Healing Arts – How art, entertainment, and a community came together in the weeks following the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake, P.14
Arthurs & Addams – This theater family brings their own spirit to Stage Left Productions and the upcoming Addams Family musical, P.20
Flowing gowns, plenty of bubbles, and a dreamy ambiance… Lotusland’s annual gala was another blooming success, page 8
SB Wildlife Care Network’s new doc, page 30
What’s Cooking? – From meal pickups to private dinners benefitting a variety of causes… The Girl’s Kitchen has a mission…, P.23
Kerry Rice’s baptism of fire opened his eyes to a deeper reality – one which he has parlayed into art, empathy … and Unity. (Story starts on p.6)
Fiesta en la Casa Flamenco, guitars, and an unforgettable setting… Casa del Herrero kicks off Fiesta with its 2nd Annual Old Spanish Days Celebrations, page 14
Beings and Doings – Tile, terracotta, mosaic. These accents can momentarily enliven a space. But in hands directed by deeper incentives, the stones express life itself.
8 Montecito Miscellany – Lotusland’s Jardin des Rêves, a sneak peek at ballet, Fiesta’s poster art, and more miscellany 10 Curator’s Choice – This new weekly feature offers a glimpse into just one of the 3.5M specimens, artifacts, and documents from the SBMNH Letters to the Editor – Readers share their views on the presence of ICE in the area Tide Guide
Local News – After the recent ICE raids, the city met for an emergency town hall
Our Town – The ACSA summit on AI for the classroom was hosted at Cold Spring School
The Way It Was – Art in the weeks following the 1925 earthquake Society Invites – The 2nd Annual Old Spanish Days celebration at Casa del Herrero is here and there’s still time to join
16
Elizabeth’s Appraisals – A collection of African masks tells of their role in culture, ritual, and fine art
18 Brilliant Thoughts – Walk a mile in Ashleigh’s thoughts on shoes, cobbling, and the tales that have come from them
20 Community Voices – A message from Susan Salcido on supporting our children in the face of uncertainity
Stage Magic – How The Addams Family musical mirrors the real-life drama (and joy) of the Arthurs family of Santa Barbara
22 Montecito Health Coach – The couple that sleeps in the same bed together, stays together… but do they? The benefit of separate bedrooms.
23
Dear Montecito – A family’s pandemic passion has led to a whole company, The Girl’s Kitchen, and a means of supporting others
24 Robert’s Big Questions – What did you say? Sorry, I was looking at my phone – I’m listening, I promise.
An Independent Mind – How legacies of learning shape the lessons and meaning to be taken away from history
25 Your Westmont – College grad thrives serving in the Army, and faculty and staff are honored at brunch
27 Foraging Thyme – Taste the summer with this spicy, crunchy watermelon and tomato salad
28 News Bytes – Montecito Country Mart’s events, Jamie Knee’s new TV show, ice skating for justice, and other tidbits
30 On Entertainment – The SB Wildlife Care Network’s new doc puts urban wildlife in a new light, plus other film happenings
32 Crime in the ‘Cito
33 Spirituality Matters – “Who’s got the song?” “We all do!” – Community Song Circles throughout town
36 Calendar of Events – Gogol Bordello at the Arlington, Sammy Obeid at Center Stage, the County Fair at Ventura, and more entertainment
38 Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads, in which sellers offer everything from summer rentals to estate sales
39 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles
Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer
by Steven Libowitz
Time was, one could reasonably assume that seeing the classic film musical The Music Man would launch a new generation of trombonists (after all, they did lead the big parade, with 110 cornets right behind). Nowadays, not so much. But Music Academy of the West trombone fellow Sarah Roshani Goldberg had a more circuitous, if more traditional, path to the big slide brass instrument, even before she hit double digits.
“As a younger kid, I would sing to Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, and Britney Spears – and I wanted to be one of
Best Resort in California (just go to the bar and mention our award)
Best Resort in the U.S.
best Resort in the World -travel and leisure
by Jeff Wing
Feel the tickle of a sea anemone’s tentacles and the smooth shell of a cowrie snail. Marvel at baby sharks still nestled in their translucent egg cases, and explore interactive exhibits that reveal the Santa Barbara Channel. Discover how we study the ocean!
sbnature.org/seacenter
211 Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara, CA 93101
“Iwas a tile contractor, and then joined the army and ultimately deployed to Iraq. When I got back, life to me … well, my little portion of what I can do for this world is to spread the message of unity.” Reader, if you know any other contractors with this perspective, you are in a good place.
Kerry Rice began Unity Tile and Design LLC in 2016. “It started in Aspen and Boulder, Colorado. I was a successful contractor out there but I began having a hard time with the cold, so I bought a house in Kauai, where I did a lot of mosaic work and lived for a couple years. At that time I was always going back and forth to Santa Barbara. I grew up in Lake Tahoe. I’m a California boy, and Santa Barbara just resonated with me.”
Kerry Rice is a veteran, a businessman, and an artist. As Unity Tile and Design’s title suggests, the spirit of the endeavor is colored by Kerry’s 10,000 foot take on All This. It would be easy to say he approaches his work with a “missionary zeal,” but that doesn’t quite convey what he’s about. His mosaic incentives are storytelling, and the stories are yours. If you can imagine it, Rice and his team can actualize it. Yes, he thinks of each completely custom project as an expression of life’s inherent positivity. As he states on his company website: “I enjoy showing my customers the difference art, like a mosaic mural, can make in their home. This is an energy-based company. I believe that my work creates happiness and spreads joy throughout homes and offices.”
Lest we leave the impression that Kerry Rice is a sort of grout-covered Shaolin monk, wandering from job to job and radiating tranquil vibes…uh, he
rarely has visible grout on his person. He doesn’t proselytize. It’s all in the work, and in the client’s vision.
“If someone asks me for something, I never want to say no. People who say no may be my pet peeve.”
In consultation with a home or business owner (you, that is), Rice creates bespoke visual splendor with mosaic – each project a singular statement of which there is only one in the world. You are its progenitor and proprietor. Taking a more quotidian stance, a custom mosaic – should it meet the criteria – can be valued as an original work of art in a home appraisal. But let’s get back to the numinous.
Beings & Doings Page 334
by Richard Mineards
Lotusland, the 37-acre botanical paradise developed by the late international opera singer Ganna Walska, sold out all 500 tickets for its annual gala, Jardin des Rêves, months in advance, raising more than $1 million.
The 31st annual event Garden of Dreams, co-chaired by David Jones
and Julie Morley, with honorary chair Wendy Schmidt, featured vintage automobiles and 30 unique auction lots including a Caribbean superyacht escape, a Goop and Rosewood Miramar staycation, an all-inclusive New York Fashion Week experience, and a tour of TV host Jay Leno’s “Big Dog Garage.”
Among the throng of well-dressed horticulturists were Thomasine Richards , Xorin Balbes , Truman
Davies , Merryl Brown , Lily Hahn
Shining , Caroline Thompson , Belle Hahn , Ashley Adelson , Mark Schmidt , and Rebecca Anderson
A blooming good beano…
State Street Ballet gave a sneak peek at its next season with a sunset soirée at the Montecito estate of board member Karl Weis and his wife Kristen featuring Romeo and Juliet, Chaplin, and work from the ever-popular Nutcracker. Balletomanes quaffing the champagne
Miscellany Page 344
DON’T MISS GUSTAVO DUDAMEL’S FINAL SEASON WITH THE LA PHIL!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025, 7:00 PM (Early Start Time)
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
Gustavo Dudamel, Music & Artistic Director Program includes STRAVINSKY’s Firebird and Rite of Spring !
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026, 7:30 PM
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Riccardo Muti, Music Director Emeritus for Life
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026, 7:30 PM
DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025, 7:30 PM PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA, LONDON
Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Principal Conductor
Fabio Luisi, Music Director
Hélène Grimaud, piano
Sofia Fomina, soprano
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025, 7:30 PM LOUIS LORTIE, piano ALL-RAVEL PROGRAM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026, 7:30 PM EMANUEL AX, piano
Works by BEETHOVEN, POULENC, DEBUSSY, and SCHUMANN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026, 7:30 PM VENICE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
Gianpiero Zanocco, conductor & violin
A VENETIAN DUEL OF BOWS
In Celebration of Venetian Carnivale
Venetian Masks and Cloaks Encouraged!
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026, 7:30 PM
SPHINX VIRTUOSI
Randall Goosby, violin
This iconic image of the extinct Passenger Pigeon was drawn by Alexander Wilson who published eight volumes of American Ornithology in the early years of the of 19th century. During Wilson’s lifetime, there were millions of these birds darkening the sky. Loss of habitat and over-hunting caused their extinction. The last known of the species, a female, died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. You can see this original hand-colored engraving in the current exhibit, Drawn from Nature, in the Maximus Gallery. Past exhibits can be viewed online at MaximusGallery.org.
The Passenger Pigeon, Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, Alexander Wilson, Philadelphia, 18081814, hand-colored engraving
Curator’s Choice is a new weekly column from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, offering Montecito Journal readers a glimpse into the remarkable stories behind special items in our collections. With over 3.5 million specimens, artifacts, and documents, the Museum preserves the natural and cultural heritage of our region while promoting scientific literacy and a deeper connection to the natural world. This mission is made possible through the generosity of our community: 350 volunteers contribute more than 17,000 hours annually, supporters donate $3 million each year, and a growing number of legacy donors are securing the future of our cherished scientific and educational institution by adding the Museum to their will.
Summer is in full swing at the Museum and Butterflies Alive! is the most popular attraction this time of year. Flutter by to catch the fun!
About 10 days ago, ICE was reportedly in Montecito and detained several hardworking gardeners on Hot Springs Road — individuals who are not criminals. This has raised serious concerns in the community.
Separately, the ongoing construction, particularly with the new roundabouts, is creating significant safety issues. The traffic flow and congestion are becoming increasingly dangerous for residents, pedestrians, and workers alike.
Given these developments, is there still an opportunity to commission a new safety study to help prevent further development in the area? Many of us are hoping we still have a fighting chance to preserve the character and safety of our neighborhood.
Susan Josephson
There has been an outcry for the Courts and Congress to curb the Administration’s actions on Immigration with arguments stressing that these actions are unconstitutional or immoral. I am tired of exhorting others to act when We the People can stop Immigration in its tracks! These actions are simple, immediate and based on data. All we have to do is:
STOP eating fruit and vegetables: est. 50% of agricultural workers in CA are undocumented
STOP eating chicken, beef and pork: est. 23+% of meatpacking/processing workers are undocumented
STOP buying homes: est. 26% of construction laborers in CA are undocumented workers
STOP dining out (or wash your own dishes): est.10-40% of kitchen laborers are undocumented
STOP going to hotels or bring your own sheets and clean your own toilets: est. 20-30% of hospitality cleaning staff are undocumented (especially in budget hotels)
Letters Page 324
Executive Editor/CEO | Gwyn Lurie gwyn@montecitojournal.net
President/COO | Timothy Lennon Buckley tim@montecitojournal.net
Managing Editor | Zach Rosen zach@montecitojournal.net
MoJo Contributing Editor | Christopher Matteo Connor
Art/Production Director | Trent Watanabe
Graphic Design/Layout | Stevie Acuña
Administrative Assistant | Kassidy Craner
VP, Sales & Marketing | Leanne Wood leanne@montecitojournal.net
Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Jessica Sutherland, Joe DeMello
Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick
Proofreading | Helen Buckley
Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz
Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Beatrice Tolan, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Tiana Molony, Houghton Hyatt, Jeff Wing
Gossip | Richard Mineards
History | Hattie Beresford
Humor | Ernie Witham
Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri
Health/Wellness | Ann Brode, Deann Zampelli
Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook
Food & Wine | Melissa Petitto, Gabe Saglie, Jamie Knee
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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
by Tiana Molony
Tension hung thick in the air at the Franklin Community Center on Tuesday evening, July 15, as residents packed the room – and spilled out into the parking lot – to demand answers about recent ICE activity in Santa Barbara. Some even brought blankets and picnic dinners, watching the proceedings from an outdoor screen when space inside ran out.
Inside, Santa Barbara City Council members, Mayor Randy Rowse, and Police Chief Kelly Gordon sat elbow to elbow with community organizers for the emergency meeting hosted by the city council and the 805 Immigration Coalition, aimed at addressing mounting fears and confusion over federal immigration enforcement in the region.
The town hall comes after the events on July 10th, when federal immigration agents carried out a sweeping raid at Glass House Farms in Carpinteria and Camarillo, targeting undocumented workers and sparking widespread outrage in the community. On that day, one farmworker died, and approximately 360 undocumented individuals were detained across both sites, according to a press release from ICE.
Primitiva Hernandez, the executive director of 805UndocuFund, said that the raids were “only a matter of time.” She reflected on a previous June 10th press conference at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, where she urged Santa Barbara County to collaborate with local organizations to protect the community. “So take this as a warning that we don’t need to wait another 30 days,” she declared at the town hall. “We don’t need to have more deaths. We don’t need to have more pain. We don’t need to have more broken families before we take decisive action, even at the city level.”
Hernandez asserted that out of the individuals taken on July 10th, “only four”
This last Tuesday, July 15, city representatives and the concerned community met to discuss recent ICE raids
of them had violent criminal records. She claims that once taken into detention centers, or what she referred to as “concentration camps,” people don’t have access to legal representation. She clarified that the system makes it “nearly impossible” for them to access legal services.
Many of the attendees, including Hernandez, spent hours before the evening meeting voicing their concerns to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. There was a collective cry for action at both meetings. “Proclamations are wonderful, but they’re really just words,” said public commenter Andi Garcia at the town hall.
Garcia noted that she and other volunteers had been patrolling Santa Barbara’s Eastside almost every day, out of concern for the presence of ICE. Garcia, who grew up on Santa Barbara’s Eastside, put it plainly: “I’m a little brown kid from a rich city, born and raised right here in this community.”
