The implausible Fannie Flagg brought Irondale sparkle and a sprinkling of octane to her love-soaked MClub afternoon, page 6
Pickleball Pause
Construction debris and yellow tape still surround Manning Park’s longawaited pickleball courts, page 12
18 Tecolote Talks – When life seems to be moving too fast, Petra Beumer’s workbook is here to help you slow it down
20 On Entertainment – Taylor Dayne explains all, James Taylor’s songs are paid symphonic tribute, SOhO shows and more
22
Montecito Health Coach – Monotony… it’s what’s for dinner… getting bored of the same routine? Here are some options to add a little spice to regular tasks.
25 Lucky’s 25th – The Montecito community celebrates its “second living room” and a quarter century of refined revelry
38 Curator’s Choice – Scanning electron microscope imagery
Sheriff’s Blotter
Hot Topics – Montecito Fire places a new Paramedic Squad unit into service to better serve our community
40 News Bytes – Events for Black History Month and Chabad, plus a new Italian culture festival and other tidbits
41 The Giving List – As ocean conditions worsen, CIMWI and its volunteer responders meet rising demand for wildlife intervention
Manning Park are still under construction, plus new Eagle Scouts and Dragon
30 Stories Matter – Just back from San Miguel Writers’ Conference, Leslie discovers new reads including true crime, literary mystery, and character-driven fiction
34 Elizabeth’s Appraisals – A San Diego storage locker preserved a precious diary and the sketch book of a renowned Hawaiian-themed artist
48 Calendar of Events – Border music, Baroque intrigue, and ballet brilliance headline a week of standout performances
50 Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads, in which sellers offer everything from summer rentals to estate sales
51 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles
Westmont – Theater department stages Little Women, alums pitch in for Day of Service, and book award finalists announced
37 Petite Wine Traveler – Allegretto Vineyard Resort blends European design, estate wines, and restorative Central Coast ease.
Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer
Montecito Reads
Every now and then, a story comes along that refuses to stay put. It lingers on your nightstand. It sneaks into conversation. For us, Last Light in Paradise is one of those stories, and we’re delighted to let it loose, one chapter at a time, in the pages of the Montecito Journal. Well, at least the first six chapters for the time being – then you can purchase the book at one of our local beloved bookstores (Chaucer’s, Tecolote, and Godmothers) or from the QR code below.
This book marks a first for us… Last Light in Paradise is the inaugural book published by MJ Media Group. Yes, we’re dipping a toe – perhaps a barefoot run – into the world of book publishing, guided entirely by our belief in a novel that is as cinematic as it is soulful, as local as it is timeless.
Set against the luminous backdrop of 1930s Santa Barbara, this is a tale of love and loss, mystery and reckoning, populated by unforgettable characters and infused with the kind of atmosphere that feels both dreamlike and deeply true. We invite you to settle in, turn the page, and join us at the edge of paradise… just as the light begins to change.
Last Light in Paradise
by Michael C. Armour
Chapter 8
They drove up the coast to Long Road. This bisected the two-lane highway and shot straight up through foothills and on up over the 4,000foot Santa Ynez ridge. But before it made the journey uphill, it offered an offshoot dirt road that wound through sycamore trees and ended in 127 acres of Chumash Indian reservation. On the long drive, they passed a number of Indians, doing things not readily identifiable. Though the reservation abutted the highway, it remained a stone’s throw from the sea on the other side, an ocean the Chumash had made a living from for thousands of years. Their boats, from local wood and tar seeps, were brilliant, their seashell money among the first coinage of the early world. A long-standing federal ingress left the Indians access to their old fishing grounds but no shore land to live on. Pass through, don’t stay. And now the movie people had subsumed the land for public good and blocked passage altogether. Creek wanted to know if Pony had been any part of the lawsuit the judge had told him about.
“Comfortable with that?” Creek asked, looking at Billy’s sidearm. Billy nodded. He had grown serious. He didn’t like it here. He turned back to the window to watch the hundred forms of enterprising constructions, games, machinery, and toys that children and old people drummed up on a reservation that had few workers and little money— except for The Talking House, an odd couple of gas pumps, and a motor repair shop.
It was not a wealthy reservation, but it was a tight community, and a very private one, filled with its own fierce pride of ownership and history. Creek knew a woman or two who took cash for trade, but only certain kinds of men wanted it bad enough to venture onto land where paranoia made them think someone might accidentally shoot them.
“You been up here before?” Billy asked Creek without looking at him.
Creek smiled and shook his head. “Many times.”
Now Billy turned and looked at him curiously.
“So, they know you?”
“They do.”
Montecito Reads Page 444
Scan here for Chapters 1 - 7
Beings and Doings
Our High-Flying Flagg
by Jeff Wing
Iarrive at the Santa Barbara Club with the jitters. The delightful and enviably energized Maria McCall has invited me to this MClub Lunch & Learn with a Valentine theme. The implausible Fannie Flagg – multifarious village litterateur / Manhattan night club bon vivant / bowling companion to Jack Nicholson – will be holding deadpan court and I can’t wait.
Yes, the Fannie Flagg persona is that of an immediately familiar and comfort-bequeathing quilt of many pastel colors –shot through with primary flashes of floral lightning and daubed here and there with tastefully spilled julep. But let’s pan out a little. Yes, Fannie hails from Irondale, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, and she truly is a genuine, heart-seizing oracle of small-town life. But it’s worth noting here that Neil Armstrong was born on a farm southwest of Wapakoneta, Ohio, and look what happened to him. Fannie Flagg’s “homespun” CV conveys something of Neil’s parabolic arc into orbit on a column of fire, and to my knowl-
edge she did not wear a helmet. She’ll be talking about some of that madness today. Fannie’s tale is one of the craziest and most spirit-lifting biographies you’ll ever gawp at from an uncomfortably exposed front row seat.
An Imagined Comfy Chair
The soirée convenes at the august Santa Barbara Club. In the days pre -
ceding I have giddily imagined myself ensconced there in a comfy chair and concealed by an enormous drooping fern in a far corner of the place. Safely tucked away I will toss my balding head back and clasp my hands in delighted amusement as Fannie Flagg lobs her delicious depth charges from a daïs across the room. I might be wearing a purple velveteen smoking jacket, whatever that is. “Oh, my dear Fannie! Ha ha ha ha ha! Oh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”
In fact, the mischievous Maria McCall seats me next to globally beloved Fannie Flagg at a round Arthurian table right up front. My strenuously practiced Mineards Panache will not be in evidence today. I arrive before the featured speaker, stammering hellos to my lovely lunch companions and bowing spasmodically like an arthritic samurai. I take the seat indicated by my demure title card and await Fannie Flagg’s arrival in terrified freefall.
When you have a two-syllable name like “Jeff Wing” – the phonic equivalent of someone stepping off a rain-soaked curb in slippers – it’s inevitable you will be seated across the table from a Houghton Hyatt , say. Some spoken names are lyrical phrases one breathes like a melody. “Hello, I’m Houghton Hyatt.” “Oh, hullo there. I’m JEFF! WING!” All the beautiful people at the table have names like Reynolds Price characters: Cathy Cash (hostess of the table), Houghton Hyatt (Executive Director of the Montecito Association!), Tony Morris (Executive Director of the Rona Barrett Foundation), Brenda Blalock , Suzi Schomer (SVP Wealth Analyst MB&T), Leslie Haight , the fab Janet Garufis (MB&T Chairman & CEO).
Fannie Flagg performing at the Clark Theatre, mid-1960s (photo courtesy of Alabama Department of Archives and History)
Patsy Neal comes ringingly into her own (photo courtesy of Birmingham Public Library)
Montecito Miscellany Fried Greens & Pink Hearts
by Richard Mineards
Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub recently spent a delightful morning with Fannie Flagg, beloved Southern storyteller and author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, during an intimate Valentine’s-themed Lunch & Learn at the Santa Barbara Club. She shared personal stories of her childhood, her challenges with dyslexia, the inspiration behind each of her books, and her reflections on life – along with the unexpected twists and timely opportunities that helped shape her remarkable career.
Warm, funny, and profoundly authentic, she reminded guests that writing what you know is key. Her newest novel in stock at Tecolote Books, Something to Look Forward To, continues her tradition of warmth, wit, and deeply human storytelling.
Novel enthusiasts included: Janet Garufis, Suzi Schomer, Dana Mancini, Cathy Cash, Brenda Blalock, Tony Morris, Jeff Wing, Dirk Brandts, and Maria McCall
Tuning into FestForums
FestForums 2026 – “The Premier Gathering for Festival Leaders” – founded
by Laurie Kirby of Montecito, convened over 600 of the most forward-thinking leaders across festivals, live events, arts, and culture. More than a conference, FestForums serves as a dynamic hub where artists, producers, creators, technologists, and community builders come together to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and help shape the future of live experiences. At its 9th Annual Awards Ceremony, held at The SOhO Restaurant, FestForums proudly named Adam’s Angels as its charity
Miscellany Page 424
Linda Rosso, Beverly Cavaliere, Contessa Diane Brighton, and Keith Moore get in the Valentine spirit (courtesy photo)
Maria McCall, Fannie Flagg, and Suzi Schomer saying “Red is not just for Roses!” (courtesy photo)
The star auction item – a brand-new Fender electric guitar signed by three rock legends (photo by Priscilla)
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At Goodwin & Thyne Properties we follow a simple, yet powerful principle when representing real estate buyers and sellers- always do what is best for you, our client. We are an integrated team of clientcentered, comprehensive, connected, collaborative, and committed Realtors®, Brokers, and Attorneys servicing Santa Barbara, Ventura, Ojai, the Central Coast, LA and beyond.
We take pride in hearing our clients say we treat them like family, because – we do. It’s at the core of what makes us different.
Operating from that place means there’s nothing we won’t, and can’t, do to get you the property, deal, and overall outcome you’re looking for. No matter how big or small, complex or simple, we’ve seen and done it all. We look forward to working with you.
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Women’s Day Panel
Stories
of Strength
at ShelterBox’s Annual Panel
by Zach Rosen
Montecito understands what it means to rebuild. That lived experience makes ShelterBox’s International Women’s Day panel especially resonant here, where recovery is part of the community’s recent history.
In a time marked by conflict, climate disasters, and widening inequities, the United Nations’ 2026 theme for International Women’s Day feels immediate: “Rights, Justice, Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
On Tuesday, March 3, from 5-7 pm, ShelterBox USA will host its annual event at the Music Academy of the West, gathering a panel of women whose lives trace arcs of courage, recovery, and transformation.
Now in its 10th year, one of the most notable themes of the panel is the incredible breadth of stories and inspiration that each panelist brings.
For ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray, “It may be one of my favorite days of the whole year.”
This year’s panel spans Olympic tracks and conflict zones, Hollywood sets and humanitarian front lines. It moves between intimate testimony and global perspective with deliberate range.
ShelterBox works in the world’s most challenging disaster and conflict zones, providing emergency shelter and life-saving aid to families uprooted by crisis. In those settings, Murray says, women and girls are often disproportionately affected. Yet they are also “the absolute backbone of every recovery.” This panel honors that spirit while widening the lens. It reminds us that strength takes many forms, and that progress begins with honest conversation.
In Audience and Advocacy
In Montecito, Kim Cantin’s story needs little introduction. The 2018
debris flow remains etched into the town’s collective memory, and with it, the devastating loss of her husband and son – and the miraculous survival of her daughter. In the years since, Cantin has transformed private grief into public purpose, authoring the award-winning memoir Where Yellow Flowers Bloom and stepping into a role as a resilience advocate whose message now reaches audiences far beyond the area.
Last year, she attended ShelterBox’s International Women’s Day panel as an audience member. She sat among neighbors and strangers, listening as women shared the harder edges of their journeys. The candor moved her. The intimacy of the format, thoughtful questions, and honest answers left her inspired.
Now, she returns not as a listener, but as a voice on the stage.
Cantin often speaks about life’s pivots – how swiftly and unexpectedly a path can change. What steadied her, she says, was community.
She recalls a moment early in her recovery, still on a walker, standing at the local CVS pharmacy. A stranger who had lost her husband on 9/11 recognized her from the local media coverage. She approached Cantin and offered her card, saying: “If you need anything at all, even if you need me to pick up your dry cleaning, I’ll do it for you.”
That small, unsolicited gesture became emblematic of what carried Cantin forward.
Safeguarding Through Prevention
Karen Rasmussen brings an international framework to the conversation.
A global safeguarding specialist, Rasmussen has spent more than two decades in international development, with the last 14 years focused on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse within humanitarian systems.
She has worked in places like Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Mozambique, Thailand, Afghanistan, and most
Montecito Tide Guide
recently in Washington, D.C.
Her work centers on a deceptively simple principle: prevention is possible.
Safeguarding, as she defines it, is not a reactive lawsuit after harm has occurred. It is the creation of codes of conduct, mandatory reporting structures, confidential complaint mechanisms, and survivor-centered investigations designed to ensure that aid workers do not exploit their positions of power
“Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility,” she says.
Rasmussen mentioned that there is often cultural discomfort that surrounds these conversations in the United States. While countries like the U.K. and Australia have conducted national inquiries into institutional abuse, she argues that the U.S. still leans heavily on post-facto litigation rather than proactive systems.
The cost of that hesitance, she notes, is borne disproportionately by women and children.
Her presence on the panel extends the lens beyond Montecito’s borders. She brings the macro perspective – the structural inequities and systemic blind spots that shape global vulnerability. Yet her
Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Joe DeMello
Features | Jeff Wing
Proofreading | Helen Buckley
Contributors | Scott Craig Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Houghton Hyatt
Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz
Gossip | Richard Mineards
History | Hattie Beresford
Humor | Ernie Witham
Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri
Health/Wellness | Ann Brode, Deann Zampelli
Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook
Food & Wine | Melissa Petitto, Gabe Saglie, Jamie Knee
Published by:
Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC
Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108.
How to reach us: (805) 565-1860; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; EMAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net
Our Town Pickleball Court Still Under Construction
by Joanne A Calitri
Istopped by the pickleball courts at Upper Manning Park on Sunday, February 22, to find that the site is still surrounded by construction debris and taped off by yellow security tape along its side facing San Ysidro Road. The short side of the courts’ grounds area is cleaned up with a lawn, bench, and plants. Signage, though, states to keep off the grass which is seeded. As of now, the court is not listed on the SB Parks and Recreation Department municipal courts, and has no updates other than the one I wrote here: https://www.montecitojournal.net/2025/12/09/ manning-park-sports-courts-update/ It is now a month past the projected date to finish, and no other updates from the City of SB are available. I suggest directing all enquiries to Supervisor Lee. 411: www.countyofsb.org/1632/First-District
Troop 33 Announces Four new Eagle Scouts
Scoutmaster Nathan Camp – Scoutmaster of Troop 33 Montecito, under the Los Padres Council of Scouts of America Pacific Coast District – proudly announces promotion of four Troop 33 scouts to Eagle Scout. They are Dylan Seawards, senior at SB High School; Leo Brownstein, senior at SB High School; Noah Slotnick-Lastrico, senior at San Marcos School; and William Covington, freshman at Westmont College. Having four new Eagle Scouts is a huge accomplishment for the Montecito troop, which can now boast of having the highest percentage of Scouts making it to Eagle Scout in the U.S. since its founding in 1935: there have been 81 Eagle Scouts awarded in the troop.
