 1214 State Street

COST: free

INFO: (805) 899-2222 or www.granadasb.org/roar-and-pour

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25

Something Corn-y This Way Comes – If you’re needing a reason to head down to Ventura’s fairgrounds this weekend, it’s in the bag. The bean bag, that is. The Throw Down Festival has grown to be the world’s largest tournament of lovers of the lawn game alternately known as sack toss, which has exploded across America in recent years. Now in its 13th year, The Throw Down boasts $350,000 in cash prizes – yes, for tossing a bean bag through or near a hole on a slanted board – split among the winning teams who stand out from the nearly 2,500 of the sport’s best players. This year, teams come from 49 states, Canada, Mexico, England, and Sweden, and ESPN Networks will air live coverage from the tournament. While the pro tourneys are full up, attendees are encouraged to enter the ongoing events that feature entry fees from $10 and up, as well as free practice games on the open courts. New this year to tourney (that’s also a festival) is a car show featuring classic automobiles from the 1960s through the 1980s, with a special emphasis on vintage “square body” types, more than 450 vehicles in total. The Throw Down also throws down from its stages with live music Friday night and all-day Saturday and Sunday – including a set from the 40-year veteran Ventura rockabilly-blues band Raging Arb and Friends (nee Raging Arb & the Redheads) – plus a kids’ area for the 12-and-under folks. As always, classic California beachside fare including famous fish tacos and ahi tuna burgers from event creator/producer Spencer Makenzie’s plus other popular local favorites are available for purchase.

WHEN: 12 noon-10 pm Friday, 10 am-10 pm Saturday, and 10 am-sundown on Sunday, August 25-27

WHERE: Ventura County Fairgrounds, located at 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura

COST: $25 1-Day Pass, $50 3-Day Pass

INFO: https://thethrowdowncornholetournament.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25

The Great Pretenders? – The Platters have delighted audiences around the world with their iconic vocal sound that blends rhythm and blues, doo-wop and soul, scoring a batch of harmony-laced hits that have endured for nearly seven decades. In addition to their chart-topping hit “Only You,” the quintet – who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 – achieved international success with timeless songs such as “My Prayer,” “Twilight Time,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “Harbor Lights,” “The Great Pretender,” and many more. And you’ve got to hand it to the name of the current show that will populate the stage at the Rubicon Theatre to close out the company’s Summer Concert Series: “The Platters: Many Voices, One Name.” That’s because having been founded back in 1952, there are no original members in the current outfit, which has gone through more personnel changes than, say, Trump’s cabinet. Still the current quintet carries on the Platters’ tradition as one of the classiest and romantic groups of the early rock n’ roll era, the ultimate in “make-out music” (although please sit in the balcony if you can’t wait ‘til you get home).

WHEN: 2 & 7 pm Friday & Saturday, 2 pm Sunday

WHERE: Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura COST: $69.50

INFO: (805) 667-2900 or www.rubicontheatre.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25

Drag Revue and Cabaret – The Santa Barbara French Festival, a beloved Oak Park tradition for more than 30 years, still hasn’t been resurrected since before the pandemic. But you can catch one of the fest’s favorite highlights via drag shows at lots of other venues these days, including Center Stage Theater tonight, where GURLZ Behind Bars presents an encore of its hot topic show Drag is NOT a Crime Jim Sirianni hosts the second annual Drag Revue and Cabaret that counters the political turmoil and aggression toward the LGBTQIA+ community and legislation across the country targeting drag performances – but with a whole lot of fun. It’s an evening filled with bawdy, burlesque, illusion, and intrigue. And… tape, lots and lots of tape (no explanation necessary). The straight outta jail performance, which also serves as a fundraiser for Center Stage Theater, is for adults only as it contains suggestive material and language.