Many speakers alluded to the extreme difficulties and sacrifices made by immigrants and their families to come to the U.S. Melanie Karub described how her mother “crawled in the desert with her pregnant and weakened body.”
Many simply felt lost and out of answers. “I feel hopeless,” said Fabiola Hernandez “I feel hopeless, and I don’t know what to do to help my community.” She emphasized that it was the officials’ duty to ensure the safety of all residents and urged for immediate action. “That is your job. You are here to keep us all safe.”
Chief Gordon was in the hot seat after public comment, as many attendees urged the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) to take a more proactive stance against ICE. The audience expressed a clear desire for a swift response from SBPD when ICE is in the area, specifically to alert the community.
However, Chief Gordon emphasized that ICE does not inform the SBPD when or who they’re detaining. Even when
Local News Page 324
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by Joanne A Calitri
Dr.Amy Alzina, superintendent and principal of Cold Spring School Montecito, hosted the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit for educators at the school on July 10-11. With her continued interest in and integration of AI in the classroom and for educators, Dr. Alzina serves as the Chair of the ACSA AI Task Force.
As the summit was for ACSA members only, I connected with Dr. Alzina afterward for her comments and data points. She said, “It was inspiring to bring together over 100 leaders in education with a shared commitment to ensuring every student in California receives an exceptional, future-ready education. We were honored to be joined by key industry leaders and dedicated public servants, including the CEO from Edapt (edapt.com), Christian Jackson; former State Senator and 2026 State Superintendent candidate, Josh Newman; ACSA Executive Director Dr. Edgar Zazueta and Deputy Executive Director Margarita Cuizon-Armelino; and SSDA Executive Director, Yuri Calderon. We could not have asked for a more energizing, purpose-driven day. Our ACSA Al Task Force will be continuing the momentum from the event to build out AI implementation guidelines and training across our state, all to best prepare our fantastic California students.”
Adding to Alzina’s comments for our readers is Christian Jackson, who was the Summit’s keynote speaker: “After keynoting ACSA AI and connecting with leaders nationwide, one thing was clear: most AI conversations in education are missing the mark. There’s too much talk about tools, not enough about what the technology is and how to work with it. The ACSA AI Task Force flipped that script, offering a clear roadmap for shifting mindsets and using tools effectively to prepare districts and students for tomorrow, and today. The task force launch, led by Dr. Alzina, succeeded thanks to support from ACSA, SSDA, AI Industry Leader Adam Brotman, former Senator Josh Newman, and the many education leaders pushing progress across California.”
The AI summit focused on AI innovation in TK–12 plus education. The summit’s more than 100 attendees represented education, school superintendents, principals, teachers, technology experts, industry pioneers, and legislative advocates. Summit events included a presentation on the use
of AI in the classroom by teachers, titled From Consumers to Creators , led by Dr. Amy Alzina. Noted summit speakers included Jason Hovey and Chelsea Hatchard from Khan Academy, and Cold Spring School’s Innovation Teacher Ryan Francisco, 2nd Grade Teacher Sarah Shaupeter, 4th Grade Teacher Elizabeth Gomez, and Music & Drama Teacher Sarah DiSalvo using Khanmigo, Adobe Express, and Suno AI. A fireside chat on AI policy and funding was hosted by Zazueta, Calderon, and Capitol Advisors President Kevin Gordon; and there were breakout sessions on strategies and real-world use cases in schools. Attendees received a signed copy of the book, AI First: The Playbook for FutureProof Business and Brand by Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, courtesy of Franklin Covey Education.
Joanne A Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com
Our small, student-centered preschool nurtures children through play,
by Hattie Beresford
As aftershocks of the June 29, 1925, 6.3 earthquake continued to rock the town and the waters from the broken Sheffield Reservoir still muddied the waterfront, representatives from the Community Arts Association met to discuss Recreational Activities that would, according to CAA member
Mrs. Charles W. (Lucy Russell) Dabney, “have a beneficial psychological effect upon men, women and children, during the weeks following the general demoralization of regular routine.”
While the Plans and Planting Committee of the Community Arts Association tackled promoting and facilitating a uniform Spanish style in the
Way It Was Page 224
“Fiesta
by Joanne A Calitri
Society Invites is most pleased to report that the 2nd Annual Old Spanish Days (OSD) celebration at Casa del Herrero is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, from 4-7:30 pm. Tickets are required and chauffeured free parking is offsite.
Casa del Herrero is Montecito’s only National Historic Landmark and celebrating its 100th Year Anniversary this year.
Speaking directly with event Co-Chairs David Bolton, OSD El Presidente 2023, and Gonzalo Sarmiento, they explained that the event formerly titled, Noche de Gala, has been reimagined as, Fiesta en la Casa Bolton, “Fiesta returns to Montecito in the style of Noche de Gala, held for decades at the Coral Casino. There probably isn’t a better Fiesta location than Casa del Herrero with its classic architecture, picturesque gardens, and rich history. This year, we have a unique Fiesta experience for guests where Spanishinfluenced gastronomy and entertainment meet the picturesque Mediterranean architecture of Montecito’s historic gem, Casa del Herrero. It will be fun. Viva la Fiesta, and Viva la Casa!”
Supporting her co-chairs is Event Chair Jenna Jobst Reichental, who added, “It is with great pride that we host our annual Fiesta en la Casa at Casa del Herrero, in celebration of the museum’s 100-year anniversary and Montecito’s enduring Spanish cultural and architectural legacy. Built in 1925, Casa del Herrero exemplifies the Spanish Colonial Revival style and has been a treasured symbol of our community for a century. We invite the public to join us for an evening of traditional music, authentic cuisine, fantastic Spanish wine, and festive camaraderie.”
The details, details, details for my dear readers! Fiesta en la Casa is an outdoor event at Casa del Herrero’s historic gardens, and yes, ladies; you have been forewarned about wearing your Jimmy Choo’s on the lawn!
Casa del Herrero’s garden staff tends not only flowers, but organic herbs and spices, which will be used as part of the farm-to table-tapas being served. Of course, there will be Spanish wines and cocktails, with perhaps a garden flower garnish. Chris Fossek will be performing live Spanish guitar music. Dance performances include a special performance by 2023 Spirit of Fiesta Jack Harwood who is arriving on the zapatos de flamenco heels of his outstanding appearance in the Los Ángeles Ópera production, Ainadamar Also dancing will be Spirit of Fiesta 2025 Natalia Treviño, and Junior Spirit of Fiesta 2025, Victoria Plascencia
The event committee members working behind the scenes are Melody Ellison , Beth Esrey , Isabel Wendt , and Carolyn Williams. Join, dance, sing and spread the viva!
411: www.casadelherrero.com/ event-calendar/fiesta-en-la-casa
by Elizabeth Stewart
KMcD sends me a photo of four African masks purchased in Tanzania and Kenya, originally from Zaire (the Congo). I love these masks because I had a two-year tour in the VSO, the British version of the U.S. Peace Corps, in upper Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. I have a treasured mask from the Ivory Coast, a wisdom mask, worn by young men at puberty rites. The mask has a female spirit on the forehead in the shape of a bird that faces downward to the bridge of the nose. Since I raised a male, I can relate to this mask – acquired in my early 20s before I was a mother. There is only one art form in three dimensions that contains many worlds within its shape, color, and design; that is the mask. Particularly in Africa, it holds specific symbolic meaning associated with a specific geographical culture. Before I tell you about the four masks KMcD sent, which date from the 1920s–1930s, I offer my thoughts on their importance. The mask in Africa is the connection to one’s ancestors, both in a cultural and spiritual dimension. Communication and guidance are given via the mask. Masks were worn as part of the human body (and body politic) at festivals, initiations, funerals, marriages, and in rites of passage such as coming into manhood or womanhood. Masks expressed society’s myths, building a common language. Masks “danced” stories and offered protection against evil, bad luck, and illness, and they would frighten and shame. Masks signaled one’s position in a com-
munity’s hierarchy, and distinguished one cultural group from another. In the Eurocentric history of the world we ‘demoted’ masks to the department of cultural anthropology, and it is only comparatively recently – through 20th century artists like Picasso and Klee, who loved African masks – that we understand masks to be the finest of fine art. Without understanding their ritual role, we do not understand these masks. It is difficult to describe a “static” mask in a glass museum case, as it is NOT being “danced” or moved as part of a ritual in action.
There is only one art form in three dimensions that contains many worlds within its shape, color, and design; that is the mask.
For KMcD, I describe the origin of these four masks; from the Eastern BaPende Tribe (Zaire), called “Songye” painted wood masks. Some bear dark patinas, and some have the white accents of kaolin clay molded into facial features, and one has the original fiber head and chin surround. At least one is recognizable as a mask from the association called “Kifwebe,” which is a select and high-ranking men’s group in the BaPende community, a group in charge of the community hierarchy and the distribution of its wealth. One mask is ‘two color,’ which is symbolic and distinctive to the BaPende people of today’s Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Pende people, which number 250,000 today, speak a language called Kipende, and they have a cultural division in the communities between the Western and Eastern Pende. They are related to the Bantu Peoples.
As differing from other masking communities, present-day Pende are organized around extended family groups that descend from the matriarchal ancestors. They do not venerate a leader, for example, and otherwise have no centralized political authority – though in the 17th century they lived in Angola and were ruled by the benevolent and highly respected Queen Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba. Nzinga was a forceful freedom fighter in her time, principally against Portuguese rule.
Today most Pende live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, having
followed their Queen to the Congo in 1620 where, over time, the Pende culture decentralized authority. By 1885 European colonists had renamed the region the Congo Free State, and in 1931 the Pende people rebelled against their Belgian colonial oppressors. So if these masks could speak (and I imagine they do) they would tell a story of strife from the 1920s-1930s.
The masks of the Zaire region were known traditionally for their inclusion in initiation rituals. They were also worn to honor ancestors, and shaped in male and female forms. Some of these masks were not “danced,” but honored in static, sculptural (statue-style), paired forms in a sacred common area of the village.
Because the artists who shaped these ancestor masks were so close to the spirit of the community’s ancestors, the anonymous artists were honored by being the first to receive food from the harvest. Thus spirits were embodied in art. The art was a product of a collective endeavor, and then a collective ‘performance’ – such that when ”danced,” the mask enabled the community to focus on a universal and communal message. The community, their ancestors, their past, was celebrated for thousands of years in ritual. Sadly, the masks’ future after 1930s was not the future these masks would have welcomed; they were traded as souvenirs. The value of the four masks combined is $2,000-$3,000 with the possibility of a much higher value in the right market.
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
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by Ashleigh Brilliant
Avery wise person once said that you should never criticize a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes – Because at that point you’ll be a mile away – and you’ve got his shoes!
Some churches sing it this way:
I got shoes, you got shoes, All God’s chillun got shoes –When I gets to Heaven, gonna put on my shoes, Gonna walk all over God’s Heaven.
What is that all about? For one thing, back in times of Slavery, and even after, a true indication of poverty was not being able to buy a pair of shoes. In fact, it was often the case that slaves were better shod than their fellow Blacks, because their owners knew that they would do better work when their feet were protected.
But the shoes themselves also needed tending – which is why the cobbler played an important role in Medieval society and, of course, in Fairy Tales, as collected by the Brothers Grimm.
One of the best-known of their stories was about an unfortunate maiden whose mother had died. Her father had remarried and acquired two unpleasant stepsisters for her. They forced her to do menial jobs and would never think of allowing her to go with them to the Festival Ball. But she would visit her mother’s grave, where, by some enchantment, she was provided with all the finery of a golden gown. The
Prince had already encountered and fallen in love with her, and he had acquired one piece of her footwear, a glass slipper. By magic, a coach had appeared to take her to the Ball. There the Prince sought to find her by trying the slipper on various maidens. But it never fit – until he got to Cinderella, on whose foot it fit perfectly.
You can add the “happily ever after” conclusion for yourself.
But we must note that the “glass slipper” was somehow a mistranslation for one made of Gold.
There are also stories about shoemakers, or “cobblers.” (In the Grimm era, shoes could not be bought readymade but had to be specially cut and sewn from tanner’s leather.) The nub of each story concerned elves or fairies who came in the night to help a poor shoemaker, so that, when he wakes in the morning, he finds his work already done.
I remember being taken, as a child, to get shoes from Thom McAn, a brand which is apparently still flourishing. One feature of that store which is still vivid in my mind, was that they had an X-ray machine on which you could step and see, on a small green screen, an image of your foot inside the shoe, presumably to show how good a fit it was. Those machines, as far as I know, are no longer in use, presumably because of the harmful effects which X-rays are now known to have. (This is why, when X-ray pictures of your teeth are taken by your dentist, the technician has to take special precautions to avoid exposure to the rays – and you
yourself may be covered with some sort of protective lead blanket – since lead is impervious to X-rays.)
As you may remember, the song “Oh My Darling Clementine” – about the daughter of a “miner forty niner” – tells us that this girl’s footwear consisted of “herring boxes,” presumably indicating the poverty in which she and her miner father lived. Today small herrings – now usually called sardines – are commonly packed in easily-opened can, but in the days of the Forty Niners, those miners who were part of the great California Gold Rush of 1849, sardines were still usually packaged in boxes.
In those days, the most important connection between shoes and animals involved the shoeing of horses, who were, of course, the main providers of personal transportation. For this reason, one most important members of any community was the Blacksmith, whose place of business was known as a “smithy” or “forge.” He made or repaired many other kinds of metal objects, but his specialty was horseshoes – and this
also required some knowledge of how to handle horses.
One of Longfellow’s best-known poems celebrated “The Village Blacksmith” as a sort of local hero, embodying all the manly virtues.
Getting back to our own era, Hank Fort’s song, “Put Your Shoes on, Lucy,” cleverly expresses the difference between city and country life:
“How you act will be the death of me –Don’t they have skyscrapers down in Tennessee?”
Ashleigh Brilliant born England 1933, came to California in 1955, to Santa Barbara in 1973, to the Montecito Journal in 2016.
