Issuu

JOURNAL

The Giving List

12 – 19 NOV 2026 | VOL 32 ISS 46 www.montecitojournal.net

Voice of theV illage

SERVING MONTECITO AND SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA

Dancing ‘In Rainbows’ – Doug Varone returns to the Lobero with a Radiohead-inspired dance, a new generation of UCSB performers, and the past, P.13

Feast Mode – The holidays are coming, and so are the dinner reservations. These local favorites offer delicious reasons to leave the cooking to someone else, P.20

The Giving Herd with Elephant Project, page 18

Will Power – Death & taxes may be inevitable, but confusion doesn’t have to be. An estate planning workshop offers advice for navigating life’s final paperwork, P.23

The Beauty Brigade More than 150 volunteers rolled up their sleeves for Montecito’s annual Beautification Day, tackling litter, clearing trails, and proving that a little trash talk can be a beautiful thing (Story on page 5)

A Storied Sparkle Diamonds, champagne, and a touch of Old Hollywood. Laykin et Cie celebrates the opening of its Upper Village salon with timeless jewelry and plenty of sparkle, page 12

Classy Chassis

The polo ponies took a break as Ferraris, Porsches, and vintage automotive royalty descended on the polo fields for the inaugural Santa Barbara Invitational Concours, page 36

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12 – 19 November 2026

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Your Westmont – Student Film Fest arrives, Petite Wine Traveler – The Museum of 16 29 Christmas Festival tickets, new musicians on Natural History’s inaugural Fall Tasting Festival INSIDE THIS ISSUE campus, and men’s soccer wins championship brought local wineries, restaurants, and craft beverages together beneath the oaks Day – Who says cleaning up can’t 5 be Beautification fun? Beautification Day mixed civic pride with The Giving List – The Elephant Project 18 combines plush toys and animal rescue friendly rivalry and a lunch worth working for. Ernie’s World – A road trip through Northern 30 Italy takes an unexpected turn Beings and Doings – 15 year old fibs his way into Robert’s Big Questions – The election offers Holiday Feast – Here comes the holidays… 6 Civil war. Liberty is not a speakeasy password. 20 take Democrats an opportunity to restore federal a load off and let someone else doing the

ontecito Moments – Horses were out and M horsepower was in, seeing the zoo light up for the holidays, and symphonic grooves at the Granada

ews Bytes – Leis takes on Elings, N Summerland fire station location, upcoming Chabad events, and other tidbits Letter to the Editor – Montecito Rotary has a night out at the theater Tide Guide

Passing – Remembering the life and impact 11 of In Joan Elizabeth Youtz Jackson

Montecito Health Coach – The Friendship 22 Center offers a fresh approach to dementia care 31 An Independent Mind – Harding argues that

eath and Taxes – Ben Franklin’s glib D comment about death and taxes excluded another of life’s certainties; crushing paperwork. This Estate Planning Essentials Workshop will guide you through the thicket.

The Spoken Word – From the midterm 24 elections to the Arctic Circle, SB’s lecture circuit tackles politics, global economics, shipbuilding, and scientific innovation

In Business – storied Sunset Blvd jeweler to the 12 stars – lands in the Upper Village 26 Travel Buzz – A final stop in Tokyo brings

n Entertainment – Doug Varone and Dancers O return, SBMA’s Fall Opening Party, and still more right brain diversions

Edit – CALM4Kids brings more 14 Tthanhe Society 300 supporters to Rosewood Miramar

Montecito JOURNAL

investments, address healthcare costs, and build a political movement with lasting appeal

cooking with these restaurants

cherry blossoms, contemporary architecture, and a neighborhood jazz club

inflation, tariffs, and political turmoil fueled Democratic victories

33 Sheriff ’s Blotter urator’s Choice – Seasonal changes of the 34 Cornithological tone Santa Barbara Invitational Concours – Photos 36 from last weekend’s inaugural chrome-lined event Calendar of Events – Arthur Miller’s 40 unnerving All My Sons, Gladys Knight’s semifarewell concert, New Art City Theatre, plus more vivid highlights

lizabeth’s Appraisals – White cranes, metallic 27 Egold, 42 Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ad and colorful flowers adorn a Japanese bridal kimono whose cultural significance ini Meta Crossword Puzzles 43 MLocal extends well beyond its market value Business Directory

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” – Henry David Thoreau

12 – 19 November 2026

Beautification Day

Montecito Shows Up with Many Hands and Cleaner Trails The tables were full, the volunteers plenty, and cheerful spirit high as the community came together for Beautification Day (photo by EventVault, Ben Hyatt)

by Houghton Hyatt

ore than 150 volunteers came out on Saturday, November 7, for Montecito’s annual Beautification Day. It was a gorgeous morning in the Upper Village, and we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout. Thank you to everyone who spent part of their Saturday picking up litter, caring for our trails and catching up with neighbors over lunch. Rosewood Miramar Beach got the morning off to a delicious start, serving volunteers coffee, tea, pastries and breakfast burritos before everyone headed out to clean up. This year’s Beautification Day District Challenge brought a little friendly competition to the cleanup. Districts 4 and 5 were neck and neck, but District 5 took home bragging rights for collecting the most bags of trash. The Montecito Trails Foundation also led two special projects: Volunteers, including Fire Chief Brian Fallon and his wife Amber, cleared brush along the Hammond’s Beach Trail, and Boy Scouts from Troop 33 removed graffiti from a local trail. Back in the Upper Village, we honored Dana Hansen and Michael Edwards, our two Citizens of the Year. Both received resolutions from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in recognition of their service to the community. First District Supervisor Roy Lee joined us and presented the Beautification Award to the Montecito Water District for its garden, designed by Lotusland with funding from the Montecito Community Foundation. The Montecito firefighters made sure everyone was well fed after the cleanup. Montecito Village Grocery provided the hot dogs, San Ysidro Ranch provided the pasta salads, and the firefighters supplied the chili and cooked lunch. Renaud’s Bakery and Lilac Patisserie donated dessert, and Casa Dorinda provided the Coca-Cola. Thank you to all of them for 12 – 19 November 2026

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Chief Fallon, Houghton, Supervisor Lee, and Mindy Denson take a pause to smile at all the hard work (photo by EventVault, Ben Hyatt)

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giving us one more reason to linger and enjoy the afternoon together. We’re grateful to the community partners who spent the day with us: the California Highway Patrol, Montecito Fire, Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue, Lotusland, the Montecito Water District, the Montecito Sanitary District, the Montecito Community Foundation, Friends of the Montecito Library, Los Padres ForestWatch, UC Master Gardeners, Earthcomb, and the Montecito Trails Foundation. Our partners and sponsors make this tradition possible, and our volunteers bring it to life. To everyone who filled a trash bag, cleared a trail, cheered for our honorees, or shared a meal with a neighbor: Thank you for showing up for Montecito. A special thank you to the Beautification Day Committee, led by board member Mindy Denson. A job well done! Mark your calendars for next year’s Beautification Day on Saturday, November 6, 2027. We’ll see you in the Upper Village! Looking for more ways to get together with neighbors this season? Explore holiday happenings in Montecito at https://montecitoassociation.org/events/ winter-holidays To learn more about the Montecito Association, visit montecitoassociation.org

• Voice of theVillage •

805-504-1962

Montecito JOURNAL

Beings and Doings

Anyone who’s seen the classic Civil War epic Gone with the Wind (and anymore that is surely a dwindling number) may remember Scarlett O’Hara vowing to G*d she would never go hungry again, Rhett Butler not giving a damn, and the elaborately rendered burning of Atlanta, Georgia; a 1939 cinematic special effect that had the day’s movie audiences absolutely agog. (It’s worth briefly noting here that an actual sofa from that iconic film now resides in the lobby of Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre.) By the time the real city of Atlanta burned, teenager William Gist had been there for a hellish month with his 26th Ohio colleagues, as their Union Army under General Tecumseh Sherman lay siege to the southern city of 10,000 – a key supply and railway nexus of the Confederate Army. Every time the Union army tightened its grip on Atlanta’s perimeter, it fell to Gist & Co. to frenetically dig new offensive positions; to raise new earthen parapets of soil and fenceposts and rocks and whatever else was at hand, and to build from fallen trees a defensive, assault-slowing thicket called an abatis, from which protruded wooden stakes perpendicular to the line of attack. Many gruesome civil war battles ended with the dead and maimed hung up in the abatis like thorn birds. All this hurried

Teen in the Meatgrinder: Wm Wesley Gist and the Battle of Franklin by Jeff Wing

“O

ur rest that night was not very refreshing.” As sardonic understatements go, this one may take the prize. The reminiscence is that of a 67-year-old retired English teacher named William Wesley Gist, and the restless night he describes is the starlit eve of the Civil War’s Battle of Franklin some 52 years before. Gist had been there – a freaked-out 15-year-old child soldier with the Union Army, carrying an unwieldy muzzle-loading musket just about as tall as he was. The Battle of Franklin (Tennessee) would be one of the most desperately vicious episodes of a long war rife with unspeakably vicious episodes, and 15-year-old Gist fought and scrambled and wept and defended a free country with his heart in his throat. Imagine this kid in the theater of war, not as a cinematic conceit but as an actual teenager in the center of a blood storm, firing his gun in real-time terror.

The conflict between north and south was nearing its desperate final chapter. From his comparatively placid later life, W. W. Gist, my great-grandfather, would vividly recall both the battlefield horror and horror’s handmaiden; the mad courage of starved, broken soldiery trapped in a nightmare and moving forward with no recourse. The frantic attack of these desolate Confederates nearly paralyzed the teen with a terrible awe and would haunt him to his autumn years. “Those officers,” the elder Gist would tremulously write in 1916, “inspired their men to risk everything, and their valor has never been surpassed.” He was describing the enemy, the Confederate soldiers at Franklin who swarmed his regiment’s exposed position in frenzied waves.