“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.” – Alan D. Wolfelt
Our Town Page 394
The Manning Park Pickleball courts (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
Manning Park Pickleball Courts with the “Freshly Seeded Grass” sign (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
The Society Edit
More on Monte’s
by Joanne A Calitri
More spoiler alerts on Monte’s Restaurant (1198 Coast Village Road) Montecito! First up –Chloe Lobdell, a Santa Barbara native, is now the Rincon Hill Farm Director, replacing Aiden Ostrowski
Seen making deliveries to the restaurant are local sea urchin merchants, as well as purveyors of tableware and décor. Inside views from peeps include the many tasty-testing experiences for a variety of specialty cocktails and menu items being sorted out by Executive Chef Daniel Kim
Driving by, we note that as of February 22 the signage on the front building façade still says, “Bar Lou.” We can’t help but wonder if this is a clever deterrent to keep locals from knocking on the door. However… full insider views can be had with an application for employment! The restaurant held an open call on February 22-23 from 11am to 2pm, and is still taking enquiries with résumés via email (careers@montessb.com).
My longtime dearest and well-known
PR magnate Jennifer Zacharias is keeping me apprised of the updates. Her latest news shares about the food sourcing from Rincon Hill Farm. “Everything Endwell Hospitality does begins with its farms. Serving as both agricultural anchors and creative centers for Endwell’s teams, the farms are rooted in regenerative practices that prioritize biodiversity, biologically active soils, and long-term ecological resilience. Rincon Hill Farm serves as the agricultural backbone of Endwell’s West Coast presence. The eight-acre working farm includes indoor and outdoor mushroom programs, citrus and fruit orchards, annual plantings, an avocado grove, a fermentation room, and a live fire grill, with indoor and outdoor venue spaces for special events. The site was transformed from a former single-crop avocado operation into a diverse agricultural landscape. Central to the farm’s approach is the integration of JADAM principles; an organic Korean farming methodology meaning ‘people who resemble nature.’ These practices emphasize closed-loop systems, native microorganisms, and biologically active soils, reducing external inputs
while strengthening natural cycles and long-term productivity.”
Additionally, Chef Kim explains, “When you’re involved with the farm from the beginning, it changes how you think about food. JADAM-based soil systems, seasonality, and biodiversity aren’t abstract ideas for us; they shape what ends up on the plate. Our job is to honor that work and translate it into something guests can sense and remember.”
411: @montescalifornia and @rinconhillfarm
News on Pasta Santina
Meanwhile, deep into homemade pasta we go with Chef Sergio Chierego’s new location for his brand – Pasta Santina, now in Carpinteria, located at 4185 Carpinteria Avenue, #5. Here you can walk in daily and pick up freshly made pasta while serenaded by vinyl spinning on a record player. Suitably laid back.
Chierego is from Sardinia, the secret blessed place off the coast of Italy with treasured beaches and history. His last gig was executive sous-chef for the José Andrés Group, NYC. His global career includes chef de cuisine for the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in a varietal of roles, and his first chef role dating back to 2006 in London, England at the Grand Imperial.
His pasta is quite artisan, containing three ingredients; semolina, spelt, and whole wheat flours – all organic and
farmed in the U.S. and used in a special ratio to make the best pasta experience one can have. You can select the pasta shape you wish, knowing this pasta provides high fiber and protein ratios, said to be part of the Mediterranean diet. He is there daily with his team, and they are ready to answer all your questions on preparing pasta and menus.
411: https://pastasantina.com
Till next week, Xx, JAC
Chef Sergio Chierego at his new Pasta Santina location in Carpinteria (courtesy photo)
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Your Westmont
‘Little Women’ Showcases Timeless Themes
by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott
Madeline Fanton remembers the first chapter book she read as a child: Little Women. Now the visiting professor of theater arts directs Westmont’s production of the novel by Louisa May Alcott, adapted by Kate Hamill, on Feb. 27-28 and March 6-7 at 7:30 pm; Feb. 28 and March 7-8 at 2 pm, all in Porter Theatre. Tickets – which cost $20 for general admission and $12 for students, seniors and veterans – may be purchased at westmont.edu/boxoffice. For more information, please contact the box office at (805) 565-7040.
“I fell in love with Jo’s fiery spirit, Meg’s steady heart, Amy’s ambition and Beth’s kindness,” says Fanton, who began teaching at Westmont in 2024. “I grew up on the 1994 film version, which continues to hold a very special place in my heart. The story continues to resonate today despite being set in the 1860s. The pains and joys of growing up, navigating love and loss, and figuring out who we want to be – these are universal human experiences.”
While Hamill’s adaptation varies from the novel and films, the play retains the themes that have endeared people to these characters for more than a century.
“Rehearsals have been full of laughs, high energy – everyone is finding their way into their characters,” she says. “I hope the cast comes away from this experience with a new perspective on these characters and what it means to create something brand new out of something familiar.”
Fanton, who graduated from UC Irvine, earned a master’s degree at Cal State Northridge and a doctorate at UC Santa Barbara, directed Poor Clare in 2023 at Westmont.
“I hope audiences connect the unique gifts of each of the characters to the people in their lives, and are prompted to reflect on the unique gifts and abilities of every person they encounter,” she says.
Director Madeline
“And I hope they call their moms, dads and siblings and tell them how much they appreciate them.”
Alums Give Back Through Day of Service
The Westmont Alumni Office launched its first Alumni Day of Service for alumni, students and staff with more than 50 volunteers serving on Feb. 7 across five different sites.
Teams worked with The Bucket Brigade, The Turner Foundation, Olive Crests’s Hope Refuge, the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and Doctors Without Walls.
“This growing service program emphasizes Westmont’s commitment to serve its community while strengthening alumni-student connections” says Janay Marshall (‘01), director of alumni relations.
The idea for a Day of Service came about after several alums sent feedback in a survey requesting opportunities to serve. “Our hope is that by creating opportunities for our alumni, staff and students to serve alongside one another that it will create unique connections,” Marshall says.
Westmont even had a crew of Orange County alumni tackling a service
Page 404
PATRICIA
Westmont
Fanton
Day of Service with the volleyball team in Goleta
Tecolote Talks Longevity Living with Petra Beumer
by Zach Rosen
Longevity is less a sprint toward the finish line and more a quiet devotion to how we spend our ordinary days.
Petra Beumer openly describes herself as a recovering “Type A high achiever,” shaped by a culture of rigor and accomplishment. Over time, she began to notice the toll that constant striving takes: burnout masked as productivity, exhaustion numbed by distraction. “We push hard and then collapse,” she reflects, pointing to the familiar cycle of overwork followed by hours of passive recovery.
That pattern became the catalyst for her life’s work.
Trained as a clinical psychotherapist in her native Germany, Petra Beumer holds a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Hamburg. Her early work centered on traditional therapeutic practice before she pivoted to human resources and, in 1994, immigrated to the United States with what she describes as “two bags” and a fresh start.
That geographical and professional leap marked the beginning of a deeper personal reckoning with the costs of high achievement and chronic overdrive.
As founder of Mindful Living 360, Beumer has spent years studying mindfulness research, self-compassion theory, and longevity science, distilling them into practical tools for modern life. Rather than focusing solely on time management, her philosophy emphasizes energy management – honoring one’s internal reservoir instead of perpetually overriding it.
Mindful living, as she teaches it, is less about retreating from the world and more about engaging with it fully: eating without distraction, listening without rehearsing a reply, walking on the beach without a phone in hand.
On Saturday, Feb. 28, from 3 to 4 pm at Tecolote Book Shop, Beumer will expand on these ideas in an interactive talk and workshop that blends research, reflection, and gentle practice. Drawing on 15 years of studying Blue Zones research – the global regions known for producing the highest concentration of centenarians –she will explore what the world’s longest-lived cultures share in common.
Strong community ties, daily movement, purpose, and gratitude all emerge as consistent threads. In fact, research from Harvard underscores the role gratitude and communal connection play in longevity.
Her talk also addresses the physiological consequences of chronic busyness
that can result in nervous system overdrive, elevated cortisol levels, and the creeping isolation that defines much of contemporary life.
Participants can expect simple, accessible strategies to recalibrate their life and reestablish alignment. And yes, there will be dark chocolate – included not merely as indulgence, but as a nod to research linking it to nervous system support and stress reduction.
Central to the afternoon is Beumer’s companion workbook, available for purchase at the bookstore. Designed as a portable, 30-day guide, it serves as both structured reset and ongoing journal. “It’s a nice little companion workbook,” she says, adding that she wanted something people could carry, write in, and return to, rather than simply admire.
The workbook is rooted in her Power9® philosophy, inspired by the nine lifestyle habits shared across the world’s healthiest cultures (which includes wine, naturally). Each day offers reflection prompts and practical exercises that translate global wisdom into daily practice.
All photography in the workbook is Beumer’s own, reinforcing her belief that mindfulness is cultivated through attention to beauty, breath, and appreciation of the ordinary details often overlooked.
Zach Rosen is the Managing Editor of the
enjoys
Petra Beumer will be speaking on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 3 to 4 pm at Tecolote (courtesy photo)
Montecito Journal. He also
working with beer, art, and life.
LEGACY THE BEGINS
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BELROSE
On Entertainment
Taylor Made: New Santa Barbara Resident Dayne’s Local Debut
by Steven Libowitz
Taylor Dayne always wanted to be a pop star, going back to her days growing up on the South Shore of Long Island when she was known as Leslie Wunderman. As soon as she could, the singer began working in rock and roll bands, patterning herself after similarly bigvoiced belters as Pat Benatar , The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde , Joan Jett , and Hearts’ Wilson sisters.
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But it was dance music that provided her ticket to stardom at the tender age of 23. After making a couple of independent dance singles, which she hustled to the clubs and radio DJs herself, Dayne ran into an old high school friend who worked at Warner/Chappell publishing in Manhattan. That led the singer and her even younger producer Ric Wake –who later went on to work with Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson, Sheena Easton, Jennifer Lopez and many others – to a song by a pair of the publisher’s staffers called “Tell It to My Heart.” Her version, originally a self-funded demo paid for by a $6,000 loan from her father, caught the attention of Clive Davis, who signed her to Arista Records.
The 12” single – the epitome of the era in the mid-1980s – bounded up the Billboard charts and into the Top 10. The smash sensation allowed Dayne – who had changed her name to cement a more marketable persona – to rise out of performing regularly among mobsters at a Russian club called Odessa in Brighton Beach. (The same locale presented fictionally in last year’s Oscar winner Anora).
The music video for “Tell It to My Heart” belongs in a 1980s time capsule from MTV’s heyday, chock full of highly choreographed dance moves, leather outfits and, most memorably, big hair – very big hair. International stardom ensued.
The song was nominated for a Record of the Year Grammy, the 1987 debut album of the same name went double platinum, and Dayne delivered a half dozen more Top 10 singles, in “Prove Your Love,” “I’ll Always Love You,” “Don’t Rush Me,” “With Every Beat of My Heart,” “Love Will Lead You Back” and “I’ll Be Your Shelter.” Along the way, she also became a darling of the burgeoning LGBTQ community, toured the world (including opening for the European leg of Michael Jackson’s Bad tour), and ruled the dance charts for decades.
Dayne, who happily shares her story from the stage these days, put it all in print in a 2019 memoir called Tell It to My Heart: How I Lost My S#*t, Conquered My Fear, and Found My Voice, a tale of success and struggles, reaching goals beyond her dreams and resorting with resilience to what life tossed her way.
And that was before a bout with colon cancer knocked her for a loop in 2022, the recovery of which led to time spent in Hawaii and, a little more than two years ago, semi-permanent relocation to Santa Barbara. Dayne has appeared twice at the Granada since then, including introducing Macy Gray at the One805 benefit, and singing one number at last fall’s Brian Wilson tribute. Her full show/debut as a local takes place on Friday, February 27, at the Chumash Casino.
Q. What brought you to Santa Barbara?
A. Honestly, it was part of my healing process. I loved the idea of living in this sanctuary. It’s pretty magical up here. I am really relishing being in a sacred space where everybody is pretty damn happy. Spending time at Lotusland, going to my yoga classes, meeting up at Lucky’s or the Honor Bar, taking amazing hikes up to
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Indira Subramanian, MD Movement Disorder Neurology, UCLA
Taylor Dayne plays Chumash Casino on Friday, February 27 (courtesy photo)
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy and The Celtic All Stars
Sun, Mar 1 / 7 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
“Tiler Peck’s dancing is distinguished by its musicality, speed and precision.”
The New York Times
Only West Coast Performance Two Nights! Two Programs! Ballet Festival: Jerome Robbins Curated by Tiler Peck
A Joyce Theater Production
Tue, Mar 3 & Wed, Mar 4 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
“Hull is as good a songwriter as a mandolin player, and could give Bill Monroe a run for his money on the latter.” Isthmus
U.S. Premiere of New David Lang Commission Danish String Quartet and Danish National Girls’ Choir
Six-time International Bluegrass Music Association Mandolin Player of the Year
Sierra Hull
Thu, Apr 16 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
Virtuoso Fiddle Fireworks
Montecito Health Coach
What’s For Dinnnnnerrrrr?
The Soul Crushing Reality of Monotony
by Deann Zampelli
Around 15 years ago I made a new friend. At the time, she was in her 70s and proudly declared that she didn’t cook anymore. She and her husband ate out or ordered in most nights and if her adult children came over, they could cook if they had the inclination. At the time, my children were small, and I remember thinking it a bit odd to just suddenly decide “not to cook” anymore, but more power to her for holding her ground.
A decade and a half later, I get it. I really get it.
But here’s the kicker; I truly don’t mind cooking, sometimes I even enjoy it. And I LOVE baking. But night after night, to accommodate four different humans and their disparate palates can be somewhat challenging. When they were small it was difficult in the expected ways; the finicky eater, the easy-going eater who wasn’t always hungry at meal-
times, the ever-changing likes and dislikes, you get the idea. Now everyone has their own schedules and eating plans. Hell, my son who is almost 18 probably eats six full meals plus snacks every day. I can’t keep up.
I just don’t have the bandwidth. I don’t care what’s for dinner. Truly. I shop for the food, I cook the food and if they don’t like it, they can make some eggs. Just. Don’t. Care. It has almost become a pathology. I can’t think of dinner. I get stressed as dinner time approaches. If I could obliterate the word dinner, I would. Really.
Why is that? I wondered. What happened to the women who 28 years ago voluntarily, cheerfully even, took on the role of chef?
Monotony. That’s what happened.
mo·not·o·ny: “The lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine.”
If you are one of those passionate chefs who finds inspiration at the cutting board every night, good for you. But
before you get your silicone baking mitts in a twist, hear me out.
Monotony isn’t just the dread of making three squares a day. It can become a maladaptive pattern that creeps into everyday life, and aside from it being annoying, it can also be truly unhealthy.
Low levels of boredom are good for us, in that they motivate the brain to find new outlets of stimulation. On the other hand, according to the NIH (The National Institute of Health, 2023), chronic boredom (which can happen with extended monotony), “…can disrupt motivation, reduce pleasure, and interfere with goal-directed behavior, which can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms.”