Best-known for his illustrated epigrams, called “Pot-Shots,” now a series of 10,000. email: ashleigh@west. net. web: www.ash leighbrilliant.com.
by Susan Salcido
Recently, I’ve heard directly from youth in our schools – many carrying a weight far too heavy for their young shoulders. Some are afraid to leave their parents and family members, fearful that someone might swoop in and take them away.
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in and around Santa Barbara County is creating uncertainty and fear. Even for those not directly impacted, we know that children absorb the stress and tensions in their surroundings. What happens to the children directly affected by ICE, separated from their families and left holding a bag of unknowns?
Most of us have zero direct control over federal policy. But we do have control over what we stand for. In Santa Barbara County, communities reflect a wide range of deeply held beliefs and lived experiences. We have friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members on opposite sides of the political aisle. That’s part of living in a democracy.
And yet, when it comes to children, I believe we stand on common ground: children deserve to feel safe and loved. They need compassion and care. They need family. And they deserve to live and learn without fear.
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children” – words of wisdom from Nelson Mandela, and words that I believe tell the truth.
In public education, we are confronting another truth as we prepare to welcome students back for the new school year: as committed as we are to educating every child, the pendulum is shifting – and it’s taking wide swipes at the systems and supports that help children thrive.
Since the new federal administration took office in January, executive actions have triggered a cascade of disruptions in education. Most recently, a freeze on billions of dollars in education grants – including funds for mental health services, migrant student support, and professional development for educators – has left school districts
across the country in limbo. U.S. Supreme Court decisions have added uncertainty around civil rights enforcement, LGBTQ+ student protections, program oversight, and student services.
We cannot predict every challenge the school year may bring. Nor can we control all that happens beyond our campuses. But our mission remains unchanged: to lawfully protect and support every student, and to create the conditions where all children can learn and grow.
California law guarantees all children the right to a free public education. Schools do not ask for or collect immigration information. We do not share student data with immigration authorities unless presented with a valid court order. And immigration officers are not permitted on campus without a judicial warrant. These safeguards help keep schools what they are meant to be: places of learning, safety, and connection.
So far, local ICE activity has appeared to focus on adults, not children. But we know how quickly that can change. In New York, when ICE agents approached athletes directly, youth baseball coach Youman Wilder stepped in, invoking their Fifth Amendment rights. His actions were a reminder that when it comes to youth safety, we have to step in and up.
None of us can predict with certainty what is to come next. What gives me hope is what I see every day in our schools and communities: educators creating welcoming spaces, community members showing up for their neighbors, and people of all backgrounds coming together on common ground.
In times of uncertainty, let’s remember that protecting children is not political; it is a shared human value. Let us ensure that when history asks how we treated our children, the answer reflects our very best. Thank you to our community who keeps showing up – for one another, and most of all, for our youth.
SBCEO has compiled resources in support of students, families, schools, and districts.
Susan Salcido, SB County Superintendent
by Dalina Michaels
In a world where most families gather around the dinner table to discuss school, sports, or weekend plans, the Arthurs family of Santa Barbara takes a different stage – literally. At the heart of their world is Stage Left Productions, a thriving local theater company they founded 25 years ago to share their passion for storytelling, music, and community performance. And this summer, they’re tackling a show that feels – uncannily – like art imitating life: The Addams Family musical.
“I will admit we are altogether kooky!” says Director Shana Lynch Arthurs. Of course, this is said during our frenetic interview while she is trying to unlock backstage doors, move set pieces, and load up countless costumes and props: “It is always a mad rush this last week… but somehow it all comes together,” she says with a grin.
For the Arthurs family – led by director and co-founder Shana & producer, Dave Arthurs – Stage Left Productions is more than a creative outlet. It’s a lifestyle. For 25 years they have been putting on performances every summer in Santa Barbara, along with their co-founder and beloved choreographic director, Steven Lovelace. Their children, Cosi (20) and Beckett (17) are talented performers in their own rights and are helping to lead the nearly 80 campers and junior counselors to put on this production. For example, on the day of our interview, Cosi was
On the surface, it’s easy to laugh at the absurdities of the Addams clan: a gothic, ghostly family of outcasts whose idea of fun includes torturing each other and dining with the dead. But under the spooky lighting and macabre humor lies a narrative all too familiar to the Arthurs family: love, legacy, loyalty, and the beautiful chaos of keeping a family together – especially when everyone is going in different directions.
MY OWN STORY
Elizabeth Upton
Hawes & Jenkins Publishing (2023)
NonFiction -Memoir
ISBN: 978-1637840757
$10.99
At fifteen, a talented athlete, Elizabeth gives up her dreams of competing in the Olympics to become a nun. Separating from her mother and twin sister, she leaves her friends and familiar world behind to pursue a life of piety. But she finds herself unprepared for what lies ahead. While her cloistered life commences as a profound spiritual and emotional journey, personal disenchantment takes root and slowly grows over the next twenty years. Elizabeth recoils against the restrictive atmosphere of convent life. She struggles with conflicting emotions until a forbidden love affair forces her to come to grips with her needs as a woman and begins to seek her true, authentic self.
“I recommend to any young woman contemplating donning the veil. Read this memoir long before you take those final vows.”
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"In an utterly honest voice that shares every emotion, and the more hidden, natural urges a young teen feels, Upton opens up to readers in her memoir.”
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FEATURED BOOK & AUTHOR
Elizabeth Upton is a best-selling author and influential writer of gripping romantic thrillers and inspiring self-help nonfiction motivational books. Her best-selling books, 'Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story,' 'The Silver Woman of Fire,' and 'The Healing Swords of Love and Innocence' helped set her firmly within the world's literary map. She enjoys reading good books by some of her favorite authors like Geraldine Brooks, Hanh, Jerry Archer, Joseph Murphy, and Michael Connelly. Elizabeth and her husband reside outside the area of Santa Barbara, California.
by Deann Zampelli
Recently I was watching a clip from Chicken Shop Date which, if you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend for an occasional fix of content junk food. The host, Amelia Dimoldenberg, was talking with the actor Andrew Garfield about relationships – when they began to muse over the “hilarious” notion of sharing a bed with someone for the next 50 years. Neither of them was in a relationship, and both are under 40. From a different time. A different place. An emotional space where nothing is assumed; sexual preference, gender, consent, showing up on time to work and apparently, sharing a bed with a partner.
I felt like a social media anthropologist observing the behavior of these two celebrity Millenials/Gen Z-ers. How fascinating, I thought. They have redefined everything. Including sharing a bed with your romantic partner. How ridiculous, they agreed, that it is even a “thing.” And a big part of me found myself nodding along. And they aren’t the only ones. Many celebrities such as Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Victoria and David Beckham have publicly shared that when they designed their new homes, it was with separate bedrooms and a shared living space in between.
As we get older, many of us experience sleep disruptions or certainly a change in our sleep patterns. Between insomnia, snoring (I don’t snore, I am just saying this as an example…) having to go to the bathroom (see above), racing thoughts, and dogs waking you up just to say hi, it is a thing. One person gets woken up by the other. It happens, a lot. So, I found myself wondering; have we, as humans, always shared a “marital” bed?
The answers are varied and seemed to take me on a research rollercoaster. Yes, our anthropological ancestors did sleep communally. But this wasn’t just because of societal norms and practicality (such as their living space was all shared) but also for protection and to keep warm. As civilization developed, a version of beds took form. Yet the ancient Egyptians are credited with creating the first raised beds to avoid various creepy crawlers on the floor. It wasn’t until the 1600s, however, that the very affluent began contemplating these kind of “sleep privacy” issues, and not until the 1800s is there evidence of actually having separate sleeping chambers. For most other
social classes, it was more commonplace to share the marital bed, as they simply didn’t have the space to consider any other options.
So where did this perception of mainstream separate beds come from? I remember watching I Love Lucy when I was growing up, Ricky and Lucy would don their matching pajamas, crawl into their respective twin beds, and say good night. This depiction, as it turns out, was less to do with mirroring the current trends and more to do with onscreen morality. The Hays Code, enforced on television from the 1930s to the 1960s, prohibited showing couples in the same bed, as it was considered too risqué for the viewer. Instead of media mimicking popular culture, popular culture began mimicking media. Is this what we are supposed to do? The truth, however, is more complicated. Some did follow this trend, but most still considered separate beds a sign of marital discord.
Today, matching jammies aside, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, approximately 35% of Americans sleep in separate rooms on a regular basis. There is even a name for it; Sleep Divorce. Not exactly positive messaging. However, it seems that interpretation is mostly a western construct. Many cultures successfully have separate sleeping arrangements. The Japanese and Korean cultures for example, consider sleeping a private practice and find that having separate beds or rooms for sleeping leads to better quality sleep overall.
And science is starting to agree. A recent study from the University of Michigan found that “sharing a bed can compromise sleep quality, potentially straining relationships.” And researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that “following a poor night’s sleep, couples will experience more fights.”
According to Neil Stanley, author of A Sleep Divorce: How to Sleep Apart, Not Fall Apart, “We’ve been conned by the idea we should sleep together if we’re in a relationship.”
For some, having separate beds, or separate rooms might create distance and a feeling of separateness while for others they can more easily separate the concept of intimacy with the application of sleep. Should “Sleep Divorce” perhaps be renamed “Sleep Honeymoon?”
While it is not for everyone, and is a very personal decision, the implications on both sides of the fence are interesting to contemplate.
But maybe you should sleep on it.
Coming attractions at the Potter Theatre were cancelled and the severely damaged building was razed. The Granada and Lobero were closed until minor repairs were made and they were deemed safe. (photo courtesy of Santa Barbara Historical Museum)
rebuilding of State Street, the School of the Arts, the Drama committee, and the Music committee worked with many organizations to relieve the “severe mental and moral strain on the community.”
One of their first activities was to hold a street dance on Micheltorena Street in front of the El Mirasol Hotel.
Mrs. Charles W. (Lucy Russell) Dabney of La Risueña Ranch sponsored the event; the out-of-work Frank Greenough orchestra was hired to play for the dance; Hotel El Mirasol furnished the lights, and the City sprinkled the dirt street. Mrs. Dabney later reported, “Twenty-five hundred people, of all ages and representing all groups, turned out – all meeting in a common sympathy, and all rejoicing in the opportunity offered them to forget their fears and anxieties for a few hours, to the strains of good dance music, and under a starry sky.”
As additional sponsors were recruited, additional dances were enacted.
In addition to the dances, Music Committee member Mary Overman organized a Spanish choral concert in Plaza Vera Cruz, something she would continue as weekly Community Sings of Spanish songs. Overman was the supervisor of music for the City School District and a teacher of singing.
The previous July, a group of Community Arts actors had formed the Green Room Club of the Lobero Theatre for those who had participated over the years in producing plays. They wanted to keep in touch with their fellow thespians and created theatrical,
dance, and musical entertainments for each other while remaining affiliated with the Community Arts Association. To support the greater community after the earthquake, they planned a variety show at Plaza del Mar on July 14 and recruited the best amateur talent in town. A tentative program announced a jazz orchestra by Reid Hollingworth; Scotch songs and dances by William Brightton; the State College glee club; banjo players; song and dance numbers from In Old Louisiana; character songs by Dr. Henry J. Profant; and a magic act by artist and son of the tavern owner, Clarence Mattei.
To facilitate and organize the great number of people and institutions that were offering recreation for the public, the Community Arts Association hosted a mass meeting presided over by Pearl Chase, Mrs. (Irene) Hoffmann, and Mrs. Mulhauser. Each branch of the CAA was represented, as well as scores of other organizations. Besides encouraging activities, the goal of the meeting was to avoid conflict of dates. Among the activities for that first week, the CAA was especially involved. The School of the Arts, its adobe building destroyed, was opening at Roosevelt School and offering classes in drama, music, dancing, art, and architectural drafting. Peabody Stadium (the Bowl) at the new High School offered outdoor movies; and the Lobero Theatre was offering a program of “upscale” vaudeville.
On Monday of that first week, Mary Overman held a free Spanish chorus class in El Paseo. On Tuesday, there was the Green Room Club’s variety show at the Plaza del Mar bandstand. On Wednesday, La Cumbre Country Club held a dinner dance open to non-members. On Thursday, there was a dinner dance at El Paseo. On Friday, the pupils of the School of
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by Beatrice Tolan
For this week’s Dear Montecito, I asked Jules Bartling, one of the core founders of The Girl’s Kitchen, to update our community on the pop-up kitchen and meals team bringing whole foods to our community, and to communities negatively affected by the current administration. From Jules:
Ilike to think of The Girl’s Kitchen (TGK) as a lucky and fabulous accident. I know I can speak for Robyn and Sami when I say that none of us planned or expected to find ourselves working in the world of food, but somehow it has ended up feeling like exactly where we were supposed to land.
TGK is a passion project born of a necessity to create, regardless of the medium. When the pandemic started, my little brother, his girlfriend Sami and I all found ourselves moving into my parents Mike and Robyn’s home. We were all one big family under the same roof again starting that March of 2020, and we all seemed to gather in the kitchen.
We three girls, my brother, and my dad would all obsessively collect cooking videos and recipes on social media and at some point I decided I was the one who’d take charge in bringing those recipes to life. Once we got to start broadening our social circles again, sharing our home-kitchen creations was our favorite pastime.
The more we cooked for our family and friends, the more confident we became. We started making absolutely everything, from tomatillo salsa-marinated Wagyu steak burritos to hand folded sorpresine alla with vodka sauce, to our house favorite; sesame soy marinated salmon bowls.
At some point Justine Roddick (after having our salmon bowls maybe 20 times) finally insisted we look into selling our food. With Sami’s natural ability to find and highlight beauty in anything and everything she encounters, Robyn’s unparalleled ability to organize and plan events and experiences, and my newfound love for cooking, it was the perfect recipe for success. We’ve done a handful of pop-ups in a fun, interactive build-your-own-bowl style and some fabulous private dinners, but our most recent endeavor has been our weekly meal pick-up program, hosted by The Eddy grocery store.