Atlanta Burns On February 28,1864, William Wesley Gist turned 15. A little over three weeks later, a bone-weary 26th Ohio Infantry

W.W. Gist, fibbing 19th century teen (courtesy photo)

trudged into Starr, Ohio, for a much-needed furlough and young Gist saw his chance. Smoothing his hair and straightening his posture for the extra ¼ inch it might add to his stature, the determined kid strode into camp, lied about his age and enlisted as a private in Company D of the 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ahead lay such abyssal atrocities as the 15-year-old hadn’t the inner darkness to imagine.

Beings & Doings Page 254 254

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12 – 19 November 2026

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12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

Montecito Moments

A shining silver 661 hp V8 Ferrari 488 Spider, top speed 203 mph (courtesy photo)

Million-Dollar Motors

A 1964 Jaguar E Type Coupe with Rob Francis and Jim Nigro (courtesy photo)

Classic Convertible Porsche 550 Spyder with Faith Cuccia and friends (courtesy photo)

by Lisa Duncan

he polo ponies took the winter off, making way for a considerably more polished breed of horsepower at the inaugural Santa Barbara Invitational Concours, where old-world elegance and automotive extravagance shared the lawns of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.

Founder and CEO Linda Rosso brought her vision to life November 7-8 with more than 125 automobiles and approximately 800 tickets sold. Between Ferraris and Porsches, sculptural pre-war beauties and Art Deco treasures, widebrimmed hats and crisp whites were every bit as fashionable as the gleaming chrome. Among the star turns was television producer Dick Wolf, whose private Ferrari collection earned multiple

2026 Virtuosi 2027 108TH CONCERT SEASON

historic French automobiles. Best of Show went to a 1948 Tucker

awards. Montecito Board Treasurer George Leis particularly admired Wolf ’s rare Ferrari SP2, while Merle Mullin helped curate an exquisite exhibition of

Moments Page 354 354

MASTERSERIES AT THE LOBERO THEATRE SEASON SPONSOR: ESPERIA FOUNDATION

Presenting the world’s finest classical artists since 1919

SATURDAY, NOV. 21, 2026, 7:30 PM

JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET with SIMONE DINNERSTEIN , piano

MASTERSERIES OPENING CONCERT

CELEBRATING THE JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET’S 80TH ANNIVERSARY Celebrate eight decades of adventurous music-making as the Juilliard String Quartet opens CAMA’s Masterseries at the Lobero. Hear the quartet in Ravel and Bartók, then welcome pianist Simone Dinnerstein for Schumann’s Piano Quintet, where piano and strings share the spotlight.

PROGRAM RAVEL: String Quartet in F Major BARTÓK: String Quartet No. 4, Sz. 91 (BB 95) SCHUMANN: Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44

SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW! TICKETS START AT $20. Including Lobero facility and online/phone fees. Tickets at the Lobero Theatre Box Office • (805) 963-0761 • lobero.org

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS STILL ON SALE! (805) 966-4324 • camasb.org COMMUNITY ARTS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF SANTA BARBARA • camasb.org

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12 – 19 November 2026

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12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

George Leis Takes the Helm at Elings by MJ Staff

lings Park Foundation has named George S. Leis its new executive director, effective December 1. The longtime local banking and nonprofit leader will oversee operations, community partnerships, fundraising, and long-term sustainability at the 230-acre park. Leis, who most recently served as executive vice president and market president at CalPrivate Bank, says the move marks a transition toward focusing full-time on community service. The privately funded park, which welcomes visitors free of charge year-round, offers everything from hiking and sports to concerts and community events. Leis also looks forward to meeting the park’s four-legged regulars, a particularly important constituency.

New Fire Station Coming to Summerland After more than two decades of searching, the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District has secured a new home for Summerland Fire Station #62 at 2330 Lillie Avenue. The property, acquired October 19, sits near the existing station, a century-old building that has outgrown its usefulness and faces significant space and safety limitations. The District plans to retrofit the newly acquired building into a modern, seismically sound fire station while preserving its historic character. Fire Chief Dan Stefano called the acquisition an extraordinary milestone for Summerland. Emergency services will continue uninterrupted throughout planning and construction, with improved public safety the ultimate goal.

Explore Ecology Holiday Craft Classes (302 E. Cota St.) - Nov 13, 6 pm: Glitzy Wreath Making - Nov 19, 6 pm: Holiday Cards Printmaking - Dec 2, 6 pm: Snow Globes and Ornament Making - Dec 5, 10 am – 5 pm: Holiday Market - Nov 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28: Kids Crafts

Letter to the Editor

A Little Mystery, a Lot of Fun with Montecito Rotary

411: https://exploreecology.org

YOUR LETTERS MATTER!

Chabad Montecito Events

The Montecito Journal thrives on community input…

- Nov 19, 6 pm: Men’s Brisket & Bourbon hosted by Doug Brown - Dec 8, 5 pm: Menorah Lighting, park at San Ysidro Rd & East Valley Rd, sponsored by Pat and David Wadors 411: www.jewishmontecito.org

News Bytes Page 334 334

As Club Service Chair, I hope to create many more opportunities for our members to enjoy the wonderful people, places, and experiences our community has to offer. After all, a little fun is serious business! Debbie Merlo, Club Service Chair, Montecito Rotary

ho knew a murder mystery could bring so much laughter? A group of Montecito Rotarians recently enjoyed a delightful evening at Santa Barbara City College’s Garvin Theatre for a performance of Clue. The mystery was onstage, but the real pleasure was in the audience – friends coming together to enjoy a wonderful local production, a little laughter, and one another’s company. Following the performance, we continued the evening over dessert, lively conversation, and absolutely no attempts to solve another murder! Our outing also celebrated something close to our hearts: Santa Barbara City College. This year, my husband, Bob Ruccione, and I, through Coast & Valley Properties, joined fellow Rotarian Kim Stone in supporting an SBCC scholarship. Seeing the talent and enthusiasm of its performing arts program was another reminder of what a remarkable community resource we have. Rotary is known for its commitment to service, and rightly so. But friendship, fellowship, and simply enjoying life together are important parts of that tradition, too. At Montecito Rotary, we believe that doing good and having a good time make wonderful companions.

JOURNAL

News Bytes

Executive Editor/CEO | Gwyn Lurie gwyn@montecitojournal.net President/COO | Tim Buckley tim@montecitojournal.net Managing Editor | Zach Rosen zach@montecitojournal.net MoJo Contributing Editor | Christopher Connor Art/Production Director | Trent Watanabe Graphic Design/Layout | Stevie Acuña Director of Operations | Jessica Shafran VP, Sales & Marketing | Leanne Wood leanne@montecitojournal.net Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Joe DeMello, Thomas Mock Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick Proofreading | Helen Buckley Contributors | Scott Craig, 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 Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz Gossip | Richard Mineards, Lisa Duncan 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

Have thoughts on a local issue? Comments on one of our articles? Contact us at letters@montecitojournal.net

Montecito Tide Guide Day

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Published by: Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108.

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“There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” – Charles M. Schulz

newspaper

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

12 – 19 November 2026

In Passing

Joan Elizabeth Youtz Jackson: July 3, 1930 – October 24, 2026

References Available (lots of them!)

oan Elizabeth Youtz Jackson (“Joanie”) beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 24. She was 96 years old. Joanie was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 3rd, 1930, and spent her early years in Ohio with summers in her beloved lake house at Three Lakes, Wisconsin, with her Aunt Al and Aunt Dor. Her love of reading and literature propelled her to Ohio State University, where she graduated in 1952 and to Stanford University where she was accepted as a master’s candidate in the English Department. There she met Palmer Jackson and they were subsequently married in Menlo Park on November 13, 1954. After living in Japan during Palmer’s Army service, Joanie and Palmer lived in Los Angeles for 10 years before settling down in Palmer’s hometown of Santa Barbara in 1968 at Featherhill Ranch. The whole family always looked forward to the holiday events that Joanie coordinated – as many as 25 of us enjoying Christmas dinner at Featherhill where all feasted on her home-made cheese puffs and persimmon pudding, or Easter brunch where Joanie was sure that everyone had a chocolate bunny at their place at the table. Her role as hostess was not just confined to the family as Joanie and Palmer hosted a legendary Christmas party for over a hundred guests at Featherhill for more than 30 years. Joanie’s interests were many. She was an avid tennis player and golfer as well as a competitive bridge player. She was an accomplished gourmet cook and was exceptionally knowledgeable about wines and the different regions throughout Europe and California. She used this expertise to organize the menu and wine list at the family business, the Alisal Guest Ranch, putting local Santa Ynez wines on the menu at a time before the region had become as renowned as it is today. Joanie’s keen understanding of interior design guided her 40 years of coordinating the look of the guest rooms and interior spaces at the Alisal, keeping everything consistent in her signature style of “Elegant Western.” Joanie also had a passion for art, most notably with her interest in California plein air painting. She helped organize and build the popularity of the Valley Club’s Arts Council and was instrumental in the development of the Club’s Plein Air collection. Joanie was very active in the Santa Barbara community, serving on the boards of Cate School, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and Casa Del Herrero. She played a key role in helping Casa del 12 – 19 November 2026

Herrero achieve its national landmark designation and in helping to create a sustainable nonprofit organization to ensure the future of the Casa. She loved gardening, flowers, and flower arranging and was an ardent supporter of the Garden Club of Santa Barbara; winning numerous awards for floral design and horticulture. She served as president of the Santa Barbara Garden Club and as a regional director of the Garden Club of America where she served as an approved national floral design judge. She much enjoyed spending time in her lathhouse, tending to her roses and growing things. Joanie was a thoughtful conversationalist and made a point of trying to make people comfortable, especially those who might feel out of place at a dinner party or other large social event. Her warmth and wit will be missed by all who knew her. If there were a list of “Grand Dames” of Santa Barbara, her name would be on it, if not at the top. Even after a serious fall in 2024 took away some of her abilities, Joanie still would light up with a big smile when family or friends would visit, and she continued to be curious about what was happening in their lives. The family wishes to thank the entire staff at the Casa Dorinda Medical Center for providing the best possible care for Joanie for the last two and a half years of her life. They all helped to make the best of a difficult situation. Joanie is survived by her husband of 71 years, Palmer; her 4 children: CJ (Mary) Jim (Chana) Palmer Jr. (Susan), and Patti (Bill), as well as 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Memorial services are being planned and will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Casa Del Herrero Foundation, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, or the Garden Club of Santa Barbara.