The reason for this is that monotony can lead to burnout. And while burnout is often associated with doing too much, the boredom that can arise from repetitive or under-stimulating tasks can create a similar stress response. Psychology Today found that, “It turns out that boredom and burnout are correlated. We see burnout as the result of doing too much and boredom as the result of doing too little. In fact, neither state is related to quantity of activities so much as what we’re doing. Boredom stems from uniform, repetitive tasks. No matter how many emails we have to answer, we’ll be bored if all of our tasks feel similar.”
Hence, the soul crushing monotony of DINNER. This is where it gets interesting. According to the American Psychological Association (the APA), employees engaging in repetitive work report higher levels of engagement and of mental and physical well-being if they also feel appreciated for the work they do. So, just to pull a random example out of the air, if you are making dinner, and the recipients of your blood, sweat and tears jump for joy and eat every bite of the bounty you have lovingly prepared – there is a good chance you won’t throw yourself overboard after doing it for decades. BUT: If you are using valuable, emotional real estate on said task and are receiving lukewarm entitlement in its stead… I can’t promise anything.
Join Jamie Knee, Petite Wine Traveler, for intimate wine dinners, in home wine tastings, and unforgettable wine journeys inspired by her travels through the worlds most exquisite vineyards. Uncork your curiosity- book your next personalized wine experience today.
What I realized in my work as a health coach is that part of this Dinner Depression is due to decision fatigue. I always advise my clients to do their grocery shopping as early in the day as possible. By the end of each day, we have made approximately 30,000 decisions. Either consciously or unconsciously, our minds are constantly deciding which way to turn, which socks to wear, what show to binge, where to go on vacation, WHAT TO MAKE FOR DINNER. And the list goes on. If you go to the store in the morning, you are more likely to stick to your grocery list and get the ingredients for your healthy meal plan. The same principles apply to making dinner every night. Decision Fatigue. The struggle is real. What to make, where to buy the ingredients, what time to start cooking, what time to eat, where is everyone, who liked or didn’t like which dish last time.
AAAAAAHHHHHHH.
My solution is simple, but orchestrating it might be less so. If possible, have one member of your household be responsible for dinner at least one night of the week. Depending on their age and capabilities the level of responsibility will vary, but here are a few ideas to get you started.
1. If you have little ones, have them suggest a dish or two and research simple recipes.
2. Tell your family member(s) what you have in the fridge that needs to be cooked and to come up with some suggestions on how to use it. My sister did this with her granddaughters and they made it like an episode of Chopped. The girls are only 6 and 8 and loved it.
3. Even if the other family members are responsible for ordering take out, it is on them. Not you. If they can drive, they have to pick it up and come home and set the table and do the dishes. Start to finish – it’s on them.
4. Make one night of the week a designated theme like Taco Tuesdays and rotate who takes it, make it a challenge as to who can make the best salsa or the best twist on an old standby.
5. Have one night of the week be buffet or “bar style” so the actual cooking is minimal; salad bar, tostado bar, baked potato bar, etc.
In the meantime, take a breath, do your best, and Bon Appetit.
Health and humor in the MJ National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach trained at Duke Integrative Medicine, Deann Zampelli owns Montecito Coaching & Nutrition. She also has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and has been a resident of Montecito since 2006.
Photo courtesy of Burton Snowboards
WIe are four long-term friends whose busy lives don’t allow us to get together as often as we’d like. But when we do, it’s always a boys’ night out at Lucky’s. We can count on great food, excellent service, and a night of laughter as we enjoy each other’s company in an exceptional restaurant.
– Paulo Sitolini, Kevin Finnegan, Brett Cambern, Jack Martin
n 2009 we moved to Montecito, making it our healing place after the loss of our son, Scott. From day one, Lucky’s became our favorite local restaurant largely due to the most warm and welcoming managers and staff always showing us kindness & empathy! We instantly considered them treasured members of our family.
– Frank & Pam Stapleton
Althoughwe live in Ventura, we celebrate all of our Birthdays at Lucky’s. Congratulations Lucky’s!!!!
– Kerby Zozula
Lucky’s on Christmas Eve. Great food, great atmosphere, great service, great ambiance, great family (3 generations of Sanfords), great friends...perfection.
We asked the waitress how long she has worked there and she said 28 years. Her husband, who she met there, worked at Lucky’s for 17 years before passing.
We love seeing the same faces every time we go there.
Special place.
S am Maphis, local Landscape Architect extraordinaire who was born on New Year’s Eve in 1954, wouldn’t think of celebrating both his birthday and New Year’s Eve anywhere else but Luckys!! A family tradition!
– Terry Maphis
T– John Sanford
hank you, Lucky’s. We are huge fans of weekend brunch, however cannot say enough about how you took such good care of the community without losing one bit of professionalism, quality, or deliciousness during Covid. Since we couldn’t dine in the restaurant, Eric and I ordered our dinners several times during the weeks of the shutdown. We were always so touched by the staff that prepared our dinners. Everything was just as hot and yummy as if we were there. Thank you & here’s to 25 more years!! Love you!
– Sincerely, Stephanie & Eric Kaster!
We’ve celebrated birthdays and milestones at Lucky’s for years—it’s our GameDesigner, steak-loving son’s favorite. Here he is marking his grad school acceptance with a two-steak meal. Congrats on 25 years!
– Rich Block
Always fun at Lucky’s!
– Quentin & Kristin Wahl
We adore Lucky’s! – Brett Davison
It was indeed our community’s lucky day when Lucky’s Restaurant opened its doors 25 years ago. Over the years, we’ve shared so many wonderful memories there — delicious meals, festive parties, and cocktails at “our” corner high-top table in the bar.
Among my favorite memories are from the early days, when we would occasionally dress in black tie just to have dinner at Lucky’s — just the two of us. It always felt so special.
The staff never failed to greet us with a warm welcome, outstanding service, and a dependability that kept us coming back. Thank you for the beautiful memories. I look forward to making many more.
Congratulations on 25 wonderful years!
– All my best wishes, Marlene Veloz
AwarmThank You to Lucky’s for employing a wonderful service staff. We’ve been “regular customers” for many years and come back week after week because of the warm and personal service we receive. You all are AWESOME!
– Ed & Kat Wetzel
WLife, lady’s lunches, and love at Lucky’s
– Patricia Griffin
hen our oldest grandson (now 23) was an infant, we regularly dined at Lucky’s.
Sam was in his car seat and we five became regulars. One night, Kirk Douglas was dining, and with his permission we took a photo of Sam and Kirk, which Lucky’s kept on a shelf for a long time. Sam became a fixture, moving from the baby seat to a chair at the table, and very often he would sit outside the kitchen watching what was going on in there. Our favorite waitress was Brenda. As the family grew, we spent many lovely dinners at Lucky’s.
– Sandy Oshinsky
A million dinners and memories at Lucky’s! – Leslie Zemeckis
ear Readers from here to around the world! This year we celebrate 25 years of being lucky to have the Coast Village Road cornerstone and landmark restaurant, Lucky’s Steakhouse Montecito. This is the flagship location that launched its Malibu, NYC Soho and East Hampton Long Island sisters.
The restaurant’s refined dining rooms and bar areas are the home of luxury business deals, Ferrari Vintage car owners, real estate deals, birth-
days, weddings, anniversaries, matchmaking, book authors, GNOs, film festivals, travelers, celebrity seekers, and in community spirit every Ghost Village Road!
Lucky’s is the destination location with its beloved menu, incomparably extensive wine cellar, and prized liquor selections. Its history of extraordinary maître d’s and sommeliers says all that need be said, from Eric Maldonado serving a 1970 Pétrus wine or 1982 Château Mouton-Rothchild, and overseeing private client cellars; to epic Executive Chef and General Manager Leonard Schwartz, who
was at the helm from 2007-2024; to current master maître d’ Larry Nobles. Plus, all under the genius of owners Gene Montesano, Jimmy Argyropoulos, and Herb Simon
With a Russian River chardonnay in hand, we know Lucky’s affords a sub rosa spot for tête-à-têtes, if those walls could talk! And if you can’t help but wonder , I do have many such stories to share, but what happens at Lucky’s stays at Lucky’s! Suffice it to say Eric intuitively escorted me from a boring dinner date to the restaurant’s comfy bar – how did he know!? And the time I had
to stop a star-struck, out-of-town friend from staring and attempting photos of Carol Burnett , who was dining by the fireplace. Not to mention my many wonderful years of photographing the happy, costumed visitors for Ghost Village Road. Oh my! In the words of my London friend, “now this is a proper steak and martini!”
As the many photos and memories have shown, we can all truly savor this legendary “second living room of Montecito,” and toast its continued success.
Xx Forever Lucky’s! JAC
Just back after a wonderful week as a guest of the San Miguel Writers’ Conference. Many of the best-selling authors I met have terrific books I wanted to make sure were on your radar.
‘Without Consent’
Greta Rideout’s harrowing tale is an empathetic investigation into a once-controversial subject in Sarah Weinman’s Without Consent: A Landmark Trial and the Decades-Long Struggle to Make Spousal Rape a Crime Though her husband would be acquitted, the 1978 case was the beginning of the movement that criminalized spousal rape. Making it illegal by 1993. Weinman’s research is thorough but never dry, reporting details with compassion for a difficult subject.
‘Havoc’
Ithoroughly enjoyed the elderly woman meddling around a sun-baked Egyptian
Stories Matter
Hot Off the Conference Presses
by Leslie Zemeckis
luxury resort in Christopher Bollen’s Havoc. The book was a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist, and it is a hoot. Maggie is 81 and looking to “help” some unsuspecting guest but meets her match in an eight-year-old boy, another guest at the hotel along the river Nile.
‘Broadway Butterfly’
Sara DiVello’s Broadway Butterfly was reviewed here prior and remains a favorite. DiVello fictionalizes a true crime that occurred in 1923 when Dot King, a dancer, is found murdered in her own bed. Crime reporter Julia Harpman investigates the numerous suspects, including a lover or two. This is fast-paced and lush with details of the era and with motives, as two women – Dot and Julia – try to make their way in a man’s world.
‘Pick a Color’
Giller prize winner Souvankham Thammavongsa’s Pick a Color is the delightful tale of a nail salon owner. Ning is a retired boxer (minus a finger) who has named herself Susan for her clients, who just see her as another anonymous immigrant with polish and file. The story takes place over a single day and Thammavongsa told me she is looking forward to writing a story that takes place over one hour. I don’t doubt she can pull that off.
‘The Shape of Dreams’
New out this month is The Shape of Dreams by April Reynolds, set in the mid-1980s in East Harlem with the discovery of a dead 12-year-old Black boy. The story follows Anita, the boy’s devastated mother, as she grapples with how to carry on. She had always been so careful with her son, who seemed to follow the rules: don’t stay out late, don’t cause trouble. Who did this to her boy? A cast of neighborhood characters rounds out the ensemble of hardworking or hardly working neighbors,
including a sincere pastor fighting for his people, the six-foot woman who discovers the body, and Anita’s best friend, Wanda. It is a story of a time when a city was beaten down, a neighborhood’s crimes unsolved, and the citizens fought for dignity and a better quality of life.
‘Saoirse’
Sby
is a mystery set in Ireland. A young woman on the run from her past falls straight into trouble in the guise of a helpful stranger. Saoirse is an artist struggling to start over, to forget the things she has done, and to stay safe. When the art world discovers her, it puts her in peril as the media wants to know who she really is. This one was a beautiful immersive read and I found myself longing to tell Saoirse everything would be alright, even as I knew it would not.
Leslie Zemeckis is an awardwinning documentarian, bestselling author, and actor. The creator of “Stories Matter,” co-sponsored by SBIFF, and the co-founder of the Santa Barbara Literary Festival.
aoirse
Charleen Hurtubise
Skofield Park. I love going to the farmers market on Tuesdays, having dinner with friends at Brophy Bros., or just walking the streets downtown, finding little gems. And of course the arts community, which is so tight knit and giving of their time. It’s a great place to lay your head at night.
Let’s go all the way back. You wanted to be a rock singer. Somehow you ended up basically revolutionizing dance music. How’d that happen?
What can we expect in the show at the Chumash?
I intend to, as I always do, tell the story, show the journey of my life and career. This isn’t just rehashing the music of the last 35 years. It’s curated. My creative team and I spend time on every song. The idea is to have the audience feel like they are a part of this journey, the story of a girl who became a star. It’s like a musical with a beginning, middle and an end.
Can I ask you how surviving cancer changed you?
After being in bands, I was just trying to be a solo artist. A hit record is a hit record, whatever genre you want to call it. What I did was perceived as dance music, but having number one hits all over the world was incredible. At first, my intention was to get notice, get recognition through a crossover record –a pop record that the clubs would get off on. Ultimately I did create a sound like the sonic boom for what was considered club music, and club music. But it was about working hard. I went to every club, talked to every DJ and record industry guy. I knew New York backwards and forward. Ric and I started when he was 19 and I was 21. We spent two years financing ourselves and seeing what worked, totally organic grassroots, figuring out how to make it happen. I just kept making every move conceivable until the doors knocked out.
Estates... states...
Gardens... ardens...
So yeah, there’s the dance component. I was heralded for making the crossover from the clubs to radio. You get the DJs, then the audience, then the radio and the fans. That ended up becoming a system for a lot of other artists to kind of break through.
What was it like for you when it happened in what looked from the outside to be overnight?
It was an explosion. Absolutely wild. My single was released first in Europe and it blew up into such an enormous record that I was opening up for Michael Jackson at the end of the year. That still blows my mind. It’s like Chappell Roan (who also changed her name and persona with her first record) and next thing you know, you’re at the Grammys, you’re up for record of the year, Artist of the Year. That’s the way it works. You hustle through and figure out who you are if you can find a moment to take a breath.
You can’t imagine what it’s like. There were paparazzi in Europe, being chased by motor cars, the whole thing. It was huge and relevant and all part of the fabric of Europe. Wild times.
Speaking of rabid fans, you’ve had the LGBTQ community in your corner basically since the beginning.
They fully embraced me right from the start. I had no idea what I was walking into, but wow. They’re still a huge part of my core audience. To this day, I have never felt more loved in my life. It’s like a Band Aid for me… I think it all comes down to the way I look, the way I express myself. I’ve got this big, beautiful, ballsy voice and attitude, and it all kind of came together. There’s no holds barred. I think it also was a very unique sound at a time where women’s voices weren’t quite as accepted in the clubs. And I’ve been friends with RuPaul for over 30 years now. That was very impactful, too.
To be truthful, it’s been an honor to represent voices for people that they don’t have that opportunity to have. To see over time how that community has become stronger and to feel a part of that fabric, that family, even indirectly, is purposeful and incredible.
Beyond that community, why do you think “Tell it to My Heart” and “Prove Your Love” became such massive hits that they are touchstones of the era now? You only have to hear the opening bars and you get taken back to the ‘80s.
I was there at this time in this place, and my voice and the music touched people. But really the music is just classic pop, things that stand the test of time. That’s why you hear it in commercials and movies about that time. It’s the soundtrack of people’s lives.
I was a warrior for myself, but I also had people around me to support me and to allow me to have vulnerability. Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Summerland were part of that healing process for me deeply. My friends that took care of me. The place where I felt the most safe and grounded was up here. Now, it’s all part of what you see today. It’s not a survivor mentality. It’s more of ‘what do I do with my time, and what’s my purpose?’ I know my voice heals people. My voice brings joy. So I take that work very seriously, almost on a service level. Honest to God, I think that’s why I fought hard, I put up the battle and I’m still here. And now it’s another notch in my lipstick case.