This past election completely devastated us all, and the three of us wanted to find a way to do SOMETHING to make a difference and fight against what this administration is imposing on the American population. This is where our program comes in. For the last four months, we have been cooking for our beautiful community, all so that we can send 100% of the proceeds to Whole Women’s Health Alliance, an incredible nonprofit that funds and facilitates access to those in need of abortion care who live in states in which it has been banned. We are so proud to stand for the rights of others, and it’s been so amazing watching our
community connect with us not just through our food, but through our morals and social goals as well.
As for what’s next for us, we are committed to continuing to create ongoing support for the causes we believe in, continuing to donate a portion of our proceeds to the wonderful charities we believe in, while also offering a product that our customers truly love… our house-made sauces. Our dishes are all packed with beautiful flavor, but I must say the star of the show is always the sauce! We prioritize all clean, organic, preservative-free recipes, which is why our spicy mayo and serrano crema have been such fan favorites, they really do bring everything together.
We’ve had so much fun using our sauces in a variety of different ways, which is why we want to get them on
grocery store shelves for all our customers to enjoy and experiment with at home. As The Girl’s Kitchen, we stand for love and compassion, and believe there’s no better way to unite people than with a beautiful meal.
To learn more about The Girl’s Kitchen, follow them on Instagram at @thegirlskitchen805
Beatrice Tolan is a fine artist, animator, and writer living in Los Angeles after residing in Montecito for 20 years. She is invested in building community through unique perspectives and stories. beatricetola @gmail.com
by Robert Bernstein
Irarely carry a phone. I feel like a visitor from another planet watching my fellow hairless apes walk around like zombies, staring and poking at tiny screens.
Which is master and which is slave? Phone or user? Phones use us to make more phones, like a virus.
Quite a prolific virus. Over 17 billion smartphones sold worldwide since 2009. Almost two billion new ones each year. Like any tool, it has its place. Although the smartphone is rarely the best tool for any particular job.
My biggest concern: A total lack of meta-awareness by the user. The user is not aware how much time they are spending in a zombie-like scrolling trance. Do they even remember what they have seen?
They stand in doorways or otherwise block people, oblivious to what they are doing. Someone will walk toward me smiling and I smile back. They are not looking at me. They are on their phone. I don’t exist to them.
The lack of meta-awareness is most noticeable to me when I try to talk to a phone zombie. “Keep talking, I am listening.” No. You are not.
A 2009 Stanford study showed that there really is no such thing as multi-tasking. You do one thing and then switch to another. The more you do this, the worse you actually get at it.
People think that listening is an easy task, done with just a bit of the brain. Wrong. The cognitive load of listening is actually higher than the cognitive load of speaking. I notice that when the phone zombie wants to speak, they stop looking at the phone. If they have to stop looking at the phone to speak, doesn’t that mean they need to stop looking at the phone to listen?
Attention spans have gone almost to zero. If I send an email with more than one point, only one point will receive a reply.
One of the saddest sights for me is a group of people together, but each is looking at their phone rather than at each other. Comedian Bill Maher has noted that the problem is the ever presence of the phone. Going online on a computer does not have the same addictive quality as having the social media world constantly in reach. Constantly sending “news feed” notifications of things that rarely are important. Does anyone believe this “news” has any resemblance to the real journalistic news we once received from professionals like Walter Cronkite?
Studies show that even having the phone in the same room while turned off is a distraction. The phone creates a separation anxiety akin to what a child feels when a parent is out of sight. Not only for the phone, but for all of the FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out on something in that feed of thousands of Friends who are barely acquaintances.
The phone creates a separation anxiety akin to what a child feels when a parent is out of sight.
The phone and social media could be useful tools. Remember the Arab Spring when social media was used to organize meaningful change? Why is this so rare? Has there ever been a complex manufactured product with such a short obsolescence cycle? I have only ever owned two cars in my 50 years of driving. But phones are discarded after an average of 18 months! As an engineer, I am in awe of the advanced technology in such a device. It is as if we were throwing out great works of art.
Such advanced technology used to be modular and repairable. Not smartphones. Phones have become a technology brain drain. As a professional photographer, I was grateful that camera technology used to improve over time. But that has come to a dead stop. There has been no meaningful improvement on my 10-year-old camera. All of the improvements go to phone cameras that cannot do what I need as a professional. I believe in appropriate technology. Phones have their place as a tool. Abraham Maslow wrote in 1966, “It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.” Do we really want to walk around everywhere with a hammer in our hands?
Robert Bernstein holds degrees from Physics departments of MIT and UCSB. His passion to understand the Big Questions of life, the universe and to be a good citizen of the planet.
Visit facebook. com/questionbig
by Jeffrey Harding
The idea that many of my fellow citizens think favorably about socialism astounds me when I consider the sad tale of socialism’s history. I’m looking for reasons why that is. Here’s some background.
I think most of it is because of what we teach our children. They are not taught to think critically. It starts at the college level and continues with our teachers and parents who are product of our colleges and universities. The result is that we have generations who have been exposed to nothing but common anti-capitalism myths.
Critical thinking courses teach students how to analyze problems using the tools of reason, logic, and research. It enables students to examine, research, and reveal the truth of a set of facts. Unfortunately, courses in critical thinking are rarely taught at the high school level. While students in the Santa Barbara Unified School district have no course in critical thinking, the district says they integrate thinking skills into an impressive course curricula. Kudos to them. At the college level, many have critical thinking courses, but most do not require students to take it and few do.
Studies also reveal that our children are not well versed in civics, which is an explanation of the structure, function, and history of our government. Also, most people don’t seem to understand economics even though high schools and colleges are teaching economics courses. Of college grads, about 40% took at least one economics course.
Despite our educational system, almost 40% of Americans have positive views of some form of socialism. Democrats poll 57% positive to socialism and only 47% favorable to capitalism. For Republicans, 71% favor capitalism and only 16% to socialism.
While many liberal Democrats favor capitalism, they also support a welfare state. They say the government needs to control capitalism’s “excesses” and prevent its perceived exploitation and inequality.
The saying about being radical in your youth and more conservative when you’re old is true, regardless of party.
With the sordid history of socialism’s failures, it appears that these folks either forgot what they learned in class or ditched school that day.
So, why do 40% of Americans look favorably on socialism? It’s mostly group-
think and it starts at the college level.
Many of our college departments of economics, history, and philosophy have been captured by followers of Marx, Marcuse, Piketty, Keynes, and other left-wing advocates of socialism who deride the philosophies of the Enlightenment and the rise of individual freedoms and prosperity that followed. At many schools there is a common groupthink set of histories that blame capitalism for causing poverty and exploitation and even slavery despite data that give evidence of the exact opposite. For many teachers it may just be ignorance of what capitalism is and has achieved for mankind. For others it is a means of achieving political power to control our lives. Yet these misconceptions have been taught for decades and pervade the liberal class. Either way, our educational system has failed them. I was one of them. I came out of college as a typical liberal because of what I was taught. My edition of the famous Samuelson economics textbook said the Soviet socialist-Marxian system was workable and a possible alternative to capitalism. History said otherwise. One of my professors was a famous Yale historian who convinced us that capitalism had failed us by causing the Depression and FDR’s New Deal takeover of the economy was the only way to save us. Only one professor said that said capitalism was good.
Fortunately during my law school days, I was exposed to the ideas, philosophies, and history behind capitalism that showed it was the greatest thing to happen to mankind. I was completely self-taught. I learned that capitalism has far fewer flaws than any other system of social economic organization ever devised. It lifted us out of 10,000 years of poverty while every government run or controlled economy throughout history, including socialism, failed.
The solution? Require every high school and college student to take a course in critical thinking so they have the tools to think independently. The other solution is to break left-wing control of higher education and the groupthink it generates. Hire more teachers who have knowledge of the history and philosophies of capitalism and socialism so that students are exposed to both systems.
When knowledgeable people compare capitalism to socialism, no one would willingly choose socialism.
by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott
Lee Park (‘22) marched into a career soon after graduating from Westmont and being commissioned as a second lieutenant. Participating in Army ROTC as a student first at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) and then at Westmont led to his position as an assistant operations officer in an Army Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington. He’s also pursuing a master’s degree in supply-chain management and logistics through Georgetown University. Previously, he led in a Forward Support Company assisting U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
During his student years, Park served in UC Santa Barbara’s ROTC Surfrider Battalion while working full-time at downtown restaurants as a server, assistant cook, and later as a kitchen manager.
“That season of life was busy, but it was also formative,” he says. “Some of my best memories are early morning physical training sessions with the Surfriders and trail running in the Santa Barbara area. It gave me grit, perspective, and a hunger to pursue a calling to military service.”
Park plans to pursue an active-duty Army career. He will be pinned to the rank of Captain in May 2026, ceremonially receiving his new insignia
– and expects that his master’s degree in logistics will help him advance. “I’m interested in supply-chain management and business/finance in the Army as well as international development,” he says. “I aspire to keep working for the benefit of the country, such as contributing to research making Army supply chains more efficient or seeking great logistics solutions to large-scale combat operations. If I later go into the private sector, I’d pursue operations management or logistics.”
Park lived in Santa Barbara from fourth grade through most of high school and admired his father’s service with the Navy and ROTC at Cornell University. His grandfather, an immigrant on scholarship, built a career with the State Department and Department of Defense. Park’s mother, Alice Scharper Perez, worked as the dean of Educational Programs at SBCC, and now works for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
When Westmont invited potential transfer students to campus for a tour, he felt a clear pull. “I knew Westmont was beautiful and had a strong academic reputation, but the community, the faith-driven mission, and the scholarship opportunities struck me most,” he says. “My Army scholarship covered tuition, and Westmont generously provided my room and board. It was a gift – truly the merging of calling, opportunity, and grace.”
A political science major, Park praises professors Jesse Covington, Katherine Bryant, and Tom Knecht. “Their wisdom and faith deeply shaped how I think about leadership, global affairs, and servant-oriented decision-making,” he says. “I loved courses in international politics, political theory, and inter-
national development – all of which I now see reflected in my work as an Army officer.”
Park says Westmont gave him the space to grow intellectually, spiritually and personally. He also met his wife there, Veronica Nguyen Park (‘22), a fellow political science major. “Westmont grounded me in faith and equipped me for a life of purpose. I’m grateful beyond words,” he says.
Westmont celebrated service anniversaries and recognized its Employees of the Year at the annual Staff and Faculty Appreciation Brunch on campus. This year’s Employees of the Year were Charles Ryu, Christen Foell (‘01) and Aaron Sizer (‘01).
Ryu, an overachieving mobile, web application, and content management system developer, recently appeared on John Stossel TV to talk about escaping from North Korea – twice. “I have been constantly impressed by how hard you have worked and how you have embraced every challenge with a positive, confident attitude,” said Reed Sheard, vice president for college advancement and CIO.
Husband and wife Aaron and Christen co-direct the Gaede Institute for Liberal Arts, which oversees five programs: Thriving Communities, New Frontiers, Young Adult Leadership Lab, the Incarnational Preaching Project and Trailhead. Their life-changing work has empowered local churches to revitalize their ministries.
“It’s our privilege to honor Christen for her amazing, outstanding leadership, her servant leader’s heart, and her wisdom and grace that she leads with every day,” said Provost Kim Denu President Gayle D. Beebe commended Sizer for his exceptional leadership in grant writing and strategic partnerships, particularly with the Lilly Endowment Inc., which has benefited pastors and congregations globally. “You’re a beautiful writer, a team thinker, an innovative developer and a great partner,” Beebe said. “We are also grateful for the many ways in which you are benefiting the church.”
The Bruce and Adaline Bare Outstanding Teacher Faculty Awards, which were announced at Commencement, included Nathan Huff, associate professor of art, Lisa DeBoer, professor of art, and Tim Van Haitsma, associate professor of kinesiology. John Blondell, retired professor of theater arts and global ambassador for the performing arts, was awarded the Special Outstanding Achievement in Scholarship and Production.
The crowd also honored longtime Montecito resident Nancy ( Favor ) Phinney (’74), who has worked at the college for 40 years as director of college communications and senior editor.
the Arts were to give a music recital at Roosevelt School, and there was another street dance at Micheltorena Street. On Saturday, there was another Dinner Dance at La Cumbre Country Club, and on Sunday, the City Band played a concert at Alameda Plaza. Thanks to the CAA and dozens of other organizations, there was plenty to occupy the mind and lift the spirits of every Santa Barbaran. With the Granada closed and many
other theaters and dance halls as well, the California Theater Company built an outdoor theater at State and Arrellaga streets. They erected a screen to show motion pictures and a large stage for road shows and vaudeville acts. On July 7, the Morning Press was able to write that twelve hundred people had attended the Airdome Theatre and had their first laugh in 10 days as they enjoyed Johnny Hines in The Early Bird “Hines,” wrote the Morning Press, “made everyone forget earthquakes and started a mirth-quake, with his really funny portrayal of a lovesick milkman.”
Musician, composer, and conductor Roger (Georges) Clerbois was one of the founders of the music branch and the Community Orchestra. His orchestra, however, had been regretfully dropped by the Music Committee in 1923 in favor of a choral program. Clerbois regrouped with the Clerbois Little Symphony and after the earthquake he sponsored a series of community sings at Alameda Park which his orchestra accompanied. (Community Sings had become popular during WWI as Americans sought relief and communal support during those difficult times.) Of these new sings, the Morning Press remarked, “Supported wholly by a spirit which gives and shares, these sings have brought much comfort to the hundreds who attend each week.”
By July 12, Santa Barbarans had experienced an earthquake and flood and were already busy rebuilding better and smarter. Although there had been 17 fires, they had all been small, localized, and easily doused other than a house that burned down on West Montecito Street.
And then, on July 12 the temperature rose astronomically to 100 degrees, and that evening a fierce Santa Ana wind began to blow.
On Las Tunas Road a still glowing cigarette butt was carelessly thrown into the dried grasses. As they ignited, fifty mile per hour winds blew the small blaze into a wall of flame that descended the hillside and threatened the El Encanto Hotel, the State Teacher’s College, and the entire city itself as it swept across the grassy hillside into a eucalyptus grove north of Mission Ridge Road. Guests of the El Encanto joined the fire brigade in trying to put out the flames.