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Erik and Lily Laykin at the Laykin et Cie Upper Village opening (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

by Joanne A Calitri

aykin et Cie held the grand opening of its newest salon in Montecito at 1482 East Valley Road, Studio No. 37, on Saturday, November 7, from 5-8 pm. It was indeed an elegant affair with a warm ambiance among the guests. The established jewelry house moved to Montecito’s upper village from its most recent location at the Rosewood Miramar Beach. Its 94-year history began with its founder Solomon W. “Sol” Laykin in 1932. The jeweler designed sophisticated pieces for high profile clientele, including Princess Grace of Monaco, Hollywood film studios, A-list actors, and the Ronald Reagan family. Laykin et Cie has a close tie with our town by way of the prior two I. Magnin & Co. stores at the Biltmore Hotel Montecito and downtown Santa Barbara. The new location is designed with art deco furnishings and display cases that complement its historic fine jewelry from estate holdings, pieces designed for clients, and pieces sourced globally by Erik Laykin, grandson of the founder. The jeweler has stores in San Marino and Los Angeles. With Erik at the opening were his lovely wife Lily, daughters Olivia and Lauren, and son Russell, who was the photographer for the evening. The celebration was teeming with clients from Montecito, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood. Noted guests included Diane and Dr. Terry Pannkuk, Beverly Hills-based Visual Merchandiser Donn Akin with Robin Leiva, and of course from Montecito: Bob and Robin Fell, Cici and Amanda Williamson, Penny Bianchi, Dolores Gilmore, Emily and Paige Roos, Ella Brittingham, Jim Melillo, and Kate Hult of San Marino. Amidst the celebration with champagne, I joined Donn and Robin at the diamonds display case holding vintage broaches, necklaces and bracelets. Upon noting the delicate diamond cuff bracelet named “Top Gun,” I just had to try it on. Of course, it fit perfectly. In my interview with Erik at the opening, I inquired about his holiday jewelry recommendations for women and men. For the men, he presented the diamond wing-shaped clip pins, describing them thus: “These are classic high art deco clips we designed in the 1930s that I was able to buy back from the estate’s grandchildren. The clip can be worn by men and women as one piece or divided into two pieces. It would be worn on a jacket lapel side by side or one clip on each lapel, on the jacket or tuxedo breast pocket, on a belt, and on the bow of a pair of men’s tuxedo shoes.”

12 Montecito JOURNAL

“Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere.” – Charles M. Schulz

In Business Page 344 344

12 – 19 November 2026

On Entertainment Dancin’ Over the Rainbows by Steven Libowitz

t’s a somewhat bittersweet full circle for Doug Varone, who has visited Santa Barbara many times over the years under the auspices of SUMMERDANCE and its successor, DANCEworks, which until 2019 engaged choreographers for month-long Lobero residencies. Both the expanded version of SUMMERDANCE and DANCEworks were headed by Dianne Vapnek, a dance lover and philanthropist who ran the programs for 22 iterations. She passed away this past July and Varone – who was a resident artist at the first SUMMERDANCE, and the choreographer for the final 2019 DANCEworks, is still somewhat shattered. Now he’s heading back to Santa Barbara for a week-long Arts & Lectures residency at UCSB. While UCSB was the first organization in town to book Varone way back in the early 1990s, his affiliation with SUMMERDANCE , DANCEworks, and Dianne Vapnek brought him back repeatedly. Varone’s pending weeklong residency will also find the 40-year veteran dancer/choreographer’s company running a community class in terpsichore at the Carrillo Recreation Center and performing two shows at the Lobero. “When I flew in today, just so many memories flooded in,” Varone said from the lobby of his hotel. “I’m happy to be here, and it has always felt like a second home to me over the years through Dianne’s support. But it’s also bittersweet.” The gift of SUMMERDANCE and successor was, of course, the rare chance to spend four weeks of “uninterrupted creativity,” as Varone put it, “...an extraordinary opportunity to understand what we were capable of doing.” Now, with his longstanding Education/Performance Project, Varone is paying it forward by giving student dancers the opportunity to learn from and perform alongside his company members. Double Octet, which will be performed at both the matinee and evening shows this weekend, will feature BFA students from the UCSB Department of Theater and Dance working with the eight members of Doug Varone and Dancers.

Doug Varone and Dancers comes to the Lobero this Saturday, November 14, at 2 and 7 pm (courtesy photo)

“Being an educator goes hand-in-hand with being an artist for me,” he said. “To have students be able to dance side-by-side with our company is a tremendous way of opening up the door to young dancers to understand what it means to be in a professional situation with a professional company and what is expected. I’m not changing the rules of the way that I work with the students.” Double Octet was premiered by Doug Varone and Dancers (DOVA) in 2021, and features three separate movements from different pieces, by Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar. Glass is one of Varone’s musical muses. “I’ve drawn to the energy of the thrust of the work, the emotional content of it,” he said. “It opens up a space that allows my imagination to step into it without being specific.” Varone came up with choreography that creates a constant back and forth between those two eight-member ensembles, with the opening section operating like a tennis match, he said. “There’s an interweaving, everyone gets a quartet that they’re in, and then at the very end, everyone finally comes together.” The second movement features only the company dancers while most of the third is only the students before all the dancers unite at the end. “It’s built in a way that showcases all 16 dancers in really beautiful ways,” Varone said. A 2012 duet called “Able to Leap Tall Buildings” – which Varone said the company is reconstructing to be part of a concert series in New York next month – gets its first public performance in 14 years as the palate cleanser before the dance concert’s major

Entertainment Page 384 384

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12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

The Society Edit

CALM4Kids Annual Luncheon Fundraiser by Joanne A Calitri

SPEAKERS

Tiffany Goodall CPA

Brett Piersma

ESTATE ATTORNEY

Denise Stevens

PLANNED GIVING PROFESSIONAL

14 Montecito JOURNAL

Tamara Skov

Andrea McFarling PHILANTHROPY OFFICER OF LEGACY GIVING

CLPF

he CALM4Kids organization held its annual luncheon fundraiser on Friday, November 6, at the Rosewood Miramar Beach. Attendees appreciated complimentary valet service, given that over 300 guests attended this event, their parking intermingled with that of the resort’s throng of weekenders. Society wishes to advise my loves heading to the resort; do arrive early to provide the time to check in first with the manned front entrance wrought iron gate, and navigate carefully through the black velvet roping that divides the driveway in two lanes to the front entrance. After checking into the luncheon by the ballroom doors, guests strolled to the ballroom outdoor patio and gardens for a lovely reception with wines, lemonade, and iced tea. I located the Event Co-chairs, Amanda Lee and Katrina Sprague, for a photo op and statement. They shared, “Seeing our Santa Barbara community show up for CALM4Kids at Heart with the ambitious goal to raise $500,000 is just incredible. Every dollar raised goes directly into programs that support local kids and families when they need it most. It’s a powerful reminder of what we can do together. This event is so special because it brings everyone into one room to listen, connect, and take real action. We’re all here for the same reason: to make sure our local families have the resources and care they deserve.” Nods to their event committee recognized Jenny Bogan, Dina Cantin, Sam Carly, Alexis Courson, Carolyn Fitzgerald, Devyn Gehret, Analise Maggio, Melissa McCann, Cheyne McClellan, and Josephine Tournier Ingram. Viewing the luncheon guests, it truly was a large range of peeps featuring CALM4Kids partner organizations such as the United Boys and Girls Club of SBC, MOXI The Wolf Museum and others, side by side with top tier philanthropists, keynote sponsors including Montecito Bank & Trust, and friends of the organization. It was said that this year that of the 300 guests, 141 were attending for the first time. Noted VIPs were the O’Toole Lamb Family, Carrie Towbes and John Lewis, Steve Lyons, Dina and Dave Cantin, Anna and Petar Kokotovic, Robin Gose, Sarah Corliss, and Sally Morgan. Positioned at various tables for lunch were CALM4Kids staff – Adolfo Garcia, Ashleigh Erving, Rachel Hopsicker,

“Only the knife knows what goes on in the heart of a pumpkin.” – Simone Schwarz-Bart

CALM fundraiser Co-chairs Katrina Sprague and Amanda Lee (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Amelia Smith, Victoria Gonzalez, Yvonne Nelson, Ashlyn McCague, Meredith Donin, Kylee Chimal, Shelby McLean, and Amanda Munoz. And of course, nested as well were CALM4Kids Board of Trustees with Chair Frann Wageneck, Katrina Sprague, Sharon Lutz, Gisela Rodriguez, Sandy Lood, Chuck Merrill, Megan Rheinschild, Jenna Rogers, Patrice Ryan, Geoff Stevens, and Honorary Trustees Susan Gulbransen, Anna Kokotovic (former executive director), and Joanne Rapp. Emcee Andrew Firestone welcomed everyone, sharing his thoughts about supporting CALM4Kids, “With CALM everybody knows there is a bright spot here to support you.” Speaking on CALM4kids, Frann Wageneck, its Board of Trustees Chair informed, “At its core, CALM is a community organization, with partners throughout Santa Barbara providing the necessary resources for children, families, and inter-organization support.” She thanked her team, staff, board and over 40 event sponsors. Following a video showcasing CALM4Kids community partner organizations, Melinda Cabrera, CEO of the United Boys and Girls Club of SBC spoke. Through a few emotional tears, she detailed how CALM4Kids trauma specialists worked with her staff and kids at the club in dealing with trauma from two violent incidents they witnessed and sheltered from, leaving them in need of specialized services to heal.