Visit www.chumashcasino.com
Taylor, Take Two: James as a Jumping off Point
Santa Barbara Records, the Granada Theatre and the Santa Barbara Symphony have announced the second installment in their Locals & Legends series, following last May’s tribute to the late David Crosby that featured orchestral arrangements of Crosby’s songs alongside local artists’ original compositions. This year’s collaboration, slated for April 25, features the perhaps even more timeless catalog of singer-songwriter James Taylor, with a number of the label’s local luminaries offering their take on his poetic storytelling. Omar Velasco, Celeigh Chapman, Mendeleyev, Will Breman, and Brandi Lentini will bring Taylor’s most cherished songs to life in newly reimagined arrangements supported by members of the Santa Barbara Symphony, led by Music and Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti. Each artist will cover one of Taylor’s chestnuts (“Carolina in My Mind,” “Fire and Rain,” “Country Road,” etc.) and also share a new original song inspired by the spirit and legacy of Taylor’s music.
Visit www.granadasb.org
Third Time’s the Charm: Taylor Made Tapestry’s Tribute to Legends
Can’t wait till April for classic ‘70s singer-songwriter songs sung by folks today? Taylor Made Tapestry, which comes to SOhO on March 1, recreates James Taylor and Carole King’s famous Troubadour Reunion Show from 2007. Now nearly 20 years past, that was the incandescent show that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the West Hollywood landmark. Taylor Made Tapestry features Carla Buffa channeling King and Stephen Bock taking on Taylor. The singers, who also play keyboards and guitar, respectively – are supported by a quartet of veterans, including bassist Jim Wooten, drummer Kevin Wachs, percussionist and horn player Preston Gould, and guitarist Devitt Feeley
Visit www.sohosb.com
Chase-ing a Gig: Concerts in the Park Seeks Bands
Want to appear in one of the biggest and best-loved free outdoor community events in town? Santa Barbara Parks & Rec is seeking musical acts for the annual summer concert series Concerts in the Park. The family-friendly summer tradition has brought a range of musical entertainment to Chase Palm
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Consign for a Cause
Support Your Favorite Local Charity with your Consignments
Elizabeth’s Appraisals
Art Lost & Found
by Elizabeth Stewart
enjoyed buying storage lockers whose owners had defaulted on payments. He bought one in the early 2000s in San Diego and stuffed boxes of books and papers into his own storage locker here in Santa Barbara. Newly retired, he had the time to sort through boxes of paperwork. In one old box he found a diary and the sketch book of a renowned Hawaiian artist, Madge Tennent (1889-1972), and has framed four of the sketches. What do I know about finding lost art, he asks?
I know you find art in the strangest places, and once you do, it is almost impossible to trace how the artist “lost” their own work. Unless an artist has known since putting pen to paper at 10 years old that she/he was going to change the face of art history, artists typically do not establish their own archives or catalogue their works. That is left to family members later, if they are lucky. And artworks DO show up in odd places. One of the tests of a true connoisseur is this question: “If you walk into a dirty garage in a rundown house, would you recognize the Kandinsky leaning against the wall?”
Madge Tennent’s work in oil sells for between a million and a hundred thousand dollars. Her small watercolor line-drawing portraits, such as the four framed by MN, sell for $1,000 to $2,500 each. Not sure what the sketchbook would bring, but Bonham’s Auctions is a leader in sales of works by Hawaiian artists, and MN should take photos of all for an auction estimate: he does not have to sell...
Tennent was a free spirit before women were allowed to be. Born in England to progressive parents who welcomed all religions and races, her family moved to South Africa: when Tennent exhibited precocious artistic talent at 12,
the family moved to Paris so she could study art at the Académie Julian under famed William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Returning to South Africa, she met a soldier from New Zealand, married, and on the way to London stopped in Hawaii in 1923. She never left.
She discovered the beauty of the islands and the people, and although she had made her living painting portraits of upper middle-class people like herself, she began to paint the ‘wāhine’ of Hawaii. With each portrait her canvases grew larger and her palette more colorful; she eschewed the brush for the boldness of the palette knife. She fell in love with people of Polynesian heritage, writing “the women are a perpetual and queenly benediction from an island possessing the most beautiful people of the world.”
The world discovered Tennent’s work in the 1930s. She had shown at the Honolulu Museum of Art but her work was more broadly exposed when she showed her Hawaiian-themed works in New York City, in Chicago, and in Europe from 1930-1939.
Until the time of her first heart attack in the mid 1950s, whence MD’s portraits originate (they are signed and dated:
12pm
two from 1955 and two from 1956) her work was huge and bold. After her illnesses she concentrated on small intimate sketches. Some of these were portrayals of Hawaiian Royalty, personages she considered to be descended from gods. Her charcoal portrait sketch of the beautiful Princess Kaiulani sold for over $1,000. From 1955 to 1965 she struggled with heart ailments. Ultimately, she made a permanent move into Maunalani Hospital, where she died in 1972.
MD did not know the name of the former owner of the storage locker where he found Tennent’s work, nor did he know Tennent’s son Arthur Cowper Tennent, who established the Tennent Art Foundation in the mid 1970s. MD remembers the storage locker contained fine Persian rugs and some other items he sold, but he doesn’t remember any other works of art. This leads me to believe that the owner of that storage locker was not a collector of art, but a friend of the Tennent family, someone with whom Madge would entrust a sketch book. Her first marriage ended in divorce in 1914, but my research indicates that first husband Bertie Phillips Denham was an English journalist (and not a San Diegan). Her second husband died in Hawaii in 1967.
In 2005 her son Arthur gave 30 oils and 40 works on paper to the Hawaii Preparatory Academy, establishing the largest collection of other works outside of the collection of Tennent’s teenage friend Donald Angus, who owned at least 53 drawings. And now MD has discovered he owns many more than the four he framed!
Art is found where you LEAST expect it.
Elizabeth Stewart, PhD is a veteran appraiser of fine art, furniture, glass, and other collectibles, and a cert. member of the AAA and an accr. member of the ASA. Please send any objects to be appraised to Elizabethappraisals@ gmail.com
The simple yet bold sketch was done in Madge Tennent’s later years
“Last Light in Paradise is drop-dead perfect. In all my years of investigating for the United States and the President–this is the kind of novel you go to for truth, heart, and the deep pleasure of a master storyteller.”
– Richard C. LaMagna
Former Director of Counternarcotics White House National Security Council and former Deputy Chief of Intelligence DEA HQ
– Fannie Flagg
Now available at Chaucer’s Books, Tecolote Book Shop and Godmothers
WENDY GRAGG
Park since its inception in 2000, attracting thousands of attendees to the waterfront open space every July. Shows this year are slated for July 2, 9, 16, and 23, and musical acts interested in being considered must submit an online application by Wednesday, March 4. Bands must be able to demonstrate their experience playing for large crowds, provide a 90-minute sample setlist, and links to past performances. The selected bands will be notified in April, and the official line-up will be released in June.
Visit SantaBarbaraCA.gov/Concerts
Chaucer’s Choices: Naughty When Nature Is Naught
Kathleen Lockyer draws on almost three decades of practice as an occupational therapist as well as her own story to offer a powerful re-framing of how children develop and how adults can heal alongside them. In her new book Wild Inside: How Nature Protects Your Child’s Mental Health and Restores Yours, Lockyer offers parents, educators and healers specific guidelines for transforming behavior by learning how to build a healthy nervous system with nature as a wise guide.
Lockyer reveals how many modern childhoods suffer from developmental deprivation, leading to challenges often mislabeled as anxiety, inattention, or defiance. Positing nature as an essential need for healthy development, she introduces her concepts of ecoception (our innate sensory connection to nature) and relational-regulation (how the nervous system is shaped by interacting), which together serve as a trauma-informed, nature-based antidote to the disconnection driving today’s mental-health crisis.
Lockyer, who lives on the Central Coast, talks about the book and signs copies at Chaucer’s Books on March 4. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for one of the local nonprofits that puts the concept into practice, namely the Wilderness Youth Project (WYP). Ten percent of all sales from 5-7 pm that day will go to WYP, who will also have representatives on hand to answer questions about the program. www.chaucersbooks.com
Kathleen Lockyer will be at Chaucer’s Books on March 4 (courtesy photo)
Petite Wine Traveler
An Italian Villa Wine Getaway in Paso Robles
by Jamie Knee
Two and a half hours up Highway 101, California begins to feel different. The marine layer fades, the sky stretches wider, and the hills take on a golden hue that holds even in winter. When I visited Paso Robles earlier this month, daytime temperatures climbed to a sunlit 78 degrees, transforming January into a warm-weather escape. Just east of downtown, Allegretto Vineyard Resort appears almost unexpectedly, a Mediterranean-style estate where warmth extends beyond the climate and into the very way the property is designed to be experienced.
Set across 20 acres of vineyards, olive trees, and gardens, Allegretto feels more like a private Italian villa than a traditional resort. Stone archways frame quiet courtyards, tiled corridors invite wandering, and the pace slows almost immediately. This is a place designed for lingering, for walking without an agenda, and for letting the day unfold naturally.
Allegretto Vineyard Resort is the vision of Douglas Ayres, a fourth-generation hotelier and the guiding force behind Ayres Hotels, a family-owned hospitality company operating since the early 1900s. When the resort opened in 2015, Ayres envisioned it as more than a luxury hotel. It was designed as a sanctuary, informed by his extensive travels throughout Europe and a deep interest in sacred geometry, balance, and symbolism.
The architecture feels personal rather than performative. Many elements, from stonework to furnishings, were sourced directly from Europe, giving the resort a sense of authenticity and age. Allegretto does not reference Italy as a theme. It embodies it as a philosophy.
Art is woven seamlessly throughout the property. Sculptures, tapestries, paintings, and artifacts curated by Douglas Ayres appear in corridors, courtyards,
and quiet corners, encouraging discovery rather than spectacle. The collection feels lived in, layered, and deeply intentional, reinforcing Allegretto’s identity as a place designed for reflection as much as rest.
One early morning, I rose before the resort fully stirred and spent nearly half an hour walking the labyrinth, its winding path designed for slow, deliberate movement. The only sounds were my footsteps, the soft rustle of wind through the vines, and the distant bleating of goats grazing in the vineyard. It was a moment of rare stillness, one that revealed the meditative nature of the property in a way no architectural detail alone could. Allegretto is not simply beautiful. It is quietly grounding.
The grounds themselves are designed for contemplation. A small chapel sits tucked among the gardens, while pathways inspired by astrological signs invite sedate wandering. Rising behind the resort, a mountain frames the estate, lending a sense of calm and enclosure that makes even a brief stay feel restorative.
Wine is central to the Allegretto experience. Ayres is also the owner of Allegretto Wines, an estate wine program focused on small lot, sustainable viticulture across
three vineyards in the Willow Creek and Estrella districts of Paso Robles. These warmer inland sites benefit from cooling evening air, producing wines with structure, freshness, and depth.
Italian and Bordeaux varietals anchor the portfolio. cabernet sauvignon leads with dark fruit, savory nuance, and polished tannins, followed by tannat, malbec, and zinfandel. White wines include viognier and chardonnay, while a distinctive Rosé of Tannat adds texture and versatility. Signature blends such as Heart of the Vine and the Della Vita label reflect the estate’s philosophy of balance and longevity.
The tasting room, located within the resort, offers a Mediterranean-style setting with indoor and outdoor seating.
Tastings are relaxed and unhurried, with guided vineyard walks available on select days. Cheese and charcuterie boards, along with dishes from Cello Ristorante & Bar, can often be enjoyed in the courtyard, creating effortless wine and food pairings.
Cello Ristorante & Bar continues the Mediterranean narrative with a seasonal, ingredient driven menu rooted in Italian tradition. House-made pastas, thoughtful sauces, and Central Coast produce define the experience. Evenings unfold slowly here, wine glasses refilled as the courtyard glows under the evening light.
The spa offers a quieter form of luxury. Treatments draw from European wellness traditions and focus on restoration and balance. A massage followed by a vineyard walk feels less like an itinerary and more like a way of life.
Allegretto Vineyard Resort delivers something increasingly rare, a destination that feels transportive without being distant. Paso Robles reveals itself as a place where Italy meets California, and Allegretto stands as its most quietly compelling expression.
Jamie Knee is a Global Wine Communicator, Wine Media Personality, and International Wine Judge & Educator, named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential Women in Wine.” Follow her @petitewinetraveler.
Jamie in the gardens at Allegretto Vineyard
The Della Vita label reflects the estate’s philosophy of balance and longevity
The labyrinth at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
Allegretto Vineyard Resort is the vision of Douglas Ayres, a fourth-generation hotelier
Curator’s Choice
Each segment in this elegant structure is a chamber that once sheltered an individual animal. In effect, it’s an apartment block just a millimeter wide. The image is black-and-white because it was taken with a scanning electron microscope, a device that creates images of tiny objects by bombarding them with electrons rather than sensing visible light. This particular extreme close-up reveals the calcified chambers left by a colony of bryozoans, microscopic marine animals that are little known but widespread. This species ( Thalamoporella californica ) is locally common as a branching crust on kelp and other algae. Howard/Berry Chair of Malacology Henry W. Chaney , PhD, stewards and studies many thousands of bryozoan specimens at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. He and colleagues at the Museum photograph this hidden world to learn more about mysterious animals and share data with researchers worldwide.
Hot Topics New Paramedic Squad Placed into Service
Montecito Firefighter/ Paramedics
Jared Gamm and Brandon Bennewate stock the new Squad 91 with equipment
by Christina Atchison
On February 17, Montecito Fire Department placed a new Paramedic Squad unit into service to better serve our community.
The new Squad 91 is housed at Station 91 at 595 San Ysidro Road. Squad 91 replaces a 13-year-old unit with more than 75,000 miles. It is staffed daily with two firefighters, including at least one paramedic.
“Squad 91 is the busiest unit in Montecito Fire’s fleet,” said Fire Chief David Neels
Squad 91 responds to all calls for emergency medical service, every fire incident, traffic collision, special rescue and hazardous materials call in Montecito and the surrounding area as part of local automatic aid agreements.
“This updated vehicle is essential to providing our community with the highest-level of medical care and exceptional emergency service,” Chief Neels said.
MSHERIFF’S
BLOTTER
DUI / East Valley and San Ysidro Road
Monday, February 09, at 00:59 hours
Subject was stopped for equipment violations. CHP responded for a DUI turnover and ultimately arrested subject for DUI.
Train Track Incident / Lookout Park
Tuesday, February 10, at 17:02 hours
An unidentified male subject was struck by a train. After being stabilized, he was then transported to Santa Barbara to be treated for his injuries.
Trespassing / 100 block Butterfly Lane
Thursday, February 12, at 12:40 hours
Subject was found on railroad property near the above location. He was issued a citation for violation of PC 369i(a)(1), he left the area after the citation.
A committee of Montecito firefighters worked diligently on the design and build out of Squad 91 for more than two years, including Fire Captain Daniel Arnold
“Keeping our fleet’s environmental impacts in mind, we opted for a gasoline engine in the new squad instead of diesel to reduce maintenance burdens
associated with current emission standards,” Captain Arnold said.