Two companies of Marines, who had been assisting the earthquake-damaged and vulnerable city, had been repairing their camp which had blown down in the severe wind. They deserted their task and rushed up to help the fire brigade but there were no extra wet sacks for them to use against the fire. They took off their flannel shirts, wet them down, and commenced beating the fire. Despite these efforts, the fire was threatening to jump the road and descend into the city when a sudden change in wind direction allowed the firefighters to slowly quell the flames leaving smoke and cinders to shroud the hilltop and settle over the Mission District.
Seventeen-year-old David Maccianti, the son of a baker at 706 Anacapa Street, (today’s La Paloma Café) remembered the fire in an oral interview given in the 1980s for the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. “They closed the theaters during the earthquake,” he said, “so they put up a temporary outdoor theater on the corner of Arrellaga and State streets. I went to the movie there one night, and the fire was going on at the time. I had on a blue pinstripe suit, and I went there, and, of course, the ashes were coming down. When I got home my suit was gray!”
After the fire, there was a surge of requests to keep the Marines in Santa Barbara a while longer. The Green Room Club of the CAA pre -
pared to entertain them with a show in Plaza del Mar as well as a supper at El Paseo, in order to show appreciation for their service to Santa Barbara. Also showing gratitude were the AirDome and the California and Lobero Theatres which offered free tickets to the Marines. Their uniforms were the only ticket they needed to attend the productions. Luckily, in the days that followed, a plague of locusts failed to materialize as Santa Barbarans went about the business of reinventing their town.
by Melissa Petitto
Summer in Santa Barbara – a little overcast, a lot sunny, and, in my opinion, the best produce. Her Produce has some crispy, juicy, refreshing watermelon right now and this hydrating, water-heavy fruit is full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Watermelon is botanically categorized as a berry, and appears in oval, round, baby, large, seedless, yellow, red, or pink varieties. Watermelons are approximately 92% water. As for humans, staying hydrated is necessary to regulate temperature, help organs function normally, and deliver nutrients to cells. Citrulline, an amino acid that may help your exercise performance, is abundant in watermelon. This refreshing fruit also contains antioxidants such as vitamin C, carotenoids, lycopene, and cucurbitacin E, all of which help fight free radicals that may damage your cells and lead to illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. Let’s look at lycopene, one of the antioxidants found in great supply in watermelon – it is associated with lowering risks of certain cancers, lowering blood levels of IGF (insulin growth factor), lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, lowering inflammation, lowering oxidative damage, and may help prevent and inhibit age-related macular degeneration. This powerful fruit is a wonderful one to add to your summer days.
Yield: 4 Servings
4 cups 1 ½ inch cubed seedless watermelon, yellow or red or mixture of both
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
2 serrano peppers, thinly sliced on a mandolin
1 tablespoon lime zest
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
2 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup toasted and salted pepitas
1 cup microgreens
Maldon sea salt
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the watermelon, tomatoes, ½ of the scallions, ½ of the cilantro, and pepitas. Mix to combine.
2. In a small bowl, combine the lime zest, lime juice, ½ of scallions, ½ of cilantro, and olive oil. Whisk to combine.
3. Add the watermelon – tomato mixture to a large platter. Arrange the sliced serrano peppers on top, drizzle with the dressing, sprinkle with Maldon sea salt and top with the microgreens.
Jack Gale), with Goldberg slated to play on Koetsier’s “Symphony for Brass, Op. 80,” and handle the principal part for Jasmine Barnes’ “The Boroughs.” The latter work premiered just a year ago at Juilliard, which commissioned the piece through the Composing Inclusion program.
“It’s two brass quintets mirroring each other, like a conversation between them,” she said.
The concert portion is followed by an Instrument Exploration Station @ 11:45 am in partnership with the Santa Barbara Symphony’s Music Van Program, where kids can get to know the brass instruments up close.
Who knows? The concert plus the chance to handle a trombone just might spark some current youngster’s imagination.
Thursday, July 24:
New bassoon teaching artist William Short – principal of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2012, faculty member of both Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music – earned his master’s at Rice studying with MAW’s recently retired Benjamin Kamins. Now Short makes his debut with a master class – (1 pm; Weinman Hall; $10)… Tonight’s X2 concert “Living in Color” boasts a bevy of fellows and faculty members – more than two dozen in all – performing works by Florence Price, Luciano Berio, and 2009 MAW alumna Sarah Gibson, plus the West Coast premiere of Samuel Carl Adams’ “Lighthouse.” (7:30 pm; Hahn Hall; $55-$60)
Friday, July 25:
Fellows competitions continue with the finals of the Duo Competition, in which nine collaborative pianists paired with 14 other instrumentalists vie for the title, cash award, and the chance to perform at the end of the summer (10 am-5 pm; Hahn Hall; $55-$60)… Kamala Sankaram and Huang Ruo are the focus of the Concert & Conversation series (née Composers in Context). The colorful event features two vocal works each by Sankaram and Ruo, as well as pieces by Ravel and Max Bruch performed by mix of fellows and faculty. These musical interludes are sandwiched around a conversation with LVI co-director/ mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. (7:30 pm; Hahn Hall; $55-$60)
“Living in Color,” the X2 concert that pairs fellows with faculty, is this Thursday, July 24 (courtesy photo)
Saturday, July 26:
Tonight’s Teaching Artist Showcase, which once again mirrors the X2 concerts in combining faculty and fellows, has only two (but quite estimable) works on the program in Brahms’ “String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 111,” and Schubert’s “Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 114, ‘The Trout’” (7:30 pm; Lobero Theatre; $45-$70).
Tuesday, July 29:
Fellows furiously vying for prestigious titles comes to a close with the Marilyn Horne Song Competition, which has no preliminary rounds. That is, all of the 20 vocalists (who absolutely shone in the breathtaking production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Granada last weekend) and most of the vocal pianists get three songs each to impress the judges and take home the honors. Prizes include cash compensation and a performance at the end of summer. (11 am-5 pm; Hahn Hall; $55-$60)
Wednesday, July 30:
Cellist Ani Aznavoorian, the longtime principal of our hometown chamber ensemble Camerata Pacifica, makes her MAW debut with today’s master class (1 pm; Lehmann Hall; $10)… Tonight’s more casual, wine-fueled soirée known as the Salon Series, with works by Schumann, Mendelssohn and Chausson, is sold out.
by MJ Staff
Hudson Grace now features designer Peter Dunham with an exclusive collaboration in his new collection of tabletop and home essentials. Dunham, “I’ve been dreaming of doing a tabletop line for ages. Entertaining at home is a big and happy part of my life. So it was with a lot of excitement that a friend put us together after we’d both been asking about the other – a truly organic partnership.”
- Poppy Marché every Wednesday from 3-5 pm in July Crafts Camp for Kids.
Montecito Journal’s wine-travel columnist Jamie Knee, also known as the Petite Wine Traveler, is set to debut her own television series on American Public Television in early 2026. Titled Petite Wine Traveler Explores: California Central Coast, the 10-episode series will spotlight the region’s luxury wine destinations – from Santa Barbara’s coastline to Monterey’s misty peaks. Produced by Emmy winning Bounce Entertainment, the show will blend wine, food, and local culture as Knee visits family-run vineyards, farm-to-table kitchens, and artisanal markets. Viewers can expect immersive culinary demos, scenic storytelling, and an intimate look at the Central Coast’s vibrant hospitality scene. “I’m thrilled to finally pull back the curtain and showcase the Central Coast’s hidden gems,” said Knee. With national and local brands already backing the series, it’s poised to become a must-watch for wine and travel enthusiasts alike.
The Summer Exhibition for the SB Visual Artists (SBVA) runs until July 31st at 707 Paseo Nuevo. SBVA consists of active Santa Barbara artists who are celebrated for their exceptional artwork encompassing various mediums and artistic styles across a broad spectrum that includes abstract, landscape, seascape, portrait, still life, photographic compositions, sculpture and functional art. Artists include Jan Baker, Cheryl Barber, Frank DiMarco, Stan Evenson, Tricia Evenson, Mary Freericks, Louise Gerber, Kip Glover, Marilyn Harrison, Helena Seyffert Hill, Ruth Huron, Kent Karnofski, Francine Kirsch, Carissa Luminess, Kerry Methner, Dee Faia Parkins, Soheyla Valleie, Judy Villa, Felice Willat, and Rich Wilkie.
Healing Justice SB is hosting a Fundraising Event at Ice in Paradise in Goleta, on Sunday, July 27, from 1:30-3:30 pm. All proceeds help fund Healing Justice’s upcoming gala and HJSB’s programing. 411: www.hjsb.org/events/hjsb-fundraiser-at-ice-in-paradise
Tuesday, July 29, 6-8 pm – Fiesta Paint Party with Carey Caulfield: Open to beginners and experienced painters, this mixed-media painting event draws inspiration from Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta, celebrating the city’s rich culture and festivities. All materials, instruction, setup and cleanup are all included, and each painter will take home their own unique masterpiece. Tickets and reservations required.
Wednesday, July 30, 6-10 pm – Old Spanish Days Rooftop Party: Features handcrafted bites from Executive Chef John Vasquez and beats from DJ Darla Bea to keep the energy high all night long. Guests can savor Mini Paella with shrimp and chorizo pintxo; Puff Pastry with anchovy, parsley, and garlic; Vegetable Tortilla with roasted pepper, caramelized onion, spinach and mushroom; Albondigas with Salsa Espanola and Beef Empanada along with chimichurri. Pair these bites with refreshing drinks from the Finch & Fork bar and dance under the stars. Reservations required. 411: www.canarysantabarbara.com
The SB Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) invites the community to a talk by UC Riverside Prof. of Planetary Astrophysics Stephen Kane PhD, on Friday, August 1, 7:30-8:30 pm at the museum’s Fleischmann Auditorium. The event is free.
Kane will present factors that contribute to planetary habitability, an understanding of the evolution of Earth’s habitability, and identifying possible abodes of life elsewhere throughout the universe. Kane is a published scientific leader for several NASA missions designed to search for life in the universe. 411: www.sbnature.org
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s new Schlinger Chair of Entomology, Dr. Alex Harman, is calling on the public to help track local insect life. A dedicated field scientist and expert iNaturalist user, Harman leverages the power of community observations to uncover rare species – some not seen in decades. He encourages nature lovers to upload insect sightings to iNaturalist, where he’s already identified over 270,000 submissions. “With enough people looking, someone’s bound to find something incredible,” Harman says. His goal: crowdsource discoveries to fuel scientific research and conservation across California.
The Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation (PASF) has awarded $43,000 in education grants to eight Santa Barbara-area organizations dedicated to enriching youth through music and dance. The funding, approved by PASF’s Board of Directors, stems from the foundation’s annual music competition and supports programs that extend the reach of classical music and performance training.
PASF Education Grant Committee Members: Vice President Dr. Marjorie Gies, President Deborah Bertling, Noel Lucky-Ris, and Barbara Burger (not shown)
Notable recipients include Santa Barbara Youth Symphony and Santa Barbara Strings, which offer ensemble training for aspiring musicians. Santa Barbara Education Foundation received backing for three programs: Keep the Beat, Nick Rail Band Camp, and Strings Camp. Other funded initiatives include Opera Santa Barbara’s Opera 101, CAMA’s Music Matters, Santa Barbara Choral Society’s leadership program, and free concerts from the Santa Barbara Chamber Players.
State Street Ballet also received support to provide in-school dance classes and accessible performances for underserved students.
National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 5, from 5-7 pm at Linden Field, Carpinteria. This is a nationwide annual campaign to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the local communities, to build partnerships and foster neighborhood spirit to help create safer, more connected communities. At the event, there are opportunities to interact with public agencies and organizations who work to keep our community healthy and safe, and hands-on activities and engaging demonstrations. It is family friendly and for all ages. As Montecito usually has their event on the first Tuesday of August as well, we will update as we know more.
Cottage Health has appointed Matthew (Matt) Morgan, MBA, as senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective August 19, 2025.
At Cottage Health, Morgan will oversee all aspects of Cottage Health’s financial operations, including budgeting, financial planning, treasury, and accounting. He will serve as a key advisor to Cottage’s executive team and Board of Directors, helping guide decisions that support the organization’s strategic goals and financial sustainability.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from California State University Northridge, and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Services from San Diego State University. He is a Fellow of both the Healthcare Financial Management Association (FHFMA) and the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). 411: www.cottagehealth.org
unloading snacks from the back of her car, while brother Beckett was signing in campers and directing them where to go for rehearsal that day. Trying to get everyone in the same place at the same time is nearly impossible.
Cosi shares, “With two casts of nearly 30 performers in each… there are a lot of moving parts! We might have one group learning choreography for the opening number, while another is practicing songs or running lines. Then we also have campers who are learning the technical side of theater and are working on costumes, lights, sets, and props.”
Over the years, Stage Left Productions has become a cultural mainstay for many young performers in Santa Barbara. For four intense weeks, campers come together for auditions, and then learn songs, dances and dialogue. Along the way, they play theater games, work on improvisation, and practice their craft –which culminates in this weekend’s performances, shared by two casts. Other shows over the decades have included The Little Mermaid, Shrek, Footloose, The Music Man, and The Wizard of Oz
“It’s not just about putting on a good show,” says Shana, “It’s about building something together. Many of the kids and counselors have been with us for the past five to 10 years. We have so many sweet traditions like our ice cream social at the beginning of camp and a beach
party at the end. These are events that our campers and their families love to be part of and so it does feel like a closeknit community… once you join you are part of the Stage Left Family!”