Society Edit Page 254 254 12 – 19 November 2026

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12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

MORE THAN A PLACE TO LIVE, IT’S A PLACE TO COME ALIVE.

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Discover a sanctuary of elegance and ease, that creates a space to feel liberated, celebrated, and authentic. Call to book a tour and mark your calendar to RSVP for our annual holiday event.

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Your Westmont

Global Student Film Festival Returns by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott

merging storytellers and cinema enthusiasts will gather for the fourth annual Montecito Student Film Festival on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Westmont’s Porter Theatre. Set at one of the nation’s most beautiful college campuses, the event celebrates rising filmmakers and fosters creative collaboration by connecting students directly with film industry professionals. This year’s festival drew 59 submissions from around the world, representing nine hours of content. Organizers plan to screen roughly three to five hours of selected works, featuring about half of the total entries, across a wide variety of genres, including animation, action-adventure, documentary, experimental, drama, and comedy. “I have really been enjoying watching the films with students, rating them together and talking about what it takes to make a great film, tell a compelling story, as well as the challenges and pitfalls of filmmaking,” says Jonathan Hicks, festival director and chair of Westmont’s theater arts and film studies department. A core team of about 10 Westmont students has been actively engaged in producing the event. In addition to watching the “Best of Show” screenings, attendees and student creators will participate in workshops led by distinguished industry leaders. This year’s guest workshop leaders include director and screenwriter Christine Swanson of Faith Filmworks, as well as Brian Raleigh, former senior vice president of Netflix Animation. “The festival allows students to receive feedback and connect with industry professionals and peers who can shape their careers,” Hicks says. Beyond building portfolios and catching the eye of talent scouts, participants share films that

Jonathan Hicks

reflect diverse human experiences often underrepresented in mainstream cinema. Awards will be presented across six categories: Audience Award, Critics Choice Award, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best Screenplay, and Best International Film.

Christmas Festival Offers ‘Gifts for The King’ Celebrate Advent with glorious music at the 22nd annual Westmont Christmas Festival, a holiday tradition cherished by Santa Barbara residents, on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 pm and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 3 pm, at the Granada Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara. Tickets, which cost $30 each, are available for purchase at westmont.edu/christmas-festival. Audience members will reserve seats when purchasing tickets this year. For ticket information or to purchase by phone, please call the Granada box office at (805) 899-2222. This year’s theme, “Gifts for the King,” takes a fresh approach to the Christmas Magi. Beyond bearing witness to the true kingship of the Christ child, the Magi prefigure the splendor of all nations in the new Jerusalem. The worshipful musical meditation explores how believers cultivate and offer their broad talents across the arts and sciences to the glory of God. “How do we live in anticipation of this future?” asks Ruth Lin, chair of the music department and conductor of the Westmont Orchestra. “At Westmont, we cultivate and offer our gifts to the Christ child, representing all corners of human inquiry and endeavor – the breadth of the arts and sciences – to the glory of God.” The festive event features the Westmont Orchestra, Westmont College Choir, Chamber Singers, and Brass Ensemble performing a rich repertoire of classical

Join us for a festive afternoon of traditional holiday sweets, hot cocoa, and classic holiday music while touring our beautifully decorated community & residences. Discover what makes Maravilla feel like home.

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16 Montecito JOURNAL

Chase Olivera and Tamia Sanders (’24) at the 2024 festival

“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.” – Jim Davis

Westmont Page 324 324

12 – 19 November 2026

A T C I ION F I T DA U A 2026 E Y B Thank You to Our Sponsors and Community Partners It Truly Takes A Village! Legacy Sponsor Champions

Champions

Jill Taylor & Ray Link

Guardians The Bernsteins Brooke Mallers Nina Terzian Robert Pavloff

Neighborhood Stewards

Village Supporters Aviation Consulting Support Inc - Ed Wetzel Chris & Mindy Denson Greg & Devon Galusha Andrea & Dana Newquist Jan & Rock Rockenbach

Community Friends Elisa Atwill - Casa Dorinda - Paul Didier - Irene Klores Feinberg Family - George & Shari Isaac - Andrea & Ron Hein Visit Montecito! - Tracey Willfong - Patty Zucherman

Our Village, Our Home www.montecitoassociation.org 12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

The Giving List The Elephant Project by Steven Libowitz

or Kristina McKean creating plushie toys for kids as a means to saving elephants (and, increasingly, other threatened animals) isn’t a job, an occupation, or even a hobby. It’s a calling. On a trip to Thailand to celebrate her honeymoon, McKean witnessed baby elephants on the streets of Bangkok being exploited for money and came home devastated. Her frustration over animal abuse being sanctioned for entertainment was only compounded by the treatment of elephants in the domestic circus industry. Determined to do something about it, McKean spent years signing petitions, protesting circuses, and creating social media campaigns designed to spread awareness of the mistreatment of the majestic animals. “I felt like I really didn’t have a choice,” McKean explained. But those efforts weren’t having enough of an effect, and the feeling kept gnawing at her. Then one day she saw her daughter playing with a stuffed animal, and the light bulb went off. How about creating an elephant plushie that

would not only raise funds through sales, but also create a bond with the animal for young kids early in life? Thus was born The Elephant Project, the Montecito-based nonprofit McKean created in 2017. McKean employed her background in product development and design – which included a stint with The Gap corporation – to see the concept through. “I knew how to design a product and I just let my creativity and focus take over,” she said. “At first, it was just one stuffed animal girl elephant named Kiki, which I put out into the universe to see what would happen. I was overwhelmed by the response.” That included a brief article in the massively-circulated People magazine within just a few months, which catapulted the whole project McKean said. It wasn’t long before she added a boy stuffed elephant named Tembo, 100% of whose proceeds were directed to such organizations as Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand. Founded and run by world-renowned Asian elephant conservationist and Time magazine’s 2005 Asian Hero of the Year, Sangduen “Lek”

Thanksgiving Dinner at Lilac Join us at Lilac Montecito for a prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner featuring soup, salad, confit turkey with all the trimmings, and pie or pumpkin cheesecake. Thursday, November 26 1 to 8 pm $105pp or $150pp with wine pairings. Vegan options and kids’ menu available. Tables fill quickly. Reserve early.

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18 Montecito JOURNAL

Join McKean and The Elephant Project on Wednesday, December 9 from 5-7 pm at Art & Soul for The Giving Herd (courtesy photo)

Thailand those years ago. McKean also adopted two of the rescued dogs herself. “I’d been following a group of women who would go over there and take these dogs off of meat trucks,” she said. “They had a golden retriever and a doodle that were literally being tortured in a crate. We decided to take them both.” The new plushie named Lulu is as adorable and cuddly as the others. And of course all the funds from sales go to that women-led nonprofit that actually does the rescuing. Obviously, it’s a much bigger problem than McKean and her supporters can solve on their own. But the numbers don’t deter her. “Of course there’s a million other animals that I want to save,” she said. “But I know what a long process it is to create a stuffed animal. There’s always a real sense of urgency to save these animals on the ground, so it’s hard sometimes to divert our attention and resources into creating something new.” But she won’t give up. It is, after all, a calling. “It’s unexplainable. I don’t think strategically. I just know instinctively when I should do something. We’ve had a lot of success, but I think part of it is believing that everyone can make a difference and that your voice matters. All these collective efforts do help, and people can change the world.” Locals have a chance to meet McKean on Wednesday, December 9 from 5-7 pm, when the five plushies and real life rescue dogs Bob and Pepe – as well as Pedro de la Cruz, who illustrates the coloring books – will be part of “The Giving Herd,” The Elephant Project’s annual gathering at Art & Soul, 1323 State Street. Guests will also have the chance to enjoy music and cocktails and meet adoptable pets – canines mostly, not elephants or lions – looking for forever homes.