WHEN: 8:30 pm

WHERE: Center Stage Theater, 751 Paseo Nuevo, at the intersection of Chapala and De la Guerra streets

COST: $25 general, $18 students & military, $35 VIP Table Seating includes one drink ticket

INFO: (805) 963-0408 or www.centerstagetheater.org

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

Yesterday… or 60 Years Ago – Yesterday: A Tribute to the Beatles, founded by Don Bellezzo , has been performing the Beatles’ music since 2001, and has enjoyed lengthy residencies in Las Vegas casinos and Atlantic City, toured both the U.S. incessantly, Japan seven times, and Canada, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Bahamas, and military bases throughout the world dozens of times. The rotating cast of musicians and singers portraying John, Paul, George, and Ringo are considered standouts among the legion of tribute bands who have been saturating the scene for decades. Indeed, Yesterday has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine , Showbiz Magazine , on NBC, CBS, ABC, and elsewhere over the years. So it shouldn’t be too hard of a day’s

“The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.” – Faye Wattleton

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

Pacific Pride Festival – This year’s all-day Pride at the Beach event is a joy-filled festival focused on access and belonging and featuring a full line up of live entertainment including headliner Calypso Jeté Balmain , drag phenomenon/trans activist and Mother for the House of Balmain, which was featured on the first season of the HBO Max ballroom-inspired reality competition television series, Legendary The festival also has safety as a top priority, and the grounds at Chase Palm Park will feature on-site security as well as safe spaces for folks to enjoy themselves in areas dedicated to arts, health, the outdoors, spirituality, social justice, and more. Food trucks and a vibrant beer garden are on hand, as is a new sober space named Sparkletown that will boast silent disco.

WHEN: 11 am-7 pm

WHERE: 323 E. Cabrillo Blvd.

COST: free

INFO: (805) 963-3636 or https://pacificpridefoundation.org

night when the tribute shop rolls into the Lobero tonight.

WHEN: 7:30 pm

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

COST: $30 & $40 ($106 VIP tickets includes premier seating and a pre-show reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres)

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

‘Colors of Love’ – Transform Through Arts presents the 9th annual Colors of Love dance show with a special dedication for 2023 to empowerment of women and honoring Mother Earth, diversity, and humanity. The event celebrates love, cultures, and unity with live professional dancers and singers covering such styles as Samba, Argentine tango, Flamenco, and other Latin dancers, plus belly dance and more. Audiences might experience a new sense of aliveness through the performances that offer mystery, vivacious energy, tender sensuality, exquisite beauty, and infectious passion.

WHEN: 8 pm

WHERE: Center Stage Theater, 751 Paseo Nuevo, at the intersection of Chapala and De la Guerra streets

COST: $35 general in advance ($40 at the door), $25 students

INFO: (805) 963-0408 or www.centerstagetheater.org

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

Wosene Seen and Heard – Forty-year veteran, Ethiopian-born American artist Wosene Worke Kosrof is the first to use Amharic script forms in contemporary abstract art, moving beyond their literal meanings to create paintings and sculptures in a new, international visual language he calls his ‘WordPlay.’ The artist’s new monograph “Beyond Words” features four essays and 69 color plates in addition to numerous in-text illustrations, documentary photographs, and supplemental images for context. The work was just published by Sullivan Goss, which will host a signing preceded by a brief discussion of the artist’s life and work with a panel that includes Wosene, Charles Donelan, and Dr. Sylvester Ogbechie

WHEN: 4 pm

WHERE: 11 E. Anapamu St.

COST: free

INFO: (805) 730-1460 OR www.sullivangoss.com

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING (805) 565-1860

ESTATE/SENIOR SERVICES

MOVING MISS DAISY

PHYSICAL TRAINING & THERAPY

Stillwell Fitness of Santa Barbara

In Home Personal Training Sessions for 65+ Help with: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Motivation, and Consistency

REVERSE MORTGAGES

ATTENTION SENIORS!!! IS A REVERSE MORTGAGE RIGHT FOR YOU?