When the Arthurs family chose The Addams Family for this season, it felt like a no-brainer. “The songs in this show are dynamic,” Shana shares: “Plus, many of our counselors, including my own kids, were in The Addams Family that was done by Director Shannon Saleh at San Marcos High School three years ago. So you could say we have a lot of experience with the show!” They also try to mix things up. “We try to pick shows that will appeal to our campers (ages 10-17 years old), and also that have songs and dances that will showcase the incredible talent we have in our community,” explains Shana. “Also, The Addams Family just did a national tour, so lots of our campers were familiar with the music. It’s great when we can do a show that everyone is really excited about and can rally behind!”
It is fun to look at the Arthurs and see if there are any parallels between them and the fictitious Addams crew. At the head of the Addams family is Gomez Addams, a devoted father torn between the traditions of his eccentric family and the desires of his daughter, Wednesday, who has fallen in love with a “normal” boy. “These characters live large, love hard, and are completely unafraid to be who they are,” says Dave Arthurs, who is the behind-thescenes guru for the production. He might not be into death like Gomez Addams… but you see his devotion to his family as he handles all the behind-the-scenes business matters that go into a show… at the same time coming to the theater with a blender to whip up milkshakes for all the volunteers who come on the weekends to help with final production needs. Or Morticia, the fiercely elegant matriarch trying to hold everything together as her family teeters on the edge of change. Enter Shana: who, as the direc-
tor, is practically living at the theater every day trying to manage campers, counselors, and all the details that go into putting on a major musical.
Indeed, in many ways, the Arthurs see themselves in the Addams. While Cosi (who is a rising Junior at Texas State University and Beckett is a rising Senior at San Marcos) aren’t exactly Wednesday and Pugsley with their blonde hair and blue eyes… they certainly work alongside their parents and help get a new generation excited about musical theater. “We really do enjoy being together,” says Beckett, “Most families like to go to the beach and be in the sun during July – but I guess we are like the Addams family since we prefer to be inside a cold dark theater!”
And of course, we can’t forget Uncle Fester. Shana shares, “We have our own Uncle Fester in Steven! He has been part of all this from the start and many of our campers grew up taking classes with him at Peabody Charter school. He is so loved by everyone!”
Yes, just like the Addams family, the Arthurs are happiest when they’re on stage – sharing their quirks, traditions, and love with an audience. “We’re loud, theatrical, and probably a little spooky during tech week,” jokes Cosi, “But at the end of the day, my family has been running Stage Left since
before Beckett and I were born, so it’s awesome to be part of a longstanding history in our community.”
What makes Stage Left Productions special isn’t just the high-caliber performances (though they have plenty). It’s the palpable sense of community, of tradition being handed down like a treasured script, of children growing up in the glow of stage lights, learning to project their voices and their values.
Through The Addams Family musical, the Arthurs are reminding Santa Barbara that family – whether blood or chosen, strait-laced or strange – is worth celebrating. And that theater, with all its drama and delight, is one of the most powerful mirrors we have.
“We all want to be accepted for who we are,” says Shana. “And if a spooky, wacky family like the Addams can find love and understanding – so can we.”
The Addams Family, presented by Stage Left Productions, is this weekend only: Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27. Both days the shows are at 2 pm and 7 pm at San Marcos High School. Tickets can be purchased at the door with cash or Venmo. Free parking at San Marcos High School.
For more information visit www.stageleftsb.com
by Steven Libowitz
Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (SBWCN) rescues, rehabilitates and returns to the wild sick, injured, orphaned and/or oil-impaired wild birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Over the years, the organization has grown from a grassroots effort that saw volunteers caring for animals in their homes to a nonprofit that occupies an expansive site, and operates a state-of-the-art wildlife hospital. This house of wildlife healing includes a CT scanner, a surgical group performing life-saving operations, and a dedicated team of staff, volunteers and community supporters.
Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network’s purpose has recently evolved. To their work healing animals in need of care, they have added a sort of cross-species mediation – a project called “Wild Welcome” whose mission is to support the thriving, long-term coexistence of communities and wild animals. How? Through education, action, and conservation. While SBWCN continues its vital rehabilitation work, Wild Welcome focuses on helping communities understand local species, prevent common conflicts, and create wildlife-friendly spaces.
The vision is a world where wildlife is not just rescued, but truly welcomed, one where people take an active role in conservation. In this world, small everyday choices – such as securing trash receptacles, planting native plants, and keeping pets supervised – add up to lasting change.
To that end, Wild World and SBWCN commissioned Wild Rescue, a powerful new IMAX® documentary narrated by TV personality Marc Summers (Nickelodeon’s Double Dare, Food Network’s Unwrapped) and directed by Ian Shive, an Ansel Adams award-winning American photographer and filmmaker. Shive’s work documents some of the world’s most pristine environments and conservation stories from around the globe. He is the executive producer and host of more than 50 nature-extolling documentary episodes for Warner Bros. and Discovery, and more than 40 films for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Wild Rescue’s breathtaking cinematography follows the dramatic stories – from rescue to rehabilitation and release at SBWCN’s facility – of several critters in crisis, while movingly demonstrating the interconnectedness of all species and the furtherance of long-term coexistence. Wild Rescue will have its local premiere at SBWCN’s Wild Night Out Benefit, an evening that serves as an elevated version of the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. Slated for July 31 at the Lobero Theatre, the benefit features a red-carpet experience, including a VIP pre-film reception and a celebratory dessert and drinks gathering after the screening.
But the film itself is the centerpiece, a bold and relatable statement from SBWCN with the objective of worldwide impact.
“Nature documentaries are beautiful, but how many of us have seen a polar bear or giraffe in their native habitat? It’s easier to care about something you are familiar with, and all of us have seen a raccoon, skunk or hummingbird – or any of the other animals that live in our area, which are much more relatable,” said Shive, who lives in Santa Ynez and served on SBWCN’s board. “The approach was to connect people with the nature they can actually understand, or rather think they understand. We may know these animals as supposed nuisances, but we don’t know them as community members.”
Meaning, Shive said, that many of us neglect the role that these creatures play, such as only noticing possums when they upset a garbage can and hiss when you arrive to investigate.
“You’re thinking, ‘Hey, get out of here!’ But possums actually help prevent disease in humans, in that a single possum can eat up to 5,000 ticks in a year,” he said. “Raccoons scavenge dead decaying animals that might otherwise smell everywhere. Songbirds eat insects that can destroy our crops and gardens. Each of these animals are playing a huge role in our daily lives. No one has really focused on that before this film.”
Shive was also able to film a CT scan at the animal hospital, a fascinating 3D look
inside an injured animal, and part of following four animals on their journey. The cohort of four includes a bobcat, and a fox who was injured in the Palisades Fire – just a fraction of the more than 4,000 animal patients across 200 different species SBWCN has aided.
“Even though the film is focused on Santa Barbara, it will be playing worldwide in IMAX theaters and museums everywhere,” he said. “The format makes it almost immersive, which makes it more personal for the audience. We’re wanting to set a new bar for how we think of and treat wildlife in every community. It becomes a lens for other places to say, ‘What animals do we have? What role do they play? What role do we play in their care?’ It sets a new standard for wildlife and our relationship to the animals, especially within cities and urban environments.”
If the film leads to young people deciding to become vet techs or animal care workers, that would be ideal, said Shive, who will participate in a post-screening Q&A session. “But I’m happy if people go home and just say, well, let’s consider protecting a nest by not trimming our trees when it’s baby bird season.
“Because the truth is, we all share this planet together.”
The 2023 short documentary film The Dads featured five fathers of trans children who joined Dennis Shepard – father of 1998’s infamously murdered teen Matthew Shepard – for a weekend fishing trip. In the course of the outing, the dads found common ground across racial, geographical, and generational lines in their unconditional love for their “gender expansive” offspring. The film not only won a 2024 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Program, it also spawned a new organization. The Dads Foundation was founded to foster an inclusive and affirming community for all fathers and male-identifying caregivers of transgender children. These parents and caregivers are provided understanding, resources, and connection as they navigate the unique challenges and triumphs associated with supporting their children’s gender identity journeys.
The filmmakers are also putting the finishing touches on a feature-length version of The Dads, following the fathers over a year through the politically tumultuous time leading up to and in the aftermath of the 2024 election. As anti-trans legislation and hostility escalates nationwide, several families are forced to make an impossible choice: stay and fight, or flee the U.S. to protect their children. In the process, fatherhood becomes an act of radical resistance.
A Santa Barbara fundraiser is set for Thursday, July 24, at 6 pm at Community Arts Workshop where the short will be screened – it’s also available on Netflix – as well as an extended preview of the upcoming feature, which still needs to capture footage of the expat families. A discussion and Q&A with Director Luchina Fisher, Producer/ subject Stephen Chukumba, and several additional fathers will be followed by a reception with the team. Visit www.thedadsfoundation.org or www.sbcaw.org/upcoming.
Movie lovers now have alternatives for free al fresco films on Friday nights this summer. UCSB A&L’s ongoing Summer Film Series continues its “Dog Days of Summer” screenings at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens. Next stop, Best in Show on July 25 – master mockumentarian Christopher Guest’s biting, all-star satire on the denizens of the dog show world. Come early to check out DJ Darla Bea’s curated two hour-plus playlist of 1950s rock, Caribbean soca, electro funk and doggie themed tunes for the series – with Bea in person tonight. (Visit www.ArtsAndLectures. UCSB.edu). Also that night, the Ojai Film Society launches its 37th Summer Series – featuring six free screenings under the oaks at Libbey Bowl on alternating Fridays (through October 3) – with Sally, the documentary about astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Visit https://ojaifilmsociety.org for the schedule and details. In contrast to UCSB’s entertainment-oriented slate, Ojai’s curated screenings carry the theme “Imagine A World,” which envisions a more just, expansive, and beautiful future, each film chosen to inspire courage, creativity, and connection by highlighting stories that remind us that another world is possible.
UCSB’s Carsey-Wolf Center Director Patrice Petro stepped down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year after nine years at the helm to return to full-time teaching. Swapping places, UCSB Film Professor Ross Melnick will step in as interim director for 2025-2026. His new responsibilities include shepherding the new Pollock Theater features series “Connectivity.” The series will be screening films that examine the evolving meaning of connection in our contemporary times, both as a technical feature of media and as a humanistic value and condition of social and public life. The series is meant to be a framework for thinking critically about the ways in which people use media to connect with ideas and with one another, from the shared experience of moviegoing to the collective bonds forged through storytelling and public dialogue. Visit www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu.
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notifications occur, she said that ICE does not provide names or any other detailed information about its operations. Chief Gordon reiterated that the SBPD becomes aware of such situations only if community members call for police assistance. “They don’t notify us. We don’t know,” she reminded.
Chief Gordon also emphasized that the SBPD does not participate in immigration enforcement and follows state law (the California Values Act), which prohibits local police from assisting with deportations or asking about immigration status.
She also clarified the department’s position and legal limitations, underscoring the complexities of local law enforcement interacting with federal agencies. “We don’t have authority locally over federal agents,” said Chief Gordon. “There’s nothing that allows us to police the federal government.”
The crowd responded with visible frustration, interrupting with shouts of “You gotta get present!” and “You don’t understand!” Mayor Rowse had to intervene several times to ask for civility, but that didn’t stop them from speaking their minds.
Councilwoman Wendy Santamaria expressed that she was “appalled” and angry by the recent incidents, including reports of families being picked up while dropping off children at school. She emphasized the immediate need for the city to direct staff to take “tangible” action,
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Bronze Age Hardware, 2605 S. Miller Street, Suite 107, Santa Maria, CA 93455. Robert J Dickerson, 2605 S. Miller Street, Suite 107, Santa Maria, CA 93455. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 25, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250001517. Published July 10, 17, 24, 31, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Montecito Medium; The Montecito Medium, 1187 Coast Village Road, 703, Montecito, CA 93108. Regina D Tomlinson, LLC, 1187 Coast Village Road 703, Montecito, CA 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 25, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250001506. Published July 3, 10, 17, 24, 2025
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV04119. To all interested parties: Petitioner Jennifer Anne Christina Richardson filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name of their child from Alexander Frederick Alire to Alexander Frederick Richardson. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the
stating she would not leave the room until concrete next steps were taken.
Councilwoman Meagan Harmon echoed these sentiments and expressed gratitude for the community’s testimony. She remained candid: “As a mother, I feel the heartbreak in this room – I feel the terror in this room,” she said.
After almost three hours, the city council ultimately decided to direct staff to research and bring back policy recommendations for an upcoming meeting. Specifically, to explore considering an emergency declaration, funding 805 UndocuFund and other immigrant support organizations, joining legal challenges with groups like the ACLU, investigating how to notify the rapid response system of ICE notices, partnering with the county on related actions, offering city facilities for community volunteer trainings, and exploring police officers handing out red cards.
While there was discussion about scheduling a special meeting sooner than the next regularly scheduled council meeting on July 29th, City Administrator Kelly McAdoo stated that it would be unlikely to have sufficient research completed by then for meaningful action.
City leaders assured the crowd that this was the most immediate action they could take. Still, many attendees left frustrated. Their message was clear: they want action, and they want it now.
name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed July 17, 2025 by Jessica Vega. Hearing date: September 8, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 5, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published July 17, 24, 31, August 7, 2025
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV04119. To all interested parties: Petitioner Jennifer Anne Christina Richardson filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name of their child from Adiran Franklin Alire to Adrian Franklin Richardson. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed July 17, 2025 by Jessica Vega. Hearing date: September 8, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 5, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published July 17, 24, 31, August 7, 2025
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV04073. To all interested parties: Petitioner Angeles Natividad Avalos Borrayo and Rigoberto Sandoval Velazquez filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name of their child
START doing the care yourself for your loved ones in nursing homes or in need of home healthcare: est. 8-15% of home health aides and nursing assistants are undocumented. This number does not include many home health aides hired privately, and there is a huge shortage of healthcare aides as baby boomers age.
START paying more taxes: In 2022, undocumented immigrant households paid close to $90 billion in federal, state, and local taxes and held $299 billion in spending power. They also paid $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes, $6.4 bil-
lion in Medicare taxes, and $1.8 billion in unemployment insurances in 2022, programs for which they are ineligible.