Chailert, the park provides sanctuary for disabled, blind, and orphaned elephants that have often spent decades working in the logging and tourist industries. Fast forward to today and The Elephant Project’s plushie menagerie now includes a Baby Chaba, its first stuffed toy to be named after a living elephant; the plushie’s real-world, once-captive counterpart residing in Elephant Nature Park. Baby Chaba comes complete with a small children’s book that expands upon the story of the real animal, who was rescued alongside her mother by Chailert in August of 2021. “It’s a coloring book to help the little kids feel even more of a connection,” McKean said. Over the years, the Project has had a major impact on the pachyderm world. “We’ve supported rescuing a ton of elephants,” she said without irony about the choice of quantifier. “I am mainly focused on elephants that have been abused or put in bad situations, so every one we help makes a difference.” But over time, McKean’s world has enlarged its embrace beyond elephants. “I’d also seen that there are lions being abused in all different parts of the world for entertainment purposes,” she said. “But then on 60 Minutes, I saw a group of women who were going down and negotiating with owners of the big cats in captivity and raising the money to get them out of captivity and into sanctuaries. I knew I had to support that, too. My drive for everything is seeing people doing the work on the ground to save these exploited animals. It’s a calling to help them.” Hence, the birth of Oba, the 8” stuffed lion plushie doll made out of soft tan fabric and tastefully clad in a white jacket. More recently, McKean’s “family” has been joined by Lulu, a stuffed dog plushie whose creation was ordained by McKean hearing stories of dogs going to slaughter for meat in China, which tugged at her heart in the same way elephants had in

“Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness.” – Jane Austen

Visit www.theelephantproject.com

12 – 19 November 2026

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12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

• Holiday Feast •

he early bird gets the worm, but the smart bird gets the reservation. Get a turkey leg up on your holiday dining plans with these local restaurants serving up plenty of reasons to celebrate. Consider this your head start on the season of second helpings.

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2. LOCAL Montecito

A little California sunshine meets European sophistication at Lilac Montecito. Located along Coast Village Road, this neighborhood favorite celebrates seasonal ingredients through chef-curated menus that span leisurely brunches and elegant dinners. A thoughtfully selected wine list, welcoming hospitality, and chic indoor-outdoor setting make Lilac a delicious destination for holiday gatherings, romantic evenings, and everything in between.

At LOCAL Montecito, the backyard barbecue gets a decidedly sophisticated upgrade. This Coast Village Road favorite brings together fresh California bistro fare with flavors borrowed from the Mediterranean, Mexico, and Asia. The menu offers plenty of culinary surprises, complemented by inventive handcrafted cocktails and a thoughtfully selected wine list. Covered, heated patios keep the outdoor dining season going year-round, while a lively atmosphere makes LOCAL equally suited for a casual afternoon, a festive gathering, or an evening out with friends and family. LOCALMONTECITO.COM

LILACMONTECITO.COM

“An apple is an excellent thing, until you have tried a peach.” – George du Maurier

12 – 19 November 2026

The Black Sheep

Gambas al Ajillo - Sautéed Mexican blue prawns, spicy tomato garlic sauce, grilled baguette

3 4 The Stonehouse

Spiced Old Fashioned - Warm holiday spice and orange, finished with smoldering cinnamon and SYR-stamped ice.

3. The Black Sheep Restaurant + Bar

A little unconventional and entirely delicious, The Black Sheep brings bold global flavors to Santa Barbara’s dining scene. Set in a historic Old Town space, this locally owned restaurant pairs contemporary California cuisine with craft cocktails and curated wines. Its nightly fourcourse, family-style tasting menu makes gathering around the table an especially appetizing proposition this holiday season. BLACKSHEEPSB.COM

12 – 19 November 2026

4. The Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch

The holidays call for something special, and The Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch knows how to deliver. Housed in a historic citrus packing house, this Montecito institution pairs Executive Chef Matt Johnson’s seasonal Coastal California cuisine with one of the region’s most celebrated wine collections. Ingredients from the Ranch’s gardens and citrus groves bring a local touch to the table, while crackling fireplaces, ocean views, and twinkling lights provide the perfect setting for a festive evening worth dressing up for. STONEHOUSERESTAURANT.COM

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

Montecito Health Coach Beyond the Diagnosis: The Montecito Haven Redefining Memory Care by Deann Zampelli

ne of the many reasons I love our town is the number of surprising, full-circle moments that continually connect us. Just the other day, I ran into dear friends (Lauren McDermott, the new owner of Santa Barbara Healthcare) who had just returned from sponsoring an event at The Friendship Center. They were gushing about the place and just how incredible it is. “The one right across from All Saints?” I asked, as a flood of memories returned. Years ago, when our children attended preschool there, we would often walk across the street to The Friendship Center so the kids could sing for the members, deliver handmade crafts, or share holiday cards. A few years on, I brought my daughter’s Girl Scout troop to visit. Now, over a decade later, this chance encounter served as a beautiful reminder of the vital, unique sanctuary thriving right in the heart of our little village. As we navigate the complexities of modern public health, few challenges hit closer to home than cognitive decline. Across the world, families are quietly confronting the daily realities of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other forms of dementia. Fortunately, right here in our backyard, a transformative nonprofit organization offers a vital lifeline. Located at 89 Eucalyptus Lane, the Friendship Center has spent half a century creating

a sanctuary where older adults don’t just survive – they truly thrive. For decades, public perception of dementia has been tethered to outdated stereotypes of isolated individuals confined to clinical, sterile rooms. Today, the face of dementia is changing dramatically. It is no longer viewed as an immediate end to an active life, but rather a chapter that can still be filled with purpose, creativity, and profound joy. Furthermore, the demographics of those seeking help are shifting. Families are recognizing symptoms earlier, and individuals living with cognitive changes are expressing a strong desire to stay socially integrated, physically active, and connected to their communities. Organizations like the Friendship Center are leading this paradigm shift by treating members not as patients defined by a diagnosis, but as individuals with ongoing potential for growth and connection. At its core, the Friendship Center provides comprehensive adult day care services designed to stimulate every aspect of a member’s well-being. Led by Executive Director Kathryn Westland MPH, who brings a deep public health background and unique, compassionate expertise to the role, the organization thrives on an active, intentional model of care. Rather than passive supervision, the center implements professionally led activity programs centered on foundational pillars such as physical ability, cognitive stimulation, social connection, and emotional needs.

Westland shares, “For five decades, tucked away beneath a canopy of trees that only Santa Barbara could grow, Friendship Center has quietly been doing deeply important work for thousands of local families. These families have trusted us with life’s most important gifts: the people they love. People living with dementia have spent their days here making friends, singing, creating, laughing, moving, eating together and continuing to be part of a community. Their spouses and children have gone to work, raised their own children, rested, gone to appointments, and simply had a few hours when they knew someone they loved was safe and loved, too.” To deliver this high level of specialized programming across its Montecito and Carpinteria sites, the center relies on a dedicated team of more than 20 professional personnel. This warm and diverse staff includes administrative leaders, program managers, operations coordinators, bilingual specialists, and on-site transportation drivers who together ensure every member is met with tailored care through offerings such as chair yoga, pet-therapy encounters, games, crafts, lectures, films and so much more. The physical environment is equally restorative. Members regularly enjoy the sun-filled central patio and butterfly garden shared by All Saints-by-the-Sea Church, as well as supervised nature walks and beach outings. Beyond serving its members, the center provides crucial respite care, giving family caregivers the necessary time to rest, work, or attend to their own personal health needs. And if that isn’t enough, they even provide three nourishing meals each day for all of their clients. High-quality memory care can often place an astronomical financial burden on families. Defying the corporate trends of elder care, the Friendship Center operates on a profound foundational ethic: no one is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. That is not something we often hear in any environment, let alone in healthcare. Through their Day Services Sponsorship Program membership fees are structured exclusively on a sliding-scale basis, adjusted to each family’s

unique financial situation. While they do not directly accept Medicare or Medicaid, the center actively minimizes barriers to care. For example, qualifying veterans can attend at no cost via partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and specific long-term care insurance plans are accepted. Operating an accessible, sliding-scale model requires a highly robust and diversified funding structure. The Friendship Center maintains its financial health through a blend of grants, community donations, and creative fundraising events. Prominent philanthropic foundations regularly step in to back their mission; recently, major support has come from organizations like the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara – which funded a vital transportation coordinator to prevent low-income seniors from becoming homebound. Because the center absorbs so much of the cost of care, local involvement is what keeps this engine running. Neighbors looking to support this mission can help in several distinct ways: - Financial Giving: Direct donations can be made online via their Giving Page to sponsor an activity, program, or event for members. - Fulfilling the Wish List: The center regularly updates a wish list of physical gift items or specialty services that directly benefit daily program activities. - Grassroots Fundraising: Community members frequently host private fundraising parties or create digital Facebook Fundraisers to champion the cause among friends and family. - Volunteering: The center warmly welcomes members of the public to share their time – whether that means playing music, leading an engaging discussion, reading with seniors, or simply offering companionship. As our local population ages, preserving the dignity of our neighbors experiencing cognitive decline remains a collective responsibility. The Friendship Center stands as an enduring testament to what happens when a community chooses to wrap its arms around its most vulnerable members, proving that even with memory loss, every single day remains a gift.