Squad 91 is built on a Ford F-550 chassis that allows for tight turning and optimal maneuverability of Montecito’s narrow roads. It also has a customized equipment box, including special compartments to secure firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs).
“Health and safety are always top of mind when designing our vehicles,” Division Chief of Operations Anthony Hudley said. “By keeping our SCBAs (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) in their own individualized compartments, it not only frees up valuable space, but it also prevents harmful particulates from the exterior of the SCBAs from contaminating other equipment.”
Montecito Firefighter/Paramedics Jared Gamm and Shawn Whilt served as paramedic advisors during the unit’s design to ensure it is equipped to meet the unique needs of the Montecito community. We would also like to thank our Fire Mechanic Jess Moran for his high-quality work and dedication to maintaining our fleet.
“The attention to detail and dedication by each member of our apparatus committee, our paramedic advisors, and our Fire Mechanic are clearly reflected throughout Squad 91’s design,” Chief Hudley said.
Squad 91 is housed at Montecito Fire Station 91 at 595 San Ysidro Road
Butterfly from Faunae insectorvm germanicae or Elements of the insect fauna of Germany, George Wolfgang Panzer, Nuremberg, 1796-1813, hand-colored engraving
message returns to the individual: prevention begins with awareness, courage, and the willingness to speak.
Excellence and the Invisible Battle
Olympic medalist and two-time Diamond League Champion Brittany Brown represents resilience in motion. A Southern California native and elite American sprinter, she balances worldclass athletic performance with advocacy for women’s health, particularly for those living with endometriosis.
Brown’s career dismantles assumptions. She is the embodiment of strength – an Olympian whose body propels her across global tracks – while simultaneously managing a condition that can be life-altering and debilitating. Her advocacy challenges the notion that excellence must look effortless. It insists that women’s pain, even when unseen, is real.
While Brown was at a Nike event and unavailable for an interview, Murray reflected on her own struggles early in life with endometriosis and spoke about how invisible the condition can be. In a culture that oscillates between glorifying female achievement and minimizing female suffering, Brown’s story bridges both. She stands as proof that vulnerability and velocity can coexist.
Global Identity, Local Purpose
Actress Jordana Brewster, best known for her role in the Fast & Furious franchise, brings both public visibility and personal candor to the stage. Born in Panama, raised in Rio, and educated at Yale, she carries a global perspective shaped by Hollywood’s spotlight – and a growing commitment to hands-on community work here at home.
She believes women serve each other best by sharing what she calls “the underbelly” of their journeys – the insecurities, the hurdles, the internal
negotiations that accompany success. Vulnerability, she says, creates connection. If even one woman in the audience hears something that resonates, the conversation has done its work.
That openness extends beyond personal storytelling into service. Since moving to Santa Barbara, Brewster has intentionally immersed herself in local advocacy, often bringing her two sons along to model engagement and gratitude. She has worked with DignityMoves, supporting innovative interim housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness. She has joined beach cleanups through the Paul Walker Foundation, reinforcing environmental stewardship as both responsibility and legacy. She has volunteered with the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade and assembled essential supplies for families through Baby2Baby, and she continues to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For Brewster, these efforts reflect a belief that community is built through participation.
Courage, On and Off the Front Lines
The evening will culminate in the presentation of the 2026 Warrior Award to CNN anchor and international correspondent Sara Sidner – who will be accepting the award remotely from her NYC locale.
Honored for her fearless reporting from conflict and disaster zones, including during a battle with Stage III breast cancer, Sidner embodies both professional bravery and personal fortitude. Sidner has reported from some of the world’s most dangerous regions. Yet in conversation, she shifts the focus inward. Cancer, she explains, reoriented her relationship to her own body. After months of chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries, she began
Our Town (Continued from 12)
This week, I received official word that Leo’s Eagle Scout U. S. Flag project has been chosen as Eagle Project of the Year by the Los Padres Council. It now goes to the regional competition (California and Nevada), and if chosen, will be one of 14 considered for national recognition. A full news report on all the Eagle Scouts, their bios and projects, and the Eagle Scout ceremony is forthcoming.
The Montecito Journal congratulates the Eagle Scouts and their families, and Scoutmaster Camp.
411: https://tinyurl.com/LPCScouts or call: 808-450-2785
Dragon Q Energy Onboards with AI’s Massive Energy Consumption
Dragon Q Energy has been accepted into the NVIDIA Inception Program. This program is said to support companies advancing technologies for AI and high-performance computing. And we have all heard on our socials the huge energy consumption associated with adopting AI globally.
The importance of new pathways that can mitigate AI’s outsized energy consumption cannot be overstated. Increasing concerns include where the energy required to run AI data bases etc. is going to be produced and how, and at what cost to companies, consumers, and nature.
Dan Casey, Dragon Q Energy founder and his team explain:
“The rapid scaling of AI workloads is driving a fundamental shift in data-center design, with sharply increasing power density and dynamic load demands placing new stress on electrical infrastructure originally built for lower-density compute. Delivering stable, efficient energy at rack and facility scale is becoming a central constraint as next-generation systems come online.
“Dragon Q Energy is developing energy architectures aligned to this shift, focused on resilient, high-density power delivery for AI-scale infrastructure. Participation in the NVIDIA ecosystem provides access to technical collaboration and a network of partners shaping the future of accelerated computing. While much of this work remains in active development, it reflects a broader expansion of Dragon Q Energy’s platform beyond distributed and field-deployed systems into data-center energy. We look forward to sharing more as our upcoming data-center product line progresses.”
For those interesting in working for Dragon Q Energy; good news, they are hiring. The two openings are Mechanical & Electrical Assembly Assistant – supporting fabrication and assembly of hardware from engineering drawings; and an Electrician for Solar, Battery, Low-Voltage DC, focused on wiring, testing, and troubleshooting electrical subsystems across energy storage systems. Both positions are deeply hands-on and directly connected to real hardware deployments.
411: www.dragonqenergy.com
- Art L.
Joanne A Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com
project at the same time. The team planted, harvested and maintained the fields at Harvest Solutions Farm, which provides about 60,000 pounds of fresh produce every week for those in need in Orange County.
The Westmont Volleyball team joined The Bucket Brigade with alumni and their children in a unique opportunity to serve as a family, planting native flowering shrubs to restore the Ellwood Mesa Butterfly Preserve in Goleta. They also removed non-native, highly flammable plants and replaced them with native flowering shrubs.
Crews at the Turner Foundation helped sand and stain a fence at their community center. Volunteers at Hope Refuge got to meet some of the girls, who’ve been rescued out of sex trafficking, and helped with cleaning parts of the property.
The team at the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation created Taylor Swiftstyle bracelets for kids fighting cancer and for their families. They then put together brown bags filled with socks, chocolates, and encouraging notes for unhoused women. These bags were distributed for Valentine’s Day by Doctors Without Walls.
To learn more or get involved next year, please reach out by email to janaymarshall@westmont.edu.
Dallas Willard Book Award Finalists
Westmont’s Martin Institute and Dallas Willard Research Center have announced the finalists of their annual book award. The winner of the Dallas Willard Book Award – created in 2015 to highlight Willard’s intellectual legacy – will be announced in May or June. Willard was a best-selling author and beloved philosophy professor at USC. The award recognizes original work that furthers his views of reality, knowledge, and Christian
spiritual formation.
The 2026 MIDWRC Book Award finalists (in no particular order):
- Experiencing Scripture as a Disciple of Jesus: Reading the Bible like Dallas Willard by Dave Ripper (IVP)
- Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life by Grace Hamman (Zondervan)
- A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation by Matthew Bingham (Crossway)
- Making Disciples: Catechesis in History, Theology, and Practice by Alex Fogleman (Eerdmans)
- From Aristotle to Christ: How Aristotelian Thought Clarified the Christian Faith by Louis Markos (IVP)
News Bytes Black History Month Events
by MJ Staff
- Soulful Nights: A Jazz & Movie Celebration – Friday, February 27, 6-8 pm, at Carpinteria Community Library
- Stories in Motion: A Family Celebration – Saturday, February 28, 10 am to noon, at SB Eastside Library
- Black History Month Art Salon with Toni Scott & Rod Rolle – Moderated by Maya Johnson, Telea Insights, and James Joyce III, 1-5 pm, Elevate Gallery at La Cumbre Plaza
- Exhibit all of February: For the Love of Our People by Healing Justice SB (HJSB) – A Black Historical Timeline exhibition, on display daily at the Santa Barbara Public Library’s Central Branch. This living timeline has been researched and cultivated over many years by Leticia Forney Resch, Krystle Farmer Sieghart, with support by HJSB staff and community partners. Written and designed by Simone Akila Ruskamp and Maile Diana Schoonover. “Our deep gratitude to UCSB Special Collections for archival support, and to our elder angel, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, whose legacy continues to guide this work.”
- All February: Dune Coffee’s blend “Black is Beautiful” sales proceeds support HJSB.
Chabad of Montecito Events Register Early
- March 2: Purim in Africa. Chabad of Montecito invites community to the Purim in Africa event. Program includes drum circle, Megillah reading, African Cuisine and Purim gameshow. Registration required.
- March 18: An Evening Together of Jewish comfort food, conversation, and connection, hosted by Doug and Abby Brown. 411: www.jewishmontecito.org
2nd Annual Fundraiser for Girls Inc. Carp
Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. Carpinteria invites locals to their annual fundraiser, titled “Watch Her Rise,” on March 7 from 5-9 pm at the Girls Inc. Campus on Foothill Road. Event Sponsors are Lynda Fairly and Raymond James Financial. The event honors Paul and Cheryl Wright owners of Island Brewing Company. Event features dinner, signature cocktails and dancing with DJ Darla Bea.
La Piazza Italian Music & Food Festival Debuts
Santa Barbara will welcome a new cultural celebration with the debut of La Piazza, a free Italian music and food festival – running April 10-12, at the Faulkner Gallery and Towbes Plaza at the Santa Barbara Public Library and select locations throughout the city. The three-day festival celebrates Italy’s rich musical heritage, culinary traditions, and community spirit. Festivities begin Friday afternoon at the Faulkner Gallery with Amore Italiano: Rome, Cinema, and the Music of the Heart, a concert featuring pianists Jacopo Giacopuzzi and Alvise Pascucci, violinist Camille Miller, and flutist Tommaso Benciolini.
Saturday and Sunday bring food tastings, fresh pasta workshops, cooking demonstrations, seminars presented by the UCSB Italian Culture Department, and family-friendly activities at Towbes Plaza. Afternoon concerts continue in the Faulkner Gallery, culminating in Dolce Swing on Sunday. Produced by nonprofit La Piazza, Inc., the festival aims to become a signature Santa Barbara event celebrating Italian culture.
New Members on Board
Santa Barbara Beautiful has welcomed Teri Bianchi and Mariko Tabar to its board and named its 2026 officers, including Melinda Mettler as vice president and Teri Bianchi as assistant financial officer. They join President Kerry Methner, Treasurer Mark Whitehurst, and Secretary Jacqueline Dyson. The volunteer organization promotes the architectural, environmental, and cultural beauty of the community. Mettler brings a distinguished background in advertising and fine art, while Bianchi contributes decades of experience in dentistry and humanitarian service. Tabar, an accomplished painter and former county art commissioner, adds deep arts leadership. “We’re looking forward to an exciting and rewarding 2026,” said Methner.
Day of Service with the Turner Foundation
Dallas Willard spoke at Westmont Commencement in 2011
Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College
The Giving List
Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute
by Steven Libowitz
Plenty of local folks probably aren’t aware of CIMWI, let alone what the acronym stands for –Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute – despite the local 501(c)(3) nonprofit’s primary mission of helping a significant subset of (mostly) cute critters that call our local waters home. It’s partly understandable. It’s not all that likely, after all, that you’d accidentally run into the organization’s facility, which is way out of town at the historic Vista del Mar Union School near the entrance to Hollister Ranch. That’s virtually midpoint in CIMWI’s massive territory, a jurisdiction covering 155 miles of coastline from the county line dividing Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo in the north to the VenturaLos Angeles County line in the south, encompassing more than 100 beaches as well as 100 harbors.
But CIMWI’s work over the last two decades in Ventura County – and slightly more than 10 years in Santa Barbara County – is critically important. The nonprofit is the sole organization responsible for responding to, rescuing, and rehabilitating sick, injured, malnourished, orphaned, entangled and/or oiled marine mammals.
CIMWI is the group that comes out to rescue and rehabilitate or retrieve live and dead pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), live and dead sea turtles, and live cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). Since inception, CIMWI has responded to over 46,000 reports of marine mammals in distress and provided care to over 2,700 rescued animals.
Big numbers. But why does it matter?
“Marine mammals are considered sentinel species,” explained Ruth Dover, CIMWI’s managing director, who co-founded the organization with her husband, Sam Dover, director of Veterinary Medicine, Research & Conservation. “They serve as early warning systems for both ocean and human health.”
The marine mammals are long-lived, high-trophic level predators, meaning apex predators who therefore are more likely to accumulate toxins and reflect environmental changes, such as pollution, harmful algal blooms and climate impacts.
“Their health directly indicates the state of the marine ecosystem and, by extension, potential risks to human health,” Dover said. “So many things can affect them, including oceanic changes that displace food sources, human
harassment, maternal separation, pollution from rain runoff, getting entangled in fishing nets or debris, colliding with vessels, habitat destruction. It’s a lot.”
The animals are also covered by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with the result that it’s illegal to feed, harass, hunt, capture or kill them.
Meaning humans need to stay away from marine mammals, giving them a wide berth – even when they have only the best intentions of helping a distressed animal. In those situations, pick up the phone instead and call CIMWI.
“These mammals are not like birds or raccoons, which are OK to pick up and take to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network,” Dover said. “You can’t touch them, cover them with water or even come near them. But do call us. Even if you think they’re probably OK. They may not need our help, but we want to come out and evaluate the animal in case it does need medical or other attention.”
Education has become a big part of CIMWI’s purpose these days, including letting people know they exist, what they do, how to reach them and what information makes a report more valuable. Salient reporting elements include observing the animal from a minimum of 50 feet and keeping other animals and people away, all the while noting the distressed mammal’s physical characteristics and condition, and providing a detailed description of the location. Then call the CIMWI Hotline (805) 567-1505.
“Don’t hesitate to call,” Dover said. “We don’t mind if the animal is actually fine. We want to go out. We hope they don’t need us. But either way, it’s a great opportunity for us to engage with the public. Our team members are really good at public interaction education. We love talking to the kids at the beach. It’s our opportunity to do outreach. And it’s a great way for us to also organically recruit volunteers or possibly even a donation from some people.”
Those last two items are essential to CIMWI. Volunteers make up the huge bulk of the staff, as they currently number about 140 vs. the three actual employees. The nonprofit is always recruiting, training volunteers in all aspects of the organization’s work, from administrative to on-site evaluation of the animals and rescue operations. While 140 seems like a big number – especially since all of them work at least one full day a week – CIMWI is also facing increased demand for its services due to major domoic acid (DA) harmful algal bloom events each year. These are partially responsible for an 80% rise in reports of marine mammals in distress, a 64% increase in animal rescues, and a staggering 925% surge in DA strandings, just over the last four years.
CIMWI also needs more volunteers to help implement its initiative for 2026, one that looks firmly to the future via education of schoolchildren.