START saving for the rising costs you will pay for food, housing, healthcare etc. in losing undocumented workers (https://tinyurl.com/JECSenateDeport)
So, the Power is in Our Hands! We can take the actions above or, as a wise saying suggests:
“Don’t bite the hand the feeds you” Dorothy Largay
from Liam Matteo Avalos to Liam Matteo Sandoval Avalos. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
Filed July 11, 2025 by Terri Chavez. Hearing date: September 10, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 3, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published July 17, 24, 31 August 7, 2025
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV01729. To all interested parties: Petitioner Rey John S. Lingco and Gelen D. Rosario filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name of their child from Jeremiah Gabriel Dantay Rosario to Jeremiah Gabriel Rosario Lingco The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed June 20, 2025 by Terri Chavez. Hearing date: August 6, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 3, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published July 3, 10, 17, 24, 2025
MAttempted Break In / Las Entradas Drive
Tuesday, July 8, at 21:10 hours
Reporting Party (RP) was alone in the residence when she heard someone attempt to open up two different entry doors. RP called 9-1-1, a search of the interior and exterior was conducted but no one was located.
Break In Stopped by Resident / 182 Santa Elena Lane
Tuesday, July 8, at 08:09 hours
01:45 hours RP reported he heard someone outside his bedroom window trying to open the window. RP got up, got a bat from the side of his bed and yelled, “What the f***,” causing the suspect to stop and leave the property. He was unable to see the suspect and direction of travel. There was some damage to the lower support frame of the window where the subject had attempted to open it.
Beached Vessel / Butterfly Beach
Wednesday, July 9, at 10:35 hours
Beached vessel found at Butterfly Beach. Coast Guard advised there were no injuries or hazmat concerns. Owner contacted and advised he would attempt removal.
Citizen’s Arrest for Battery / Via Latina
Wednesday, July 9, at 17:01 hours
Resident manager advised he was pushed by the on-scene handyman. Suspect was intoxicated and refused to identify himself. A citizen’s arrest was made for battery. Suspect was arrest and booked into SBJ.
Medical Concern / Seaview Drive
Friday, July 11, at 17:23 hours
Deputies were dispatched for a welfare check. Based on the evidence and statements from both parties it was clear this incident was a medical concern and not a criminal matter.
“Life is a mosaic,” Rice says. “I mean, we can describe it however we want, but when you look at life – this picture we have of the world – it’s really comprised of little fragments of energy. Mosaic does the same thing. When you assemble these beautiful little pieces – when you design something or you create something – that finished work is, in its way, the story of life.”
Rice’s personal backstory frames his outlook and veneration of art. His time in the army lies astride – and neatly divides – the road-forking outlook that changed the work and the man. A busy tile contractor at the time he went into the service, Rice’s enlistment and the gauntlet that followed changed him. His time in Iraq included working at a forward operating base and keenly watching for enemy activity. Rice also served on a quick reaction team that responded instantly to incoming emergencies of every kind. No need to unpack those chapters.
“When I got out…” he says, then briefly pivots. “I love tile. I’ve loved tile since I was very young. But when I got back from the army, back from Iraq, my mind… plateaued. It was just not focusing on doing your everyday sort of tile setting. I began studying dance and art and that was really healing. I got restless and began traveling. I went to Europe, I went to Spain and Italy and France and Mexico…” In fact, Rice studied mosaic in Spain and Moroccan tile artistry in Marrakesh. “I was in Spain and actually doing some contemporary dance classes while studying the architecture there, and Gaudí’s work – the chipping and forming of all that mosaic, all the time and exactness that took. I was in awe.”
Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí –perhaps best known for his monumentally strange work-in-progress (142
years and counting) Sagrada Família in Barcelona – extravagantly introduced an un-patterned, free-flowing aesthetic to mosaic, an expressionist freedom Rice took to heart. Meanwhile, the young man’s sojourns and wanderings and learnings were changing him, drawing a scrim across his past and colorizing his future.
“I had plateaued, but I pushed through that barrier when I began studying and truly understanding art, mosaic, and its possibilities. I mean, the first mosaic ever discovered dates back to the third millennium BC. It was clearly all about their understanding and capturing the moment in art.”
That is, following his honorable discharge from the military, Rice’s creative and professional energies momentarily ground to a halt. He put down his tools and reframed. When his creative engine sprang back to life, it ran on a rich new fuel mixture. “The picture that formed of mosaic work, it completely captured me. I began to understand that was the answer.”
Rice waxes rhapsodic about the very personal, boutique nature of the mosaic work for which he is commissioned, but his lustrous tile and stonework have likewise long earned him a mob of grateful clients. In Boulder, his immersion in the ancient tile artistry he’d absorbed in Marrakesh made his reputation. His work at the foot of the Rockies appears in restaurants, businesses, residences. A sampling of his clients’ 5-star enthusiasm can be found on his website.
Talking to Kerry Rice is itself an experience. His mellow effervescence and “glass-half-full-to-overflowing” alacrity –it is good. He has no choice but to silently bear these gifts onto the jobsite, sometimes with emotionally rewarding results.
by Steven Libowitz
For years, Heather Stevenson’s relationship with singing in public was performing as a singer-songwriter at local festivals, nightspots, and other gatherings. But in 2018, she was an early visitor to a community song circle led by Glen Phillips ; native Santa Barbaran, co-founder of platinum-selling Toad the Wet Sprocket, and a critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter.
The community singing nature of the circle – where the leader teaches everyone the relatively simple songs, initially through the calland-response method – immediately appealed to her.
“It really resonated with me right away,” Stevenson said. “More than anything, realizing that music can be about singing together rather than somebody performing for other people who are only listening, which is a very one-way experience. It was mind blowing to me to be with a group of
people who’ve never heard a particular song – who then were singing in layers or three-part harmony 10 or 15 minutes later.”
That concept of togetherness, of community coming together, triggered a deep feeling of connection over time and space for Stevenson, as it has for many others who participate in song circles – a goosebumpin’ revival of the ancient oral tradition that was once the only way music was shared and passed down before the invention of recording.
“It’s people taking back singing as a culture, which has been messed up,” she said. “Too many feel like they can’t sing or carry a tune, and they shut down that part of themselves. But singing is for everyone. And coming together in a community song circle helps people heal those wounds and join in with the joy of singing no matter where they are with their voice.”
After attending Phillips’ circles on a regular basis, Stevenson enrolled in a
Spirituality Page 354
Deeply Felt Commiseration – from Montecito to the Lone Star State
In the years since the Montecito debris flow, Kim Cantin has become a steady and unwavering source of strength for others navigating sudden, unspeakable grief and disaster. Kim has long been supporting survivor communities through speaking engagements and personal outreach. Her own story – of heartbreak, resilience, and the startling yellow blossoms that heralded a gradual, painstaking renewal – is one she shares where she sees the desperate need is greatest.
“There is no shortcut through trauma,” Cantin says. “But I want people in Texas to know that they’re not alone. There is a way forward. The road is long, but there can still be beauty, meaning, and even joy again.”
“The mosaic waterfall that I did in Kauai for this couple, he was a veteran and his wife turned 75 and he surprised her with this work; their entire front patio a beautiful Hawaiian waterfall. And we all just…wept! Yeah, they’re just amazing people.”
Kerry Rice, a once-roaming, recent arrival to our shores from Boulder (by way of Kauai), is – dare we suggest – home. And already busily colorizing the village. “My biggest thing is to share love and unity and to grow in my understanding that life is a mosaic. And that’s my biggest goal – to create the connection of unity within people and to share a story.”
Visit unitytiledesign.com.co or call (805) 951-0226
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
Megan Phillipp, Nathaniel Tyson, Natalie Burkhart, Kaia Abraham, Amber Hirschfield, Amara Galloway, and Cecily MacDougall with Aimee Le and Gabriel Ramirez (photo by
and noshing on the canapés included Joan Rutkowski, Andre Yew, Jon Bishop, Scott Reed, Bob and Alex Nourse, and Margo Cohen-Feinberg. Quite the show…
The Art Foundation of Santa Barbara featured local artist Derek Harrison –an instructor at Westmont College and the L.A. Academy of Figurative Art,
who created this year’s Old Spanish Days fiesta poster – at a bash at the venerable Santa Barbara Club. Foundation members also displayed items from their own personal collections. Among the art lovers turning out were Fritz and Gretchen Olenberger,
Frank McGinity, Katherine MurrayMorse, Ralph and Diane Waterhouse, Maria McCall, Anne Luther, Keith Moore, Lynn Kirst, and Dana and Andrea Newquist
Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force at the weekend for the two-day California Wine Festival with a rare and reserve-level opening night at the Hilton’s Plaza del Sol and a beachside bash opposite Chase Palm Park billed as “an event for the senses” with 250 wines from more than 70 vintners and 30 eateries 24 hours later.
There was also a Best Tri-Tip 805 barbecue contest. Part of the proceeds went to the Foodbank of Santa Barbara. I’ll drink to that.
Prince Harry visited Angola last week to see the landmine work being done by the Halo Trust charity.
It mirrored the scene of his late mother Princess Diana making a similar visit 28 years ago for the British organization.
Since 1994 more than 123,000 landmines have been cleared from national parks and family-friendly common areas.
More than one million landmines still remain.
The Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle show With Love, Meghan failed to break into Netflix’s top 300 programs for the first half of 2025.
The lifestyle show was part of the Riven Rock couple’s $100 million deal with the streamer.
Meghan’s show is ranked at No. 383 this year with just 53 million viewers across the globe.
And it wasn’t any better for Prince Harry , whose passion project on polo ranked at 3,436 out of around 7,000, with a disastrous 500,000 views internationally.
Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow had eyes for British actor Hugh Grant while
dating actor Brad Pitt, according to a new book Gwyneth, The Biography by Amy Odell. While filming in 1996 and going out with Pitt, she had a secret passion for Grant, who was dating actress Elizabeth Hurley at the time.
Pitt and Paltrow broke up in 1997 reportedly because Pitt felt “overshadowed” by her success.
Selena Gomez, the Only Murders in the Building actress, and music producer Benny Blanco are planning to tie the knot in a star-studded ceremony in Montecito in September.
The lavish event, according to London’s Daily Mail, will be attended by close friends and family, including singer Taylor Swift and her NFL star beau Travis Kelce
The late summer weather is “ideal’ for the singer, 32, and Blanco, 37, because of their busy schedules.
The couple got engaged in December 2024, after dating for year.
Oprah Winfrey is set to return to the antipodes in November for the first time in 15 years for a five-date speaking tour.
The former TV talk show titan, 71, is planning a series of appearances across Australia, making her first Down Under visit since 2010.
Oprah is also expected to enjoy a private holiday while she is in the country.
Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry suffered a near-miss as she almost fell out of the air while performing in San Francisco at the weekend.
Fans were left panicked by the heart stopping moment as the singer, 40, belted out her hit “Roar” while soaring through the sky on a mechanical butterfly.
Katy initially looked at ease as she soared over the crowd at the Chase Center while singing during her Lifetimes Tour concert.
However, matters took a turn for the worst as she suddenly plunged
downwards as the flying machine appeared to malfunction.
Katy stopped singing as she tried to compose herself before continuing with the show.
The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara has announced four new board members.
The fab four are Elizabeth Cholawsky, a technology executive, Erika Culwell, a financial advisor, Sandy Seale, with a master’s and doctorate in engineering from MIT, and Ashley Parker Snider, who has worked in sales and marketing at the Fess Parker Winery in Los Olivos since 1989. She is also currently a board
member for Direct Relief and Bishop Garcia Diego High School.
The foundation has given in excess of $167 million to 64,000 county students since its founding in 1962.
Josh Holloway noshing at Olio e Limone… Kevin Costner at The Nugget in Summerland… Josh Brolin at Pierre Lafond.
Pip! Pip!
training with Lisa Littlebird , the revered singing facilitator who runs a “Songleader Flight School” for emerging community songleaders. To date, the school counts more than 400 graduates worldwide, including Phillips.
“We learned the mechanics of how to lead, but also the culture of community singing,” Stevenson said. “Leading is not only teaching the songs, it’s honoring people who might be feeling scared and vulnerable when they first come to a circle. It’s about helping them feel comfortable and welcome no matter where they are in their relationship to their voice.”
Stevenson filled in frequently for Phillips at the weekly circles when he was on the road with Toad or solo tours, then took over leading the circles when he got too busy after the pandemic. She ran them, as Phillips had, in people’s backyards, before moving to Yoga Soup a couple of years ago when the studio invited her to replace the En-Courage Chorus gatherings whose leaders had left town. The circles are still taking place there every Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 pm. Attendance varies, but usually hovers around 20 people each session.
The song choices also vary every week, as the repertoire includes multiple thousands of songs that suit this realm of community singing. Just like in the old days, the songs are passed down in the oral tradition, with song leaders learning from each other at circles or leader gatherings. It’s part of the humanistic gift of the community singing ethos; that songs are meant to be shared, not privately owned, no matter who wrote them.
“You just record the ones that resonate with you on your phone, take ‘em home and learn them, and then teach them to your own circle,” Stevenson said. “People also post the ones they teach on their websites. Lisa has an incredible online database.”
Stevenson leads her circles with a sense of progression, often opening with a simple song she wrote called “Welcome In” that previews the experience, or perhaps Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem,” which says, “Forget your perfect offering / There is a crack in everything / That’s how the light gets in,” a favorite icebreaker Phillips used.
“It helps people feel comfortable right away,” she said.
Stevenson then interweaves songs that are sung in unison with ones that are layered (meaning subgroups sing different passages that fit together) or full of harmony parts. There is fluctuation in energy and emotion as well, she said.
Songs by MaMuse, including “Power of Kindness,” “We Shall Be Known,” and “This is the House” are staples.