JAMIE KNEE

If you would like more information, or to offer your support, please visit their website at https://friendshipcentersb.org

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“Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits.” – Henry David Thoreau

12 – 19 November 2026

Death and Taxes

BETTER HEARING BEGINS WITH BEING HEARD

Taking the Mystery Out of Estate Planning

GRAND OPENING OF MONTECITO’S FIRST AUDIOLOGY OFFICE Conveniently located on Coast Village

by Zach Rosen

enjamin Franklin famously observed that nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. He neglected to mention the paperwork. Wills, trusts, healthcare directives, powers of attorney. The business of preparing for the inevitable has become a rather elaborate undertaking, involving enough legal terminology to make even the most organized among us consider postponing the whole affair. Fortunately, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is offering a little assistance. On November 15, the museum will host its annual Estate Planning Essentials Workshop, bringing together financial, legal, and estate planning professionals to help Santa Barbarans navigate some of life’s more complicated decisions. Franklin would probably approve. Particularly since admission is free. The workshop, held in the museum’s Fleischmann Auditorium, is designed for anyone interested in getting their affairs in order, from those just beginning to consider an estate plan to those whose existing documents could use a little dusting off. And while the subject may seem rather morbid for a Sunday afternoon, the museum sees it as an opportunity to make life easier for everyone involved. “Estate planning isn’t only about what happens after you die,” says Andrea McFarling, the museum’s Philanthropy Officer of Legacy Giving. “It’s about making thoughtful decisions today so the people you care about have guidance when they need it most. Our goal is to help people feel informed, empowered, and prepared.” In other words, a little planning now can spare loved ones a considerable amount of confusion later. Hosted by the museum’s Planned Giving Advisory Council, the afternoon brings together four professionals with different areas of expertise. Estate attorney Brett Piersma will help untangle the legal considerations, while CPA Tiffany Goodall brings the financial perspective. California licensed professional fiduciary Tamara Skov offers insight into the responsibilities involved in managing another person’s affairs, and planned giving professional Denise Stevens rounds out the discussion with charitable giving and legacy planning. Together, they’ll address wills, trusts, healthcare directives, powers of attorney, taxes, and other subjects that tend to inspire a sudden desire to reorganize the garage instead. 12 – 19 November 2026

DR. AMBER FLETCHER (AuD., CCC-A) Founder & Audiologist of Hearing Concierge of Montecito

The workshop takes place November 15, from 2 to 4 pm at the Fleischmann Auditorium, with a meetand-greet continuing until 5 pm (courtesy photo)

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The goal is to make these topics approachable, giving attendees practical information they can discuss further with their own legal, financial, and tax advisors. The workshop also introduces a lesser-known side of the museum’s community programming. While most Santa Barbarans associate the institution with butterflies, fossils, and the occasional enormous whale skeleton, the museum also offers free estate and legacy planning resources throughout the year. These include workshops and consultations covering charitable bequests, beneficiary designations, IRA charitable rollovers, charitable gift annuities, and other ways to support the people and causes that matter most to us. For those interested in philanthropy, such arrangements can provide opportunities to support organizations they care about while considering the financial needs of their families. And for those who have yet to make any plans at all, the workshop offers a sensible starting point. After all, estate planning is ultimately about making decisions while we’re still around to make them. A thoughtful plan can provide direction for loved ones, clarify personal wishes, and help prevent a difficult moment from becoming unnecessarily complicated. There will be plenty of time for questions, with an informal meet-andgreet following the presentations for attendees interested in speaking with the professionals. As for Franklin’s famous observation, death and taxes may remain inevitable. But at least the paperwork doesn’t have to be a complete mystery.

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Admission is free. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/ SBMNH-Estate-2026 or contact Andrea McFarling at amcfarling@sbnature2.org • Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

The Spoken Word

Spotlight: Making Sense of the Midterm Muddle by Steven Libowitz

potlight Santa Barbara is the new speaker/panel discussion series co-founded by frequent Montecito Journal contributor Jeff Giordano and Montecito Water District board member Brian Goebel. The mission? “To provide a forum that fosters hard thought, independent judgment, and the questioning of stubborn assumptions.” For forum No. 3, Spotlight turns its attention to the results of this month’s national election. The featured speaker is NPR’s National Political Correspondent and FOX contributor Mara Liasson, who is seen as giving the liberal point of view on Fox, and the conservative one on NPR; so as political journalists go, she might be as middle of the road as they come. Will Sofrin speaks at the SB Maritime Museum Her mission, which she has chosen for the Distinguished Speaker Series on to accept, is to dissect and explain November 19 (courtesy photo) the various state and federal issues considered at the ballot box, and how the outcomes will affect us most. Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University, who calls himself a Rockefeller Republican (“conservative on fiscal matters and moderate to liberal on social issues”), will once again serve as moderator for the November 17 event at the Lobero Theatre after helming Spotlight’s “California Problems, Santa Barbara Choices” in July. Visit www.lobero.org/events/mara-liasson-spotlight-sb

comes from a partnership of Good Samaritan Shelter, philanthropic organizations, and public officials. The first panel addressed food insecurity; next up is a focus on mental and behavioral health set for November 18. Panelists include the CEOs of Sanctuary Centers and CALM, Good Samaritan’s Director of Treatment, and the Regional Advancement Director of DignityMoves. They will discuss how ever-increasing mental health and addiction challenges are exacerbated by challenges to accessing timely, affordable care – access which remains out of reach for too many people, those who are stymied trying to navigate the complex and often fragmented system. The salon aims to discuss where gaps remain and how we can build stronger connections between prevention, treatment, recovery, housing, and other essential supports so people can get the help they need before a situation becomes a crisis. Each event begins with a social hour with hors d’oeuvres, wine, and other beverages. Visit www.goodsamaritanshelter.org

Three Counties, Three Poets Laureate All are invited to a free evening of poetry featuring readings by the current Poets Laureate of the tri-county region. George Yatchisin, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate; Mary Ann McFadden, Ventura County Poet Laureate; and Caleb Nichols, San Luis Obispo County Poet Laureate come together at Faulkner Gallery at the Santa Barbara Central Library on Monday, November 16, when each will read from their own work. There will be time at the end for a quick round of Q&A, which can be an important part of civic engagement too often cut out of poetry events.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/SBPL-Poet-3Counties

UCSB Innovation Engine What does it take to turn groundbreaking university research into the next generation of successful startups and businesses? That’s the topic for Ventech’s November 18 event at Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center with UCSB Innovation Engine. This engaging conversation will explore how the university’s students, faculty, and entrepreneurial programs are shaping the future of technology, innovation, and business across the Central Coast. Hear directly from the leaders helping transform promising ideas into real-world ventures, including Tal Margalith of OASIS, Sherylle Englander from California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), and Dave Adornetto, Department of Technology Management’s New Venture Program and moderator Eric Zackrison of UCSB Technology Management. They’ll explore the technologies and startups emerging from UCSB, how ideas move from campus to commercialization, and the opportunities these innovations create for our local business community.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/UCSB-Ventech-2026

Salon Series Settles Back in The Santa Barbara Salon Series is hosting four public-policy panels to highlight critical issues facing our county from a somewhat different perspective. The series

Ship, Chips, and the Maritime Power Imbalance Financial Times associate editor and CNN global economic analyst Rana Foroohar comes to UCSB’s Campbell Hall on November 19 to talk about how the race for control of the world’s oceans is reshaping the global economy and redefining national security. As discussed in her new book Sea Change: America’s New Great Game in the Arctic Circle, as rapid global warming transforms the Arctic, the region has become one of the world’s most consequential geopolitical flashpoints. Drawing on extraordinary access aboard the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy during a voyage to the North Pole, Foroohar argues that “ships are the new chips” and shows why maritime power will shape the next era of global competition. Free copies of the book will be available at the event while supplies last.

Visit https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

Ambassador for Maritime Moments Will Sofrin’s last book, All Hands on Deck, was a rollicking maritime adventure recounting his experiencing delivering an 18th-century warship replica across 5,000 miles for the Academy Award-nominated film Master and Commander. Now Sofrin returns to Santa Barbara Maritime Museum’s Distinguished Speaker Series on November 19 to talk about his latest project. USCGC Eagle: America’s Ambassador explores the extraordinary evolution and enduring legacy of the Coast Guard’s flagship, from her beginnings as the German sail-training vessel Horst Wessel to her transformation into a U.S. Coast Guard training ship, floating classroom, and international ambassador. Once again drawing from his firsthand experiences aboard the ship, Sofrin will dive into why a tall ship built nearly a century ago continues to play an important role in preparing future Coast Guard officers.

Visit www.sbmm.org

24 Montecito JOURNAL

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” – Martin Luther

12 – 19 November 2026

Beings & Doings (Continued from 6)

Society Edit (Continued from 14 14))

construction by the 26th Ohio took place under relentless sniper fire and bombardment. When not so occupied, Gist’s Company D would rotate out to the forward earthworks to exchange constant fire with Confederate marksmen. When General Sherman destroyed the last of the Confederate supply lines to Atlanta, his confederate counterpart, General Hood, rallied his remaining army of some 30,000 men and slipped out of Atlanta one September evening. In a small Ohio town called Franklin, the worst lay ahead for the teenaged William Gist who, 15 days after the burning of Atlanta, would say goodbye to whatever vestige of youth he still possessed. Ahead lay an explosive set piece of unforgettable carnage.