The nonprofit’s “Marine & Wildlife Institute: Lessons in Conservation” curriculum, geared toward students in K-6 grade, was created to inspire the next generation of ocean and environmental stewards through engaging, standards-aligned, and grade-appropriate lessons about marine mammals and ocean conservation. The program combines hands-on activities, multimedia resourc-
es and real-world science to support students in developing a deeper understanding of marine mammal biology and behavior, human impact on ocean ecosystems, and the importance of community action and conservation. The content will be available to the public through CIMWI’s website, while locally CIMWI volunteers are being trained to deliver the lessons in person.
“You can book us to come into the classroom and deliver the lessons in person, which means we can answer questions and make sure the kids understand,” Dover said. “Hopefully the teacher, who will be engaged in doing classroom management while we’re teaching, will get comfortable with the material and then be able to teach it themselves each year.”
The exponentially increased demand for services also underscores why additional financial support is essential for CIMWI. Currently, every penny raised goes toward their work, as the salaries of the three staffers are covered by separate grants. It takes about $3,000 to cover the rescue and rehabilitation of a seal or sea lion before they are able to be returned to the wild.
“The more staff that we could have, the stronger our infrastructure will be,” Dover said. “Now, we’re a bit of an unsung hero. We make a big impact without a lot of splash.”
Visit www.cimwi.org
Help – Do Not Disturb – the marine wildlife with CIMWI (courtesy photo)
speaking to her body as a separate, precious vessel – one that required care, rest, and protection.
What does she hope the audience takes away? “A great deal of hope,” she says. And a reminder that caring for oneself is not indulgence, but necessity.
“Make time to find joy in your life,” she adds. “It’s the little drops of joy throughout your day and week that make up a good life.”
In both natural and humanitarian disasters, she has witnessed devastation beyond measure. But she has also seen what she calls the “equal and opposite light” – the strangers who show up, the communities that coalesce.
She covered the Montecito mudslide and saw firsthand how tragedy binds people together.
Her award recognizes reporting from the world’s front lines and the willingness to speak openly about illness,
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SEA VIEW LANDSCAPING, 1028 CRAMER RD APT A, Carpinteria, CA 93013. RODRIGO CRUZ CORTEZ, 1028 CRAMER RD APT A, Carpinteria, CA 93013. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on January 23, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0000180. Published February 26, March 5, 12, 19, 2026
ORDER FOR PUBLICATION OF SUMMONS OR CITATION: CASE No. 25CV06248. Notice to
fear, and recovery. She models courage through transparency.
In a time marked by division and hyperbole, each panelist seems to bring a grounding quality, reinforced by their strength and commitment to the communities that support them. Stories shape culture and when women share the full arc of their journeys, they widen the path forward for everyone.
Defendant: DAVID R. GAMPERL, an individual, et al.: You are being sued by Plaintiff: ANDREW WOODWARD. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons is served on you to file a written response at the Superior Court of California, Santa Barbara, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default. If you lose, the court can order that your wages, money, or property be taken to pay this claim. Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your case. Name and address of the court: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93121-1107. Filed January 22, 2026 by Terri Chavez, Deputy Clerk. Published February 12, 19, 26, and March 5, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRANDLE CHIROPRACTIC PC; ALKI ART & WELLNESS INSTITUTE; ALKI CHIROPRACTIC; ALKI WELLNESS, 820 EAST MASON STREET, SUITE A, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. GRANDLE CHIROPRACTIC PC, 820 EAST MASON STREET SUITE A, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on January 30, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0000314. Published February 12, 19, 26, and March 5, 2026
partner. Founder Adam McKaig auctioned a brand-new Fender electric guitar signed by three rock legends: Alan Parsons , Kenny Loggins , and Skunk Baxter . The extraordinary piece of music history was won by the highest bidder, Rochelle Mirabello of Montecito.
This year’s entertainment lineup featured performances by Kenny Loggins, Skunk Baxter, Hunter Hawkins , Aishlin Harrison, Jerry Harrison, and Kenny Lee Lewis, among others.
The 2026 award recipients included:
Legacy of Excellence: Fred Brander, local winemaker since 1975
Festival of the Year: Vans Warped Tour established in 1995 by Kevin Lyman
Emerging Artist: Hunter Hawkins, international performer
Living Legend Award: Skunk Baxter, former member of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers – inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020
Mayor Randy Rowse was also in attendance and shared remarks in support of Adam’s Angels and the vibrant community cultivated by FestForums founder, Laurie Kirby.
Generous sponsors for the fundraiser included Shure Mics, Arnett, and philanthropists Rick Oshay and Teresa Kuskey
Written by Melissa Borders
A few of the happy recipients and attendees (photo by Priscilla)
FestForums 2026 is known as “The Premier Gathering for Festival Leaders” (photo by Priscilla)
Skunk Baxter and Laurie Kirby (photo by Priscilla)
Zach Rosen is the Managing Editor of the Montecito Journal. He also enjoys working with beer, art, and life.
Fannie Flagg enters quietly in a blaze of Valentine Red and the room delicately sighs front to back, a rippling breeze moving across a pond’s surface. My heart begins desperately searching my ribcage for the exit. “Jeff!” Fannie Flagg suddenly yells, and flings her arms wide, somehow fluting and bending my single lousy syllable with that welcoming accent! My fear dissolves like an aspirin in Pepsi. “Fannie!” I reflexively holler, and we embrace. I am embracing Fannie Flagg. How on Earth did it come to this?! All southerners and all pals of Fannie, everyone at our table rises and beams frank, unfiltered love at this warming Belle of Birmingham. Once upon a distant time a bewildered kid looking for her light, Fannie Flagg at this moment is throwing light like nobody’s business. She looks over my shoulder and her expression blossoms. “My ex-boyfriend!” she roars. I look to see Tony Morris, the Rona Barrett Foundation’s all powerful executive director, grinning like a schoolboy on the brink of recess.
“Hah, Fannie!”
Neighbor at a Block Party
When Fannie takes the daïs she walks up there without fanfare – your favorite neighbor about to propose a toast at the block party. It’s really something. Lacking any hint of Celebrity Force Field, Fannie is as separable from the room as a droplet of dye in a glass of water. She’s here with all of us, among us. I mean… it’s Fannie Flagg. And that’s just for starters.
Look; Roy Scherer. Frances Gumm. William Beedle. Doris Kappelhoff. Archie Leach! There is a long tradition of entertainment legends on the rise replacing their given names with invent-
ed ones that are more marquee friendly. Does anyone doubt it was in Roy Harold Scherer, Jr’s. professional interest to take the name Rock Hudson? Would Que Será, Será have been as ecstatically received had it been sung by Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff? Discuss.
And then we have Fannie Flagg, the plucky refusenik who would not change her name as she rose. Right? Um… wrong. In an arguable vortex of irony, Fannie Flagg was born Patricia Neal – a name already taken by the winner of the first Tony Award its inaugural year of 1947, the actress who added heft to such classics as A Face in the Crowd, HUD (with Paul Newman), Breakfast at Tiffany’s. As our Patricia Neal’s star rose, she was obliged to choose a new name. “We already have a Patricia Neal,” etc. (It is a strange business.) Her grandfather, an old vaudevillian – look it up, kids, you’re not gonna believe it – suggested “Fannie,” noting the number of vaudeville comediennes who’d had that name (the great Fanny Brice comes quickly to mind, subject of Streisand’s Funny Girl). And what about Flagg? “I’ve got a friend whose grandmother’s name was Fannie Flagg,” the novelist has said in other interviews. “So I went with that. I never dreamed I would be stuck with it.”
Bottle Rocket and Mailbox
Over twenty or so minutes, leaning on the lectern like a relaxed college professor, the former Patricia Neal (Patsy to her fam) rolls out a Reader’s Digest condensed version of her life, and it is a bottle rocket in a mailbox. Again, Fannie is thought of in pop-culture shorthand as typifying the “wry and homespun” template, particularly following the mobbed, swooning embrace of her novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café, the second of her twelve immersive tomes. “Wry and homespun” won’t get you a gig writing stage material for Upstairs at the Downstairs, a cabaret in Manhattan in the white hot, art-is-exploding sixties. “Wry and homespun” won’t get you the role of Stoney in the classic seventies beat-the establishment-till-candycomes-out Five Easy Pieces opposite Jack Nicholson.
What gave Patsy her octane? Her dad, the movie projectionist? The midlife epiphany that the mystery shadow haunting her with doubt was, all along, a thing called dyslexia? From Miss Alabama to community theater to an inexplicable leap to the Big Apple, where she would be recruited by Alan Funt for his subtly transgressive Candid Camera (alongside the stork-like Durward Kirby), to a storied Road to Damascus moment at,
of all places, the Santa Barbara Writers Conference – the harder Patsy worked the luckier she got.
This is where We come in, dear villagers.
Attending the far-flung SB Writers Conference (conducted at that time by the great gadfly-novelist-matador, Barnaby Conrad), Fannie had gauzy hopes of seeing, from across a crowded room perhaps, her literary idol Eudora Welty. Fannie would not only meet Eudora Welty – but would literally be handed first prize in the conference’s short story-writing contest by her idol.
The event is winding down, and a polite gaggle has formed. “Nice meeting you, darling,” Fannie says to me. We pose for a picture, the photographer a bone-dry humorist named Dirk Brandts . Someone should introduce him to Maria. “Give me a full head of hair,” I request. “And jet black,” he assures.
Can Fannie Flagg be as salving and whole and genuine as she seems? The attendees don’t clamor but stand about like neighbors after church, gabbing and
awaiting their several minutes each of earnest banter over the metaphoric backyard fence; nourishing chit chat with a dear, dear friend. I watch carefully. To a person they walk away from their brief encounter smiling to themselves. The world in February 2026 is roiling and here is our calmingly genteel emissary from elsewhen. She prepares to leave. “Bye!” she hollers to the clearing room, flapping her hand.
Good grief, Patsy. I guess you figured it all out. See you around the whistlestop.
Jeff Wing is a journalist, raconteur, autodidact, and polysyllable enthusiast. He has been writing about Montecito and environs since before some people were born. He can be reached at jeff@ montecitojournal.net
Fannie Flagg North Star, Eudora Welty, winner of the Pulitzer in ‘73, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in ’80, the Nat’l Medal of Arts in ’86.
Tight-Lipped Typist and Renaissance Sunbeam intersect (photo courtesy of Dirk Brandts)
“So, asking if I’m comfortable with my sidearm, like we might need it, that was joshing or serious?”
“Both.”
Billy grinned as Creek wheeled the Ford up to the adobe garage. It was built up against and partly into a steep grassy hill that had a view of the sea. It had tall oak and palm trees beside it, some open pits for mechanics, and a small nation of old tires out back. Big lead-paned windows gave it an iota of sophistication only to be undone by shot punctures in the red-rimmed glass globe with the flying horse that stood atop the gas pump.
Beyond the garage lay a scattering of adobe and wood dwellings, a large well-crafted Tribal Center, and at the end of a winding road, hidden within tall sycamores, the old adobe church, one wing of which was now shared by livelier interests and christened, “The Talking House.”
Outside the garage, a large man with a white ponytail was sitting in a chair beside a steel drum reading a book. He never looked up as the two men stepped out of the truck and walked over to him. Creek pulled up a chair and sat. Billy did the same.
“I read it. It’s a dull book,” said Creek.
“Don’t tell me that.” The man had a resonant, clear voice and a Scottish accent. Billy knew it made folks instinctively want to trust whatever he said next.
“The ‘sage’ ain’t wise, ain’t smart, ain’t clever. And he gets shot at the end,” Creek said.
The man looked up now and shook his head like he was scolding a sixyear-old. He held up the book, its title prominent on the jacket.
“You’re thinking of Sage of the Open Range. Different book.”
“Ah.”
“Riders of the Purple Sage,” the man said.
“Sage ain’t purple.”
The old man spoke to Billy. “Kills him to admit he’s wrong.”
Creek said, “Norman, this is Billy. Langtree sometimes, Ruiz others. My main posse.”
Billy shook hands with the big Scotsman and liked the twinkle in his eye.
The man looked at the uniform and at the gun strapped beneath Creek’s coat.
“Thought you weren’t ever doing that again?”
“Well, John Penbrook asked would I pick up a body. Looked the thing over, tested the wind, was fully ready to write it off as a very bad accident, till the wind shifted, and with it the stink.”
“John in trouble?”
“No. His hand, the lighthouse man, Pony. Found him washed up north of Butterfly Beach yesterday morning.”
Norman stared hard at Creek, stared until the truth of it became real.
“Head hasn’t made it in yet,” Creek said, “nor boat, nor anything makes it an accident other than some blooded wire I found nearby. John wants it to lie like that, an accident out in that storm yesterday. Except the body looks two, three days water-dead, there’s some rough work across the body, and the cut looks like something chomped it. More shark than wire, except the mark on bone doesn’t look like shark.”
Norman was lost in thought for some time.
“Whatever was he doing in a boat?” he finally asked.
“That is a mystery,” Creek said, surprised at how hard Norman was taking this.
“Goddamn,” Norman said. “With his kin gone, I’ve only ever known John and Sonora to be his parents. They loved him in the worst way, like you watching out for him that summer you shagged strays. Him imitating everything about you.”
“Thought maybe someone up here knows something. Saw something. On the other hand, the general mood is to let this one lay, call it an accident. Penbrook included.”
Creek saw the grill of the Packard nearly a mile off, starting up the drive. Similar blue and year as the car by the Biltmore. He followed it with his eyes only.
“Billy,” Creek said, “Could you go get us a Coke or two? That little hutch over there is the grocery store. Put it on Norman’s tab.”
Billy stood and was about to leave when he also saw the blue car coming up the long drive beneath the sycamore trees.
“I’m staying.”
“Get the drinks, son.”
“It’s that same Packard. Them toughs. You’re going bust those boys. I can feel it.”
“Always give ’em a chance at redemption first. Do what I ask, Billy.” Creek looked into the boy’s eyes, and the boy nodded and walked off to the grocery. They heard the door slam shut just as the Packard came into the yard and slowly turned in toward the garage. It stopped twenty feet off. The glare on the window made it impossible to see anything. Norman and Creek looked at each other and smiled.
“This damn place just can’t stay out of trouble,” Norman said.
Three doors opened at once. Three men, young and lanky, stepped out and looked over at Creek and Norman, and up at the garage, and then at the wider layout of the place to see who within eyesight was standing where. Only one wore a hat. All three wore suits. Creek wondered who might be left in the back seat, but the glare was too bright to see. He wondered if they had had the suits fitted at the same place, on the same day. Special price maybe, except the savings got erased by shortcut tailoring, Creek thinking how hard it was to take them seriously the way it made them into a rumpled circus act.
They looked to be part boy, part man, mean, thin and misguided, the pimples and Irish blush barely overcome by a lifetime of bad luck that made it easy to stay cold in the eyes and to be hard by practicing the bully they had been raised on.
The driver was tall and skinny and wore a wide, white cowboy hat. As he sauntered toward Creek and Norman, the other two fanned out nonchalantly in a rehearsed order.
Creek saw the smirk forming in the lead man’s face, the sneer that said everybody knew Indians couldn’t fix shit.
“I was thinking first thing I woke up this morning,” the man said, “I need my valves pulled and ground. Look where that thought brung me. To the top-notch Reservation Car Emporium.”