The lyrics to the latter are indicative of the heart-opening, spirit-raising message:
In this house, we lead with love In this house, we lift each other up
In this house, we learn to fly with the dove, This is the house we’ve been dreaming of
Come on over, come on in Come on over, let’s be friends Come on over, there is enough This is the house we’ve been dreaming of
In recent months, Stevenson has also brought the community song circles to the protest rallies in downtown Santa Barbara and the sidewalk adjacent to the dolphin fountain at the foot of Stearns Wharf. The circle at the “Good Trouble” event earlier this month drew more than 60 singers, with some tourists even joining in after a few minutes.
“I was very moved seeing people just joining in, learning the melody after a few rounds then singing their hearts out,” she said.
A number of the songs that evening were led by Amisha Sera Luna, who learned leading by coming to Stevenson’s circles and has begun leading twice-monthly community singing circles on her own, a development Stevenson readily supports.
“The more singing the better,” she said. “It’s a beautiful thing, not competitive. There’s so many people who want to sing.”
In fact, Stevenson is embarking on an endeavor to encourage the expansion of the community singing universe in the context of protest next month. She is teaming up with Gwendolyn Kilfoyle , who periodically runs sixweek song-circle-leading sessions at Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara. They will co-lead a three-part series called “Together in Song: Finding Your Voice for the Movement” on Sunday afternoons – August 10-24. The series is designed to amplify the growing movement of joyful resistance through the power of song.
“We’re trying to spread the ability of our community to have music about peace, justice, and love at these events,” she said.
The first week, Stevenson and Kilfoyle will teach songs that are suitable for collective action events, and participants will then choose one or two songs to learn to lead. Over the next two sessions, the aspiring song leaders will practice leading in the supportive, empowering environment that will serve as a safe space.
Visit https://yogasoup.union.site/events/ yoga-soup-community-song-circle, or email Stevenson at singingwithheather@gmail.com
by Steven Libowitz
Songs at the Stow House – Summer evenings sound sweeter at the Music at the Ranch series at Rancho La Patera & Stow House, smack in the heart of Goleta’s goodland. The community, hailing from surrounding neighborhoods and further afield, gather every Tuesday evening (till the kids head back to school) to bask in the acoustics, the atmosphere, and the shade-dappled lawns. This week (July 29): Salty Strings is the Santa Barbara-based bluegrass-plus band (their version of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” is a stunner) born of UCSB’s Bren School. Salty Strings have a shifting roster these days, but are still anchored by cellist Ilan Macadam-Somer. The Stow House grounds are the best setting for seeing Salty Strings short of their natural habitat – the bluffs at the Douglas Preserve. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics are encouraged (responsibly imbibed alcohol is allowed).
WHEN: 5:30-7:30 pm
WHERE: 304 N. Los Carneros Road, Goleta COST: free
INFO: (805) 681-7216 or www.goletahistory.org/music-at-the-ranch/
SATURDAY, JULY 26
The Great Gig at the Granada – Upping the ante on the typical tribute show, “Shine On” combines top-flight musicianship with an electrifying stage presence and the cutting-edge production of the even more electric Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular. The result? A breathtaking display of light and sound. The unique musical and visual tribute to Pink Floyd features band members who have performed with such major artists as Asia, Chicago, Styx, Def Leppard, The Eagles, The Alan Parsons Project, Foreigner, Journey, and Led Zeppelin. It’s an interesting prism through which to view Floyd, and you can be sure the stage will not be the dark side of the theater. Miss it and your friends might be texting you videos saying “Wish You Were Here”.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street
COST: $50-$95
INFO: (805) 899-2222 or www.granadasb.org
FRIDAY, JULY 25
Go Go for Gogol – International punk band Gogol Bordello is kicking off a chaotic, celebratory summer with a California Tour surrounding a Warped Tour special reunion in Long Beach. Their headlining dates include tonight’s gig at the Arlington Theatre, where supporting acts come from Casa Gogol Records’ NY youth crew Puzzled Panther and Grace Bergere – an extension of the 25-year-old band’s Lower East Side of Manhattan connection. Gogol Bordello are known for their accordion and violin-suffused blending of Romani and Ukrainian music, liberally mixed with punk and dub. They recently joined Vera Farmiga’s band The Yagas to release “Chervona Ruta,” a metal twist on a beloved Ukrainian love song that nods to their shared roots – and supports UNITED24, the official fundraising platform of besieged Ukraine.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St.
COST: $40
INFO: (805) 963-9589 or www.arlingtontheatresb.com/upcoming-events
SUNDAY, JULY 27
COST: free
Chaucer’s and Chardonnay? – Chaucer’s Books hosts Michael C. Higgins, the author, photographer, wine expert and former publisher of Flying Adventures magazine for 20 years. Higgins will be sharing Exploring Wine Regions – The Central Coast of California – his third book in the series and a gorgeous tome boasting 436 full-color pages with 800 photos, all about the comparatively unsung aspects – at least to outsiders – of California’s wine regions. But it’s not just talk today: guests will also get to taste a few wines. Salud! WHEN: 4 pm
WHERE: Chaucer’s, 3321 State St. in Loreto Plaza Shopping Center
INFO: (805) 682-6787 or www.chaucersbooks.com
Clean Comedy Night in Carpinteria – If you’re going to host comedy in the family-friendly environs of the city that boasts “The World’s Safest Beach,” it’s a sure bet it’s not going to be too bawdy an evening. So once again, the Alcazar Theatre has assembled a brand-new lineup of clean, top-drawer stand-up comedians at the historic venue just blocks from the ocean. Ensuring that laughter is back in session are a trio of headliners: Mary Gallagher blends sharp observations with a touch of heart and has appeared on Friends, How I Met Your Mother and her Dry Bar Comedy special; Jamal Doman is a Philly native and veteran of BET’s ComicView, Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment, and The Tonight Show; and Andy Fernandez is the former owner and operator of the once popular Ventura Harbor Comedy Club, known for his laid-back charm and quick wit. The local improv troupe An Embarrassment of Pandas opens the show with their quick-witted spontaneity, turning audience suggestions into comic gold.
WHEN: 7 pm
WHERE: Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria COST: $15 general INFO: (805) 684-6380 or www.thealcazar.org
Independence Day Festival – Hillside House may seem late to the Independence Day party, but they’re not. What they’re celebrating is National Disability Independence Day, and they’re doing it in style with a mini-fest on the nonprofit’s Hidden Valley grounds. Entry is free for the fun-filled, family-friendly event that features a carnival-like atmosphere with games (Shootout, Frog Jump, Basket Toss, etc.), a bouncy castle, face painting, raffle, and a petting zoo (some of which attractions do carry nominally-priced tickets). The festival will also include an executive dunk tank opportunity – a soaking splashdown for Hillside President and CEO Michael Rassler if you’ve got good aim. Food and drinks for purchase include El Taquerito Taco Truck, Hot Dogs, McConnell’s Ice Cream, Popcorn and Cotton Candy, coffee, water, and an assortment of soft drinks. DJ of Ability will spin greatest hit singles all day long, and representatives from Hillside, PathPoint, Alpha Resource Center, Assistance League of Santa Barbara, and Tri-Counties Regional Center will be on site to provide educational opportunities and information about the disability population in our community. All proceeds benefit the individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live at Hillside House.
WHEN: 11 am-3 pm
WHERE: Hillside House, 1235 Veronica Springs Road
COST: free
INFO: (805) 687-0788 or https://hillsidesb.org/hillsides-2025-disability-independence-festival/
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Say it Again, Sam – Lebanese-Palestinian American comic Sammy Obeid took a rather curious and circuitous route to stand-up. Obeid double majored in Business and Mathematics at UC Berkeley, and then promptly turned down a job at Google in order to pursue a career as a comedian. It would seem to be working out. Obeid, best known for his world record of performing comedy 1,001 nights in a row (get it?), has done pretty well for himself, as he’s served as the host of 100 Humans on Netflix and appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, America’s Got Talent, and TBS’s Conan. And fortunately for us – us being we who appreciate fun with numbers and logic – Obeid employs math-related jokes in his act. The stand-up – raised in California by a family that shared stories from the occupied West Bank, Gaza and Israel – also quite courageously weaves the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into his comedy, recognizing that comedy has a way of bringing a lighter lens to heavy topics. (Sample joke: “I wish I could be telling people about A squared plus B squared equals C squared. Instead, I’m out here trying to put out A’s fire. I’m trying to put out B’s fire. And that requires a cease-fire.”) On the other hand, he might be re-thinking the Google thing, since his show tonight in Santa Barbara – about a decade after he first appeared in town at Comedy Hideaway – takes place at smallish Center Stage. “As long as the world is functioning the way it is, unfortunately, I’m going to have to be talking about it for a while,” he told an interviewer last year. “I would love it to stop immediately. But when it stops, you better believe I will be doing math theorems.”
WHEN: 8 pm
WHERE: Center Stage Theatre, 751 Paseo Nuevo, second floor
COST: $35-$55
INFO: (805) 963-0408 or https://centerstagetheater.org
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Ventura County Fair – There’s still no better bang for your buck than the Ventura County Fair. The massive 11-day oceanside event – the biggest between L.A. and San Francisco – has adopted “Waves of Fun” as its theme for 2025, and is just incidentally marking more than 150 years since its founding. That’s a pretty good description of what awaits at Seaside Park for the event that boasts an array of activities ranging from 4H and other agricultural competitions, to arts and crafts shows, commercial exhibits, belly-busting fair food, pig races, horse shows, and a huge carnival – as well as a bevy of concert acts. A big attraction: entry to the Grandstand Stage concerts costs absolutely nothing more than the price of admission to the fair itself, unless you want to spring for special VIP reserve seating tickets. The lineup launches on July 30 with rap and R&B “Beach Block Party” featuring Tone Loc, Ying Yang Twins, Fat Joe, and Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa, with headliners including Diplo (July 31), Dirty Heads (August 1), Lee Brice (August 2), La Maquinaria Norteña & La Séptima Banda with Mi Banda El Mexicano (August 3), Flo Rida & Bubba Sparxxx (August 4), Dylan Scott featuring Cheat Codes (August 5) and Scotty McCreery with Kruse Brothers (August 6.) Note: The Flying U Rodeo Company PRCA Rodeo shows on closing weekend August (8-10) carry an extra $8-$10 admission. Meanwhile, the 2025 Station Stage shows include a slew of tribute acts, including seven different bands that honor Foreigner, Motley Crew, Taylor Swift, the Grateful Dead, Bee Gees, Morgan Wallen, and Fleetwood Mac, plus shows starring Amor Prohibido, The OutLaw Mariachi, the aforementioned Kruse Brothers, and The White Buffalo. Saddle up and sidle down the 101 to the Seaside Park showgrounds for summertime sounds and more fun.
WHEN: Grandstand 7 pm, Station Stage 9 pm
WHERE: Seaside Park, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura COST: $16-$21
INFO: (805) 648-3376 or www.venturacountyfair.org
Your Trusted Choice for Estate Sales, Liquidation & Downsizing
Moving Miss Daisy’s providing comprehensive services through Moving Miss Daisy since 2015. Expert packing, unpacking, relocating to ensure your new home is beautifully set up and ready to enjoy. Miss Daisy’s is the largest consignment store in the Tri-Counties – nearly 20K sq.ft. –always offering an unmatched selection of items. We also host online Auctions. Glenn Novack, Owner 805-770-7715 www.missdaisy.org info@movingmissdaisy.com
We Buy, Sell and Broker Important Estate Jewelry. Located in the upper village of Montecito. Graduate Gemologists with 30 years of experience. We do free evaluations and private consultation. 1470 East Valley Rd Suite V. 805-969-0888
AUTOMOBILES WANTED
We Buy Classic Cars Running or Not. Foreign/Domestic Chevy/Ford/Porsche/Mercedes/Etc. We come to you. Call Steven – 805-699-0684 Website – Avantiauto.group
Private Chef Eliza
Classically trained chef
Customized meals in-home or drop-off Special occasions & small gatherings
805.705.3618 www.chefeliza.com
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.
Stillwell Fitness of Santa Barbara In Home Personal Training Sessions for 65+ Help with: Strength, Flexibility, Balance Motivation, and Consistency
John Stillwell, CPT, Specialist in Senior Fitness 805-705-2014 StillwellFitness.com
GOT OSTEOPOROSIS? WE CAN HELP
At OsteoStrong our proven non-drug protocol takes just ten minutes once a week to improve your bone density and aid in more energy, strength, balance and agility. Please call for a complimentary session! Call Now (805) 453-6086
LANDSCAPE
Casa L. M.
Landscape hedges installed. Ficus to flowering. Disease resistant. Great privacy. Certified rootstock assorted fruit trees. Licensed & insured. Call (805) 963-6909
WATERLILIES and LOTUS since 1992
WATERGARDEN CARE
SBWGC 805 682 5750
Do you need to get away for a weekend, week or more? I will house sit and take care of your pets, plants & mail. I have refs if needed. Call me or text me. Christine (805) 452-2385
Carpet Cleaning Since 1978 (805) 963-5304
Rafael Mendez Cell: 689-8397 or 963-3117
Montecito Electric Repairs and Inspections Licensed C10485353 805-969-1575
Openings now available for Children and Adults.
Piano Lessons in our Studio or your Home. Call or Text Kary Kramer (805) 453-3481
billidalziel@gmail.com 700 East Mason 11 - 2 Sat. & Sundays Williamdalziel.work (50 years of art)
Yards, rooms, and apartments Fast, reliable – truck included Call or text (805) 847-0745
Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary Menagerie 2430 Lillie Avenue Summerland CA 93067 (805) 969-1944
Donate to the Parrot Pantry! At SB Bird Sanctuary, backyard farmer’s bounty is our birds’ best bowl of food! The flock goes bananas for your apples, oranges & other homegrown fruits & veggies.
Volunteers
Do you have a special talent or skill? Do you need community service hours? The flock at SB Bird Sanctuary could always use some extra love and socialization. Call us and let’s talk about how you can help. (805) 969-1944
$10 MINIMUM TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD
It’s simple. Charge is $3 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $10 per issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email Classified Ad to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860. All ads must be finalized by Friday at 2pm the week prior to printing. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)
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