The Spring Hill Screw Up, Frothing General Hood, WW Gist’s Bloody Initiation Confederate General Hood’s humiliation in Atlanta had cost him 20,000 men. Hood drew up a plan he called the Franklin-Nashville campaign. His army would ride north and threaten Sherman’s supply lines, draw him into battle up there and annihilate Sherman’s Union Army. It was a quixotic plan; a grim debacle so implosive Gist would come through the refiner’s fire a changed young man. Sherman grasped Hood’s northern feint and ignored the bait. Hood went north anyway. After nearly two months’ marching, the Ohio 26th reached Spring Hill, Tennessee, with orders to disrupt Hood’s Tennessee invasion. In a daylight battle, Gist’s Union forces held off intense Confederate attacks. That evening a confused and exhausted Confederate army allowed the 26th

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The Peggy Lamb Family (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

A later W.W. Gist, retired professor of English (courtesy photo)

Ohio and the rest of the Union soldiery to literally sneak away in the darkness. The elder Gist would later describe the debacle in orderly and forgiving language. “Soon after dark the advance of the main army reached the village on the way to Franklin. As they saw the campfires south of town, they began to cheer, thinking they were about to go into camp. Word was quickly passed along the line that those were Confederate campfires. Silence was maintained as we passed along…” The escape of the Union army comprised a tactical faceplant so egregious it is brought to bear on explaining the Confederate calamity that followed at Franklin. The Confederates pursued the

Beings & Doings Page 314 314

Melinda Cabrera, CEO of the United Boys and Girls Club of SBC (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

She was followed by President & CEO Alana Walczak, who spoke in detail on CALM4Kids mission and work, and her plea for financial support. Walczak, “CALM is there for families through life’s most important and most difficult moments, supporting parents early, bolstering the adults who care for children, and helping children and families heal when trauma occurs. We believe resilience is built together. Every

At the Earl Warren Showgrounds with FREE PARKING 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, California

family, teacher, partner, and supporter is a strand in our community’s web of care. Together, we help ensure families never have to face their hardest moments alone. Thank you for being part of that web and helping build a stronger, more connected community where children and families can thrive.” The Teens CALM4Kids board sold raffle tix to guests for $100 each to win a pair of 14k yellow gold hoops set with 50 round cut diamonds (2.0 total carats), with the winner announced at the end of the program. Firestone led the live auction, raising approximately $31,500; the ask garnering funds at $274,460. Till next week… Xx JAC

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

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• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

Travel Buzz

The End/Sayonara Japan by Leslie A. Westbrook

fter spending almost three weeks exploring Japan, I returned to Tokyo for my last few days in the land of the rising sun before wending my way back to California. Some overall impressions seem a good way to end my tales of Japan. To begin with, I have to say the best hotel of my entire stay was The Capitol in Tokyo, arranged by Audley Travel. Initially I balked at staying 23 stories high, but not only were the views stunning (revealed by automatic curtain and shades), but every little detail was taken care of – and then some. The rooms are especially spacious (a treat in Japan) and the Zen-like interiors by designer Kengo Kuma were soothing and elegant. The hotel’s peaceful location sits close to the Prime Minister’s official residence and is just adjacent to the Hie Shrine. Popular with expectant mothers in search of blessings for a safe childbirth, the shrine features a famous mother-and-child monkey statue. The Capitol hotel also sits atop a direct underground connection to multiple subway lines for getting around the city – or for Tokyo friends coming to visit! That being said, I was not enamored with Tokyo overall. There were many moments that I enjoyed, especially spending time, and numerous discoveries, with my two fairy goddaughters, Olivia and Alpha. But the size of the city, the massive population, thickets of high rises, and as luck would have it, cold and rainy weather for my last few days there, did not enamor overall, with but a few exceptions. So in kindness to the exceedingly kind Japanese people, may I leave you with those. Alpha and I had what ended up being a most excellent and perfect last day

A beautiful Japanese spread

together. We did a little shopping and we visited the massive, stunning, Kisho Kurokawa-designed National Art Center with its undulating wall of glass, followed by a walk in the nearby Aoyama Cemetery in the rain, which we pretty much had to ourselves. The bright pink flowers from the full blooming cherry blossom trees carpeted the storm-soaked pathways and all was still. At the museum I mentioned that I would really like to visit a jazz club to make my trip complete. We found two that were within walking distance, and one was called “All of Me” jazz club. Since I love that song – and they had a well-reviewed Italian menu that truly appealed after a few weeks’ steady diet of mostly Japanese food – I said, “Let’s try that one!” Alpha agreed and called to see if we could book a table – there were only two seats available for the first set – at the bar. That sounded great, so we made our way in the rain after our cemetery stroll to the cozy, friendly club where we enjoyed listening to and meeting a jazz flutist

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Taking in jazz and drinks at the All of Me Club

into a career that both supported me and gave me great pleasure – and inevitably turned me into a totally independent, much traveled woman. I bid “Sayonara” to Japan, grateful to experience a small part of this complex and fascinating country – and especially for doing so with precious loved ones, before heading off to the island of Oahu for a few tropical days over Easter/Spring break to buffer my re-entry to the US of A.

from Los Angeles, Nori Tani, who was on tour. As luck would have it, Nori’s unclein-law in Santa Barbara is the longtime writer/editor/teacher Shelly Lowenkopf. Additionally, a pianist he works with in Venice, California, turned out to be Alpha’s friend. Small World department! The food was excellent, as was the music at the All of Me Club, which has been around for 30 years. Plus, during the break we had a great conversation with a guy at the bar who told us all about his huge Barbie doll collection. Very Japanese! Despite some misgivings of big city life, we left feeling as though we’d made some connections, which buffered any initial feelings of alienation in the metropolis. I will leave you parents and godparents and any other fairy godparents who happen to be out there with a Japanese proverb meant to encourage independence:

The Capitol Hotel Tokyu: www.tokyuhotels.co.jp/en/capitol-h/index.html Audley Travel: www.audleytravel.com/us All of Me Club: www.allofmeclub.net

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

“ 可愛い子には旅をさせよ (Kawaii ko ni wa tabi o saseyo) that roughly translates to: “If you love your child, let them travel.” I can’t think of a better gift – one that my beloved mother Marcella bestowed upon me at a very early age that turned

“Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.” – Samuel Butler

12 – 19 November 2026

Elizabeth’s Appraisals Japanese Silk Bridal Uchikake by Elizabeth Stewart

here is something quite extraordinary about a Japanese silk bridal uchikake. The example illustrated here is a 20th-century garment with a dramatic black ground, sweeping bands of metallic gold, and a profusion of white cranes in flight, surrounded by richly colored flowers. Its decoration combines hand-worked elements, including embroidery and painted details, with metallic embellishment. The padded lower hem is characteristic of the formal bridal uchikake. The cranes are particularly meaningful. In Japanese tradition, they symbolize longevity, good fortune, and marital fidelity, making them especially appropriate for a wedding garment. The gold ornamentation and elaborate flowers add to the ceremonial splendor. A Japanese bridal uchikake offers more than a striking decorative surface. Its cranes, flowers, gold embellishment, and padded hem reflect a tradition in which clothing could convey auspicious wishes and mark one of life’s most significant occasions. The silk, the intricacy of the decoration, the labor involved in its creation, and its excellent condition all contribute to its appeal, but sadly, not to market value in many cases. When I examine a Japanese bridal kimono, I find myself asking how it came to be in an American collection. Most kimono I encounter have come to the United States through American military personnel and their families. Following World War II, servicemen stationed in Japan encountered Japanese textiles in shops and markets, and some brought garments home as souvenirs. These tell a poignant cultural story. In postwar Japan, particularly from the 1950s through the 1970s, elaborate silk kimono formed part of the bridal trousseaux of some families. These garments could be expensive, carefully preserved, and worn only on special occasions. As customs changed and Western-style wedding clothing became more common, some were passed into the secondhand market. Japanese textile dealers and import shops that catered to decorators also played a role. By the mid- to late 20th century, Asian decorative arts had become an important element in American interior design. Collectors and decorators sought textiles, screens, ceramics, and other objects that offered color, texture, and a sense of cultural history. 12 – 19 November 2026

The colorful Japanese silk bridal uchikake

I have seen many of these garments hung as wall displays, suspended from a horizontal pole through their long, elegant sleeves. Some particularly elaborate, heavily embroidered examples were placed in lucite cases and displayed in more exclusive and expensive settings, where their intricate surfaces could be admired without the garment being worn. Over the years, I have been asked to appraise many of these lovely garments. I have found that establishing their value can be difficult because the market fluctuates widely. The handwork, metallic decoration, rich colors, and sheer quantity of material suggest hours of skilled labor. The market is becoming more aware of the cultural importance of a kimono acquired during World War II, and the respect with which these kimono should be handled. For the most part, collectors do not wear their collections, although I have one client who does. The market that once embraced them as dramatic interior decorations has changed. (As decor, these don’t resonate with simplicity, neutral colors, geometric stylings...) At the lower end of the resale market, general auction houses may offer Japanese kimono for less than $200. Such prices can be disappointing. The finest examples are often pre-20th-century kimono, especially those from the 19th century, and it takes an expert to identify these. They can attract greater interest, particularly when they have exceptional decoration, excellent condition, or a documented history. Antique and vintage kimono attract an

entirely separate market. For sellers of those garments, I would contact Dessa Goddard at Bonhams in Los Angeles, a genuine expert in vintage Asian silk garments. In my experience, Artemis Fine Art has been a useful platform to consider when selling 20th-century kimono. Clients have sold in consignment stores, but I do not recommend this approach. A brick-and-mortar store will display the kimono: silk can be fragile, and the weight of a heavily decorated kimono may place considerable stress on it. Hanging one from a conventional American clothes hanger is devastating. Respecting the uchikake means recognizing that it is more than a beautiful textile; it is a culturally significant ceremonial garment that carries generations of Japanese tradition, symbolism, and skilled craftsmanship. Its preservation and display should honor that heritage, treating the garment not merely as decoration, but as an expression of Japan’s cultural identity and artistic legacy. The challenge is to balance the garment’s aesthetic significance with its importance to the culture itself. Selling these garments requires a finely calibrated cultural awareness. Beauty, history, and market value are related, but they are not interchangeable.

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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• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

“

The book has some of the very best dialogue I have ever read (think Raymond Chandler), and author Michael C. Armour paints a gorgeous story with the prose as sweeping as the Santa Barbara vistas. I hope he returns with another.