They all looked up and could see the faded letters spelling out “Rez Auto Emporium.” The faded sign standing above so much dilapidation made it easy to laugh, so they laughed.
“You the head mechanic?” He was looking at the old man. The old man sat very still but kept his eyes locked on the second one moving in his direction.
“Looks like the head ‘nickel,’” said the third backup, a pale and softcheeked boy who was both younger and frailer.
“Does, don’t he? Damn straight. Chief nickel.”
“You know who I am?” Creek looked from man to man.
“Not at all,” the leader said. Creek looked over to Norman, shook his head.
“But I know what you are,” the man said. “You’re just a dumb rancher playing above his pay grade.”
“At last, I am addressed by my new profession. But who would know this? And why would they start this bravado without knowing who I used to be?”
“Because they think they can,” Norman said, he and Creek just talking to each other.
“Exactly,” Creek said. “City fathers or Mister Movie Mogul or whoever it is keeps these boys in those store-bought circus suits probably said: ‘Just tell that rancher to drop it, just let it lie.’”
The lead man said, “Don’t be talking like we’re not here. I’m standing right the fuck here telling you to go home.” He flared his coat slightly and waited, and Creek finally looked over and saw glint of metal at his waist.
“Who is it you terrible hombres are taking orders from?” Creek asked.
The one with bad teeth nearest the lead man said, “We work for—”
“Hush up, Duce!” the lead man said. Then to Creek, “I sent myself. I’m enough. Telling you to leave Mister Horn the fuck alone and to stop poking around up here.”
Creek didn’t understand this and said, “Tom Horn? The glove salesman?”
The fair-skinned boy near Norman said, “Like you don’t know who he is.”
“That cowboy guy,” Creek said, “got his picture up on the billboard, big gnat-hole in his forehead some guy put there with his Luger, thinks he should have stuck to selling gloves instead of playacting for the cameras. But why would you bring him up?”
“Why else you up here poking your nose in things,” the lead said. “A man gambles, it’s his own business.”
“So, Tom Horn killed Charlie Russell?”
“Fuck no, he did not.”
“But you think I think that.”
“Why else you up here? Who the fuck is Charlie Russell?”
“Did this over some gambling thing, that it? Or maybe a woman?”
“You’re pushing the river, farmer man. And that didn’t happen. So beat it.”
“Did you kill Charlie Russell?”
“I did or did not is none of your business, because you’re no longer snooping any of it.” He had cold, gray eyes and his pupils were wide. Creek could see his hands had never made or fixed or grown anything but were white and bony and twitchy enough to make him untrustworthy.
“Who pays your way, boys?” Creek asked.
“I’m not tell—”
“Damn it, Patience!” The skinny one looked at the boy near Norman, and Creek saw the boy flinch at his buddy’s bark.
Creek looked at the two men named. “Those your names, Patience? And Duce? I were you, I’d get back in that car and head back down this road before your buddy takes it sideways, makes you sorely wish you’d deferred to your elders.”
“We’ll de-fer de-fuck to you, Buster Brown,” Skinny said. “I’m the one telling you and your wooden nickel grandpa over there to leave the redskin business alone. Word for word.”
“If you’d kept your mouth shut, I wouldn’t have made your boss a suspect. Now I do. Now I will. Tom Horn. All be damned.”
“You shut up. I get any more agitated, I swear I’ll park your ass in the cemetery.”
“So Pony was up here? Maybe gambling?”
“Pony who?”
“And your big cowboy movie star, what, maybe dropped a hand or two, maybe liquored up, got a little piqued, and just went and chopped his head off?”
“Nobody did noth—”
“—and you boys drug him down to the beach and dumped him in the water, make it look like he just washed up. Isn’t that right Patience?”
“Shut up mister!” the skinny one said, and without looking, Creek knew it was Patience who clicked his safety forward.
BAM!
Norman’s bat cracked against Patience’s shins so hard and so fast the other two men stood bug-eyed, watching. The boy screamed, his drawn gun sailing, his legs swiped from beneath him, and the boy falling full force onto one elbow as the other hand went to his leg.
The lead man lurched, but Creek had his long barrel out and pointed at the man’s crotch.
“You pull, you’re going to hurt,” Creek said. The man brought his hand down. Seeing his eyes dart sideways, Creek swung left and fired and Duce too lost his weapon as the bullet struck his thigh. Creek swung back to the skinny one as Duce struck the ground. Creek saw a thin veil of red dust as the gun slid within sight.
“Goddamn! You said no guns!” Duce screamed. “Goddamn it, motherfucker shot my leg off!”
Creek stood now and backed up to the man he had shot and put the gun barrel to his leg, his eyes still on the skinny one.
“What’s his name, the skinny one?”
“Him?”
“Yeah. The mouth that got you fools into this.”
“Skinny Bones Jones, you dirty dog ass.” He said it and then growled out a misery stuck between a wail and a sob.
“Duce,” Creek said softly, his eyes still on the other man.
The boy looked up woefully.
Creek whispered, “Shut the fuck up.”
The young man put his mouth to his arm to muffle his moans.
Creek picked up the loose gun, pulled up a chair, and sat, his gun still aimed at Bones.
Norman had pulled a shotgun from someplace and sat patiently.
A small boy walked across the yard toward them, into the circle, and up to Norman. He leaned in and whispered something. Norman nodded, then reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out wrapped hard candy and gave it to the kid.
“Run along, Paco. Go into the house.”
Creek said, “Brave little bugger.”
“Implacable. Been like that since the day he was born. Said he’s seen these boys before. That one, Mister Duce, Paco says, goes to his sister.
And another man, a city councilman, comes with Duce and goes to the kid’s mother.”
“So, who’s your boss?” Creek asked Bones.
“My boss? I’ll show you my boss. Meet Mister ‘Fuck You!’” The man yelled.
Creek watched Skinny Bones lurch, as if in slow motion from his own ineptness, his knee bending inward, a shoulder dropping, the weird gray of his accusatory and unfocused eyes widening, and his foolhardy hands flailing toward his waist gun. Two lightning bolts ignited almost simultaneously, and Creek saw the first shot punch into Jones’s foot, a burst of fire from the boy’s own gun billowing through his pant leg. The foot and leg jerked airborne and askew, and his body floated outward as a second explosion from somewhere behind Bones grazed his buttocks, rotating his body so that he came down sideways, his lungs pounded airless, and his head bouncing on the hard dirt. Bones remained inert, wordless, and barely able to breathe with his gun pinned beneath his body.
Creek looked over at Billy thirty feet off with the policeman’s Luger boring down straight as a board for a second shot. Skinny Bones Jones didn’t know how to stop the pain, so he arched upward, his ass pointed skyward as he tried to drag himself on the one knee to, out-crawl his pain. He didn’t see his own gun slide to the ground, and Creek nodded toward Billy.
“Pick it up and clear it. Tell him if he makes any more noise, you’ll put a hot one in the other cheek.”
Billy walked into the circle, picked up the gun, and clicked the safety on. Skinny Bones Jones was muttering invectives under his breath, and Billy walked to him, put his foot on the man’s ass and flattened him to the ground.
“Stop squawking,” he said.
Grinning, Creek looked over to see Norman nodding in similar amazement.
“Missy?!” Creek yelled.
A tall, handsome woman came out of the grocery carrying a bucket and some rags and bandages.
“Who first?” she asked.
“Get Wade up here. And an ambulance. You can stop the bleeding in a minute. You got help?” Creek said.
“Betty’s coming,” she said. She didn’t move but stared at Creek for a long beat, her face both bemused and wistful.
“Long time no see, Mister ‘Allatime-Bringing-Rain.’”
“Jesus!” said one of the men. “You shot us!” They looked over at the one hit with the bat. He continued to clutch his leg like someone was trying to take it.
“I need a doctor bad,” Bones said. “Bleedin’ out. Can you hurry the fuck up and call a doctor?”
“That man you insulted, right there, he’s a doctor,” Creek said, nodding at Norman.
“I am that,” said Norman, smiling wide, showing the big gap where a front tooth went missing.
“Ah, goddamn!” the man said, despairing. Creek just stared at him in silence.
“Just looking for a job, right?” Creek said. “Times are rough, and you’re just happy for a paycheck, right boys?”
“Why not let it go, mister?” Duce said. “We don’t know shit. Cops said it was a fishing accident.”
Creek walked to Patience and put his boot sole across the man’s cheek, pinning him to the dirt. He pulled up his shooter, opened the cylinder and spun it. The clicking hung in the air as the men stayed silent, tucking in and frightened. The spinning stopped. Creek replaced the spent cartridge with a fresh bullet, locked it closed, lifted his boot and drew down on the man’s other leg.
“What is your full name Patience?”
“Meriwether. Patience Meriwether.”
“That is some name.”
“They were church people. Mormon. Too many to raise, so they let me go. It’s how I met Bones. At the home.” The boy’s two front teeth, crooked and long, compounded his oddness.
“Who killed the Indian, Patience?”
“None of us. We got nothing to do with it, mister. I swear it.”
“You came up here armed, a place where children live. Drew weapons
Montecito Reads Page 464
with intent to harm. I’m an officer of the law, but I will, by God, let you boys bleed out. You want this witch-doctor medicine man to fix you up, tell me who killed Charlie Russell and dumped him on the beach.”
The wounded looked around and saw the desolate nature of the yard, wild boys and dogs and some women smirking. Even the gunshots had not attracted a crowd.
“None of us!” Patience squeaked. “We serve the council. Nobody wants bad press while the movie is in town. I swear to Christ.”
Creek looked up to see Missy standing nearby. She shrugged.
“For real?” he said.
She nodded, said, “Some of us gonna be in it.”
“This about a movie?” Creek was dumbstruck.
“Nobody wants a picture of a headless Indian on the front page,” Norman said. Creek moved away from the boy.
“All this because it’s bad publicity for a movie picture?”
“Please, mister! We’re shot. Goddamn it!” Duce said.
“I call them now?” Missy asked. Reluctantly, Creek nodded. Missy signaled to a girl over at the porch store, pointed her index finger at her and pretend-dialed. The girl hopped up and vanished into the store. The boy beneath Creek was speaking.
“We were just told to ask you. Bones gets caught up sometimes, balls before brains. He’s just protecting us.”
Creek looked over at Billy, who still had his pistol out.
“Put it away, Billy. You played it right.”
He turned to Patience, looked at his buckteeth and his bloody pant leg.
“Rasmussen. He the one brought the votes in on the coast movie-land deal?”
“Jesus Mary Joseph, will somebody fix my damn derrière?!” Bones was crying now, his rear airborne, rocking in place to make the pain go away. Duce growled, “Don’t let no quack work on you. Wait till the ambulance comes.”
The others looked at Norman, then at Creek.
“Really. A doctor?” Patience said.
“Harvard,” Creek said. “But the shit he plucks out of these hills will heal you faster than anything the Ivy Leagues ever taught him.”
“Oh God, mister, I don’t want to be no cripple,” Bones said.
“Then quit whining and let the woman clean it out and the medicine man stitch it up. Should have done worse to you for bringing live guns up here.”
Creek began pacing. He started to walk away but couldn’t. He turned back on them.
“You squealing fools think a few steel guns and enough of you, and you’re good to stand up to this man, who rode with Teddy Roosevelt! Think it’s all right to drag your dirty shoes on these people’s land because you’re white and they’re not.”
He pulled his shooter out and stabbed it down at the ground just feet away from Duce and pulled the trigger. At the explosion and the spray of dirt, the boy jackknifed, head buried in his hands at the imagined wound.
The sound of the gun hung loudly in the air, shocking and abject and final. Creek shouted down at the man: “How dare you threaten a man like this, a Harvard doctor! No matter you got no idea what that means.”
“Settle down, son,” Norman said, “Settle down. Just a bunch of mischief is all. Three for three now, and my pride is wholly intact. Get us some whiskey. I’ll stitch them up.”
“Help him, Billy,” Creek said. He turned and started toward the grocery shack, then stopped. The blue Packard parked in the yard, three doors still opened wide, and the sun blinding on the windshield gave him a bad feeling. Creek stared at it. Three boys had come out of the front seat.
“Norman?” Creek said, and Norman had the shotgun in his hands, had it up and aimed at the Packard. Creek took out his badge, held it up in one hand and pulled and pointed the Colt pistol with his other. He walked out of the sun slowly toward the car.
“Missy, beat it.”
Missy ducked into the garage.
Creek moved within ten feet of the car, stepping sideways out of the window glare. He saw their cowboy hats in the back seat, then their
faces—wide-shouldered, big men, shotguns standing in their hands, butts to the floor. He came to a place where he could see their faces. He saw nothing good in them and knew what they were. The two men stared back in silence as Creek deliberately lowered his gun.
“You their parents?” Creek asked. They looked at his gun hanging toward the dirt. Creek knew the big one with the pocked skin would speak, and he did.
“If I were, you’d have heard about it.”
“Sure. Like all your gunfire, you hiding in the back seat, right?”
“Greenhorns got to learn the ropes, Daddyo.”
Creek stared at them, so angry he felt unable to stop his hand from rising as he aimed his gun at the two men. As if not in his body, he heard the big metal ratchet when he thumbed the hammer back and the cylinder ticked a bullet into place.
“You, with the fat neck,” Creek said, “you get in the front seat and drive this car off this land. Don’t ever come back here. Do this now, and I won’t blow your heads off for letting three boys do a job they got no skill for.”
The man stared at Creek for a long moment. Neither man moved.
BLAM! The gun fired, and the back window punctured as both men lurched sideways. Creek brought the hammer back and held his aim.
“Breech your guns.”
As the ringing lessened, they sat up. They cracked their guns, and Creek saw the shells pop loose. The one who had spoken leaned his shotgun to the other man, opened the door, stepped out, closed it, and got into the front seat.
Creek raised his gun at the man in the back seat and said, “Toss them.”
The man threw them out his open door.
Creek waited, and both men reached over and closed the doors. The driver, taunting and ugly and holding Creek’s glare, stared for a beat then started the car and drove slowly out of the lot and down the road.
Creek looked back at Norman, nodded thanks, and continued into the grocery shack.
Billy collected hardware and frisked for extras, then went to help Norman. Norman saw that he kept his hand on his holstered gun.
“Always like this, after,” Norman said. “Ones he loves, he loves. God help the people who cross him.”
Billy wondered at this as he watched Norman, then said, “Your friend can shoot.”
“So can you. Not many people fast as Creek. Put it away and help me with this tourniquet. Sometimes Creek likes to leave the lead in ’em.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m not. When they really piss him off, he likes them to remember.”
Later, an ambulance and two police assistants drove up, took stories, loaded the boys, listened as Norman explained the wounds were clean, that the boys would be walking soon, and drove away. Creek watched for the second time in as many days as an ambulance drove away from something he had sworn never to be involved in again.
Wade never showed. A crowd gathered, and Tribal Chief Charley Sweden bought Cokes for everyone. Creek learned from Sweden that the Penbrooks’ Indian ranch hand had no part in the lawsuit, that movie star Tom Horn had been up to The Talking House several times late at night, and that he drank too much, womanized, had a mean temper, and was, apparently, a hell of a card player. But if anyone had seen Pony at the tables, they hadn’t told the chief. Creek knew that would be a breach of the game’s honored rule of anonymity. Horn’s behavior explained why they made an exception in his case. Bad manners at the table weren’t tolerated.