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TRESOR

We Buy, Sell and Broker Important Estate Jewelry. Located in the upper village of Montecito. Graduate Gemologists with 30 years of experience. We do free evaluations and private consultation.

1470 East Valley Rd Suite V. 805 969-0888

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GOT OSTEOPOROSIS? WE CAN HELP

At OsteoStrong our proven non-drug protocol takes just ten minutes once a week to improve your bone density and aid in more energy, strength, balance and agility. Please call for a complimentary session!

Call Now (805) 453-6086

• All inquiries are strictly confidential Gayle Nagy 805-448-9224

Gayle@dmfsb.com

NMLS # 251258 / Company NMLS # 12007

Direct Mortgage Funding

Santa Barbara

Equal Housing Lender

Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act

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

Classic Car Storage

Clean, Dry, Secure, storage available for your classic Automobile. Near S.B. Mission, $ 500.00 per month. Call Ken (805) 252-9780 or kguoin@gmail.com

2 BR-2 Bath Retired professional, non-smoker, member Birnam Wood CC, Local references, no kids, no pets, seeking furnished, air conditioned house, guesthouse, condo, apartment in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria areas for July and August 2024. Monthly Rental $8 to 10k per month full service. In town and available to discuss and view properties until 9/15. Contact Margaret (830)-743-0945.

DearSantaBarbara.com

SING PLAY ALCHEMY

To enroll in voice &/or piano, submit an inquiry via www. rachelegenes.com. Classes at Studio 8 on Music Academy campus starting September. Thanks, RAE@rachelegenes. com 805-679-3266

PLAY MUSIC NOW!

Learn to play with the author of The Right Brain Music Method. NO note reading and great results. Former LA composer and multi-instrumentalist is teaching again in the Montecito area. Lessons in piano, guitar, uke, bass, slide guitar, mandolin, voice and MORE! James McVay 310 920 2679 rightbrainmusic@yahoo.com rightbrainmusic.com

AUTOMOBILES WANTED

TUTORING SERVICES

Need help with your homework? Having trouble in Computer Science, Spanish or Math? Math (Elementary school to College Algebra), Spanish conversation. Software consultant since 2000 for Truven Health Analytics, an IBM company in Santa Barbara, CA. Proud parent of graduate students of Laguna Blanca, CATE School, Stanford University.

Jesús Álvarez | 805-453-5516 mytutor29@hotmail.com

POSITION WANTED

Trusted, Experienced Caregiver, CA State registered and background checked. Vaccinated. Loving and caring provides transportation, medications, etc.

Lina 650-281-6492

ITEMS FOR SALE

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

We’ll help you figure it out. Contact me for an Opinion of Value & FREE 1 hr. Consultation.

LEARN:

When to sell and what to expect

How to maximize your price

Paige Esfandiari

(818) 274-1150

paige@mabusinessadvisors.com

DRE License# 01417096/02210926

REAL ESTATE WANTED TO BUY

Do You Want Out Now?? Local pvt. pty. @ great credit seeks fixer home; @ seller finan. or lease @ option. You set your price! No agents. 805-455-1420

RENTAL WANTED

Local Golf Pro seeks cottage to rent. Excellent references. Good credit. Respectful. Quiet. Pleasant. Easy time frame, as I am extremely flexible re: move in date. If interested, then please call, or text, Page at (805) 570-4591. Thank you! Much appreciated!

$10 MINIMUM TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

It’s simple. Charge is $3 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $10 per issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email Classified Ad to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860. All ads must be finalized by Friday at 2pm the week prior to printing. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)

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

TILE RESTORATION

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

BUSINESS BROKER

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ALISAL/SYCAMORE CANYON RD, MONTECITO ±14.65 acres • $495,000 N Kogevinas, 805.450.6233, LIC# 01209514

1086 VIA LOS PADRES, SB 3BD/2BA; +500sf workroom; ±0.60 acre • $2,975,000 Chase Enright, 805.708.4057, LIC# 01800599

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