Creek walked to Norman and said, “You have any way of learning if Pony made it up here on the sly to play some cards? Stirred up something that could get him into trouble?”
“Meaning, will Missy talk out of school?”
“Well, her. Or anyone,” Creek said.
“Me and Missy live up the road a ways, Creek. It’s okay you visit here, twice, I think. But we live there. I only come here to mend the troubles too much idleness gets some of these characters into. Missy hears a lot, and if she thinks it’s important, she will tell me, in her time.”
Creek felt the shade of reproach in his words.
“I know where you live, Pop. I’m sorry I haven’t been up to visit. It’s not
about Missy. Just slow to settle on things. Just thought you might have heard something.”
“I haven’t.”
Creek looked over at Billy, nodded, and walked off toward the car. As he followed, Billy watched how the crowd stared at Creek, at his way of walking, at his pistol and the loose rope of a body some knew held ghosts in it. Billy knew some of those watching were wondering how Creek took no shit from any man, was able to shoot so fast and straight, and could drop three white men to the ground and not be lynched, dragged unconscious, or jailed for it.
Later, as Billy and Creek drove Long Road through the bands of shadow and sunlight from tree rows, the yellow poplars reminded Creek of the first time he had shot a man. It was in France, in a field like the ones they were passing. He had been sick after.
Billy was quiet beside him. No nervous chatter or boasting. No presumed camaraderie. It was barely noon. The whole incident had taken less than an hour. Maybe Billy would feel it all tomorrow. Maybe he needed to talk about it.
Creek asked, “Thinking about how it went?”
“Yes.”
“He must have had those car door hinges oiled,” Creek said. “Or you would have heard it open?”
“Like to think.”
“You still might have swung on him.”
“Only if he were a bad shot. Most men are after ten feet. I don’t wish to speculate. If you hadn’t dropped him, I might be hovering up there somewhere, watching all this.”
He drove on, finally hit the coast road, and turned south.
“Listen, Billy. I thank you for what you did. Quickness matters. Accuracy matters, but you did shoot a man. You will think about it for a long time, remember it when you least expect it.”
“It’s not my first,” Billy said.
This boy is something, Creek thought, but he only nodded.
“My ol’ man come home one time—one more time—reeking of liquor and lit into Mom. I warned him, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Creek waited but nothing more was offered.
“Where’d you shoot him?”
“Rump.”
“Another?”
“Yup.”
“How old?”
“Twelve.”
Creek tried to imagine it. The kid had style.
“Twice now,” Billy said. “Gonna get known for it.”
“‘The posterior shot,’” Creek said, “by professor Billy Ruiz Langtree.”
Billy grinned and looked out the window at the calm, blue sea.
“You think it was an accident?” Billy said.
“Pony? I might think that, except for the people acting like it isn’t. Chief said they’re selling lots up by the project. Said this is about bad press and nervous investors. Said he doesn’t want the movie to go away, but he doesn’t want them telling the Chumash they can’t come watch. Diamond said they’d put him in the movie if he dropped the suit. Chief said there are old burial grounds out there, so he can’t drop the suit. But this, this shooting, he said it will be bad for the movie. I think he’s pissed at me.”
“I don’t know anyone,” Billy said, “doesn’t think this movie’s going to bring a major payday.”
“You’re saying I’m pissing off a few people by stirring the beehive.” Creek was grinning, and Billy grinned back at him.
“Like several thousand citizens, off the top of my head. Especially when it makes the newspaper.”
“They won’t print anything till they sort out what happened. By then, nobody will be talking, and nobody will be printing. You ever see a great white shark, Billy?”
“Why? I don’t swim.”
“Something more savage than a wire took Pony’s head. But it’s not so unlikely a shark would leave the body untouched. Sometimes they strike once, see they misjudged the meat, swim off. Point is, my nose tells me that soft-headed boy dragged his game leg into something he shouldn’t have. The town squires are telling me to stop investigating because they are hiding something. Those boys felt entitled to bring weapons, were
itchy to use them. That’s disproportionate violence for a mere accident.
‘We’d really like to keep this out of the papers, so as not to scare off the money.’”
“So, there’s more coming. Trouble,” Billy said.
“If I make it my business. Problem is, it kind of is and kind of isn’t.”
“Won’t be mine either, if Wade has any say. But I guess you know that.”
Tune in next week for Chapter Nine of Last Light in Paradise
Michael C. Armour is author and original artist of bestselling Smithsonian children’s books Orca Song and Puma Range, and has been an award-winning writer/director for CBS documentaries, and many print and TV commercials for Honda and other companies. He comes from three generations of ranching, has been a horseman and motorcyclist most of his life, and has worked for years with released inmates under the direction of the Santa Barbara Superior Court and the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office.
Scan the QR code to purchase the full book online, or pick one up at your local bookstore: Tecolote in Montecito, Godmothers in Summerland, or Chaucer’s in Santa Barbara.
Thoughtful estate planning for families who value foresight, structure, and long-term stewardship.
Ambrecht & Martinez, LLP advises clients on estate and trust planning, business succession, and trust administration with an emphasis on continuity, clarity, and fiduciary care.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Calendar of Events
by Steven Libowitz
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Beautiful Borders – The one-day symposium, organized by the UCSB Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Music, features a panel discussion, musical performances and film screenings focusing on the unique role of music in Texas-Mexico border culture dating back decades and beyond. In the afternoon, filmmaker Maureen Gosling and Juan Antonio Cuéllar , archivist at Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy, will be joined by musician/anthropologist Alex Chávez , author of the award-winning book Sounds of Crossing. The event will also include a joint presentation by Monterrey-MX-based archivist and media producer Jorge Balleza of Sabotaje Media with Omar Lozano of Austin-based record label Trucha Soul, on contemporary documentations of Texas-Mexico border music. The evening event is centered around a screening of the 50th anniversary 4K restoration of Chulas Fronteras (1976) paired with the Cuéllar-directed Del mero corazón (1979) at the Pollock Theater. Both films will be preceded by a performance of corridos by Gallo Armado with DJ sets by Balleza , Lozano , and UCSB/KCSB alum Eduardo Camacho . The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Gosling and Cuéllar.
Carry on With Valley Music – An Afternoon of Soaring Songs brings rising tenor Giorgi Guliashvili to St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church in the next program from the impressive Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series. Guliashvili will be accompanied by celebrated collaborative pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson, who enjoys a multi-faceted international career as pianist, conductor and educator, including the last five years as the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Opera Center. The tenor is an alumnus of the SFO’s Merola Program, which Matheson also directs. They will perform songs and arias by Liszt, Donizetti, Tosti, Leoncavallo, Verdi, Puccini and others at St. Mark’s, which boasts beautiful acoustics and a serene space in the heart of the rural, charming community of Los Olivos wine-country.
WHEN: 4 pm
WHERE: St. Mark’s in-the-Valley Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos COST: $25-$45, students free INFO: (805) 705-0938 or www.smitv.org/2024-2025-santa-ynez-valley-concert-series.html FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Caesar and Cleopatra Play Their Cards – The story of Julius Caesar and Queen Cleopatra dates back 2,000 years, and Handel’s Giulio Cesare was first performed three centuries ago. But Opera Santa Barbara has positioned its production of the opera in the most modern of ways. “Think House of Cards in ancient Egypt” is the tagline for the work that boasts “steamy passion, ruthless politics, and vocal pyrotechnics inspired by antiquity’s notorious power couple.” The two engage in romance while Cleo is occupied battling her ruthless brother Ptolemy for the throne. What unfolds is a rollercoaster of passion, betrayal and vengeance, set to show-stopping vocals by George Frederick Handel, the composer of The Messiah. OSB’s production condenses some of the opera’s most memorable musical moments into an action-packed 100 minutes, perfect for its recent home in the former opera house known as the Lobero Theatre. “Fasten your seatbelts as (stars) Colin Ramsey and Anastasia Malliaras take you on one of ancient history’s bumpiest rides.”
WHEN: 7:30 pm Saturday, 2:30 pm Sunday
WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $99-$199
INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.com
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Benshi, a Century Later – The Pollock Theater dives deeper into global goodies with an event called The Art of the Benshi boasting Ichirō Kataoka, one of Japan’s most celebrated benshi, or “movie orators.” Audiences have the rare opportunity to experience this mesmerizing artistry through Kataoka, who embodies a tradition that at its peak in the 1910s and 1920s, featured more than 7,000 benshi introducing silent films and providing dynamic narration. Joined by Makia Matsumura on piano, Kataoka – who has created and enacted scripts for 350 silent films – will narrate a trio of movie shorts. These include the legendary avant-garde film A Page of Madness, released a century ago this year, Laurel and Hardy’s Liberty (1929), and the quirky Japanese animated short A Snipped Snake (Chongire Hebi) (1930). Kataoka will be narrating in Japanese, with the English translation subtitled on the screen. Kataoka and Matsumura then join moderator Naoki Yamamoto of UCSB Film and Media Studies for a post-screening discussion.
WHEN: 2 pm
WHERE: Pollock Theater, UCSB campus
COST: free (reservations recommended)
INFO: (805) 893-5903 or www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu/pollock
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
MacMasters of Celtic Music – Canada’s Celtic fiddle superstar couple – Natalie MacMaster, a Cape Breton specialist, and her husband Donnell Leahy, who is partial to both Irish and Cape Breton styles – collaborate with some of the world’s finest musicians to fete Celtic musical traditions across nations and decades, tracing the music’s ancient roots to its current popularity around the world. The Celtic All Stars lineup boasts vocalist Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, four-time All-Ireland Champion banjo player Enda Scahill, critically acclaimed Scottish piper Ross Ainslie, master guitarist Tim Edey, and the fiddle duo’s multi-talented daughter Mary Frances, who plays fiddle and piano. Settle in for a night of fiery fiddling, electrifying energy, and a world-traveling excursion exploring the heart and soul of Celtic music, spanning Canadian, Scottish and Irish influences.
TUESDAY, MARCH 3
Peyroux Hits Patriotic Paydirt – The celebrated jazz-based singer and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux confronts the current national mood of cynicism and fear with her We Are America tour, subtitled “American Songs That Give Us Hope.” Marking the 10th anniversary of her Secular Hymns album, the tour reunites the singular artist with her longtime collaborators in bassist Barak Mori and guitarist Jon Herington. The trio originally recorded classic tunes by Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and others in 2016, performing them on the worldwide tour that followed. A decade later, the same intimate ensemble will set the scene for Peyroux to uplift audiences with a carefully curated mix of entirely American music. These are songs written by Allen Toussaint, Judy Collins, Bessie Smith, and Bob Dylan, among others. The set will include a generous smattering of Peyroux’s unabashedly soul-baring originals featured on her most recent record, the whole song sequence delivered in the distinctive, intimate, crooning candor synonymous with the artist since her breakthrough album Dreamland 30 years ago. “My music and these performances are part of a dialogue,” she said about the tour, “a candid, ongoing conversation with a loyal community brought together by the power of music.”
Extending the concept to the larger world, the concert will be opened by Jon Muq, the Uganda-born, Austin-based singer-songwriter, who offers his unique perspective in “devising songs as small gifts, designed to settle into everyday life and provoke reflection and resilience.”
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.
COST: $60 & $70 ($107 VIP tickets includes premier seating and a pre-show reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres)
INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.org
WHEN: 7 pm
WHERE: Campbell Hall, 574 Mesa Rd., UCSB campus
COST: $43-$63
INFO: (805) 893-3535 or https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
A Tiffany Experience – Indelible traces, Vietnamese American artist and UCSB alum Tiffany Chung’s first comprehensive museum survey show, has been exhibiting at UCSB’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum since January. The show features 70 pieces spanning her 25-year career as an interdisciplinary artist; one who is globally recognized for her research-driven practice exploring the intersections of history, culture and geography, covering cartography, embroidery, painting, photography, sculpture, video, text, and music. Today, Chung will chat about her work in an intimate artist talk followed by a moderated Q&A session with museum director Gabriel Ritter. The conversation will touch on the overarching themes and evolution of her artistic process, providing context to work that traces shifts in cultural, geopolitical, and natural landscapes shaped by the upheavals of war, displacement, disaster, and global trade. She’ll also discuss the process and inspiration behind her site-specific, immersive sound and video installation, Spheres of Time, created for and exclusively on view at UCSB’s AlloSphere.
WHEN: 5 pm; exhibit runs through April 26
WHERE: UCSB campus, across from the lagoon
COST: free
INFO: (805) 893-2951 or www.museum.ucsb.edu
TUESDAY, MARCH 3-WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
Peck’s Paean to Robbins –Superstar New York City Ballet
Principal Tiler Peck has danced at the Granada on several appearances as part of UCSB Arts & Lectures’ inspired dance programming – including most recently the spectacular Turn it Out with Tiler Peck & Friends. She now returns to the venue for Tiler Peck’s Ballet Festival: Jerome Robbins, a two-night tribute to the legendary choreographer. Befitting the groundbreaking Robbins – whose fusion of ballet and jazz created a distinctly American style that reshaped the art form, including choreographing West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof – Peck has curated two distinct programs. The seven works that comprise the programs combine to illustrate a small subsection of Peck’s take on Robbins’ oeuvre. The performances feature combinations of top-tier talent from New York City Ballet (Roman Mejia, Indiana Woodward, Mira Nadon, and Chun Wai Chan in addition to Peck, who also curates), Paris Opera Ballet (Sae Eun Park and Guillaume Diop) and Houston Ballet. Peck herself is featured in A Suite of Dances, making her the first woman to perform this iconic role created by Robbins for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Taken as a whole, the two-night festival is another feather in the cap of UCSB A&L, indicative of its standing in the international arts community, and an event we’ll surely be talking about as one of the year’s highlights.
WHEN: 7:30 pm Tuesday & Wednesday
WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street
COST: $55-$135, youth 18 & under $23
INFO: (805) 899-2222/www.granadasb.org or (805) 893-3535/https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
NOTE TO READERS
This entertainment calendar is a subjective sampling of arts and entertainment events taking place in the Santa Barbara area for the next seven days or so. It is by no means comprehensive. Please also see my feature stories elsewhere in this issue for more events. In order to be considered for inclusion in this calendar, please submit information – including hi-res photos –by 12 noon Wednesday eight days prior to publication date. Email: slibowitz@yahoo.com.
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PIANO LESSONS
Openings now available for Children & Adults. Piano Lessons in our Studio or your Home. Call or Text Kary Kramer (805) 453-3481
PHYSICAL TRAINING & THERAPY
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ELECTRICIAN
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TILE SETTING
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.
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PET/ HOUSE SITTING
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CONSTRUCTION
General Building Design & Construction Contractor
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OFFICE SUITES FOR RENT
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Suite 2: 14’3” x 7’6” (approx. 108 sq. ft.)
Private Restroom: 12’ x 7’5” (approx. 82 sq. ft.)
No elevator
Rate: $1200 per month Term Minimum One Year
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Double site in the Santa Barbara Cemetery. There is a place for a casket and a place for a cremation urn. Call: (805) 455-9869
Local, Reliable Property Management. We care for your rentals. FoothillPM.com 805-698-4769
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
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BOOKKEEPER/PERSONAL ASSISTANT
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DONATIONS NEEDED
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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
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SB CEMETARY LOCATION
FINE FURNITURE
Antique rosewood table and chairs; other fine furniture & paintings at good prices! Call (805) 733-1030