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– Leslie Zemeckis

Award-winning documentarian, best-selling author, actor and co-founder of the Santa Barbara Literary Festival. Now available at Chaucer’s Books, Tecolote Book Shop and Godmothers

28 Montecito JOURNAL

12 – 19 November 2026

Petite Wine Traveler A Taste of Fall Under the Oaks by Jamie Knee

We wandered from table to table, tasting our way through a broad selection of Santa Barbara County producers. It was especially fun catching up over pours from Fiddlehead Cellars, Tercero, Kaena, Bien Nacido, Lucas & Lewellen, CrossHatch, Tatomer, Margerum, Fennell Family Wine Company, Flying Goat Bubbles, and Carr, along with many others. That is one of the things I enjoy most about local wine events. You are often standing across the table from the winemaker or someone intimately connected to the wine, which makes every glass more personal. A quick taste can turn into a conversation about the vineyard, the vintage, or what is happening in the cellar, and Santa Barbara County has such a close knit and engaging wine community.

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and this new fall festival felt like a natural addition. It brought together so many things that make living in Santa Barbara special: local producers, beautiful food, good wine, familiar faces and a setting that makes you want to stay outdoors just a little longer. Rosé in the sunshine, paella cooking beneath the oaks, and a few hours spent catching up with people from our local wine community made for a very good Saturday indeed.

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The lineup at Hiatus Craft House

A little paella cooking beneath the oaks

Jamie with Kathy Jospeh of Fiddlehead Cellars

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hat a beautiful way to spend a fall Saturday in Santa Barbara. On November 7, we headed to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for its inaugural Fall Tasting Festival, where the Museum’s oak shaded grounds became an open-air tasting room for an afternoon of Santa Barbara County wine, local food, craft beer, spirits, and plenty of familiar faces. The setting was half the pleasure. The Museum is already one of my favorite places in town, tucked beneath mature oaks with Mission Creek running nearby and pathways winding through its natural grounds. Add autumn sunshine, tasting tables beneath the trees and the gentle hum of people lingering over glasses of wine, and the afternoon felt wonderfully relaxed.

The Fall Tasting Festival wines ranged widely in style, from refreshing whites and rosé to pinot noir, Rhône varieties and cabernet, giving guests a good sense of just how diverse our local wine region has become. Food was woven throughout the afternoon rather than treated as an afterthought. Amador Paella was cooking outdoors, with those enormous pans sending the aromas of saffron and savory rice through the grounds. Bistro Amasa, Convivo, The Knock at Hotel Californian, The House of Beau, Luna Olivo, Marisella, and Solera & Co. were among the local food participants, making it very easy to graze between tastings. There was plenty to explore beyond wine, too. Hermanas Amigas Tequila, Hiatus Craft House, Pour Six, and Ventura Spirits brought the local spirits side into the mix, while Draughtsmen Aleworks, Island Brewing, Seaward Brewing, Third Window, and High Seas Mead represented beer and mead. Beacon Coffee was a particularly welcome stop as the afternoon went on. What I appreciated most was that the event never felt like a race to taste everything. The museum grounds encouraged the opposite. People stopped beneath the trees, talked with producers, shared plates of food and stayed a little longer at the tables where a conversation became interesting. That pace suited the setting beautifully. The festival also had a larger purpose, with proceeds supporting the museum’s science and nature education programs for children. It is a lovely reminder that an afternoon devoted to local wine and food can also support one of Santa Barbara’s most treasured institutions. The museum has long been a wonderful setting for community gatherings and wine events throughout the year,

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• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

Ernie’s World

Robert’s Big Questions

As the Crow Flies by Ernie Witham

’m convinced that the person who invented Apple Maps has never even been to Northern Italy. “Turn right,” Siri said in a confident tone. I did, catching a glimpse of the large red circle with the white dash in the middle. Suddenly, I was the only car on the narrow road. There were now pedestrians ambling in front of me, behind me, and beside me. “Ahhhh!” “Turn left,” Siri said. I did, grateful that she had noted her mistake. Now we were so close to an outdoor café, I could have grabbed an espresso. On my right was a gelato shop with many flavors and many customers inches from my front bumper. “Ahhhh!” I repeated. “Be careful,” Pat said. “I’m doing two miles per hour!” “I’ll reinput the hotel name,” she said, tapping frantically. “Turn right,” Siri said, not a hint of concern in her sweet, AI-generated voice. I did. Now we were in the middle of a pedestrian marketplace with dozens of vendors selling fruit, vegetables and flowers, some of which brushed against my head. “Scusi. Sorry-a-mente.” That’s when a lady appeared at my window, apparently to offer advice. She yelled and threw her arms up in the air, unleashing Italian at such velocity that even if I did speak the language I wouldn’t have understood. “English?” Pat asked, holding up her iPhone and pointing at it: “We appear to have taken a wrong turn.” The woman turned away, her arms going up and down really fast, as if she were trying to take flight. “Turn left,” Siri said. I shot her 27 times. “Put your finger down,” Pat said. “People are starting to stare. I have an idea.” Pat climbed out of the passenger seat and disappeared. “Wait, what?” I pulled over 11 inches, so people could only stream past on my side. I wished I had a large hat. Or an invisibility cloak. We were in Bolzano, Italy, gateway to the Dolomites. We had a hotel for the night, only we couldn’t find it, so we consulted GPS. Apparently, Apple Maps thought we would want to take a shortcut, rather than say, go around the closed zone. “Continue to the route,” Siri said. I raised my 44-caliber finger again. Pat returned. Said she knew where we were going now. “Turn around,” she said.

30 Montecito JOURNAL

Post Election: What Now?

“Are you kidding me?” “I’ll guide you. “Back a foot to the right. Stop. Forward a foot to the left. Stop. Back. Stop. Forward. Stop. Back. Stop. Forward. Good.” In less than 10 minutes I had turned us around in a space you couldn’t even fit an American car into. As if this were not that abnormal, people kept streaming by. One of them pulled an eggplant off the side mirror. “Grazie,” he said. Pat (not Siri) said to take a right. I did. One more short pedestrian-only street and then actual traffic. Never been so happy to get honked at as I quickly cut in. Our hotel came with free parking. Yay! But not at the hotel. Boo! “Here is a map,” the hotel clerk told us. Then she drew a lot of lines. “It’s a little tricky to find. You could put it into your GPS.” “No!” we said in unison. “Okay.” She showed us a photo of buildings. “Right after this large gold one and before this large gray one that looks like they are touching but they are not, there is a gate. Turn in there. Use this key. Once you are through the gate you need to use the key again to open the garage. We share the space with other hotels. Look for numbers 17, 18, 24, 26, 28 or 32. Good luck.” “There’s the gate,” Pat yelled. I turned. Another Italian honk and waving arms. We got through the gate, into the garage, and started looking for our spaces. They were all full. I kept going down, wondering if I would eventually need a miner’s helmet. Finally, I found an open space with our hotel name on it. It was approximately six inches wider than the car. “I’ll guide you,” Pat said again. “Back a foot to the right. Stop. Forward a foot to the left. Stop. Back. Stop. Forward. Stop. Back. Stop. Forward. Good.” We walked back to the hotel, checked in, and collapsed.

Ernie Witham has been writing humor for more than 25 years. He is the author of three humor books and is the humor workshop leader at the prestigious Santa Barbara Writers Conference.

by Robert Bernstein

Democrats could pass bills that would help most Americans and just let Trump veto them. This can become useful in the 2028 election. But it won’t directly help anyone now. One such bill: some version of expanding Medicare to cover all Americans. Starting with children and then lowering the eligibility age for seniors over time. People complain about the price of gas or groceries. But no one goes bankrupt from that. Health care costs are a leading cause of bankruptcy. Biden’s energy initiatives would lower energy costs for Americans. But it could take years to see those benefits. American voters are terrible at grasping such longterm investments. But they will see the jobs right away. Housing and transportation are areas where bipartisan agreement could happen. Housing and high-speed rail are both impeded by unnecessary delaying tactics disguised as environmental regulation. There are environmental benefits to building new housing along new high speed transit lines. If the Democratic party could get on board with making this easier, the Republicans would probably support it, too, as a business opportunity. How about ending common annoyances? Biden ended many hidden fees by executive order as he left office. Trump restored them. People hate their internet providers. How about a public utility option for universal internet? Democrats can investigate current corruption and propose laws to prevent future corruption. There is a difference between a “moment” and a “movement.” Too many moments have been squandered before with fringe divisive issues, and we can’t do that again. We need to build a movement that helps all Americans. Investing in: True universal healthcare. Affordable housing along efficient high speed transit lines. Powering everything with sustainable energy. We can’t do it all now. But we can lay out that vision and get a lot of it started.

es, I was happy with the election. But for all the horrors that Trump has visited on our country, only 7% of 2024 Trump voters switched to voting Democratic in this election. Almost all came from under-30 voters and Latino voters. An interview in The Guardian was typical. Benny Melendez, the owner of a small house building company in south Texas, voted for Trump… to secure the Mexican border and improve the economy. But two of his cousins and about 15 of his building workers were picked up and deported to Mexico by ICE. It was personal for Melendez. The challenge is for the Democrats to do some positive things. Democrats can’t do any new initiatives without support from Republicans in Congress. The Democrats don’t have enough votes to override the veto that Trump is vowing for any new Democratic initiatives. Biden made three major initiatives for investing in America’s future: The Green New Deal (called the Inflation Recovery Act) for jobs in sustainable energy and transportation. The Infrastructure bill. And the CHIPs act to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S. Trump did not have the votes to reverse these major successes. All he could do is throw molasses in the works to slow them down. The Democrats now have a chance to remove those obstructions and get tens of billions of dollars flowing again for good jobs. The case of USAID is more challenging. Congress never voted to abolish it. Trump lawlessly fired people and blocked money that was already allocated. But huge numbers of people are gone. USAID was never perfect. But millions of lives worldwide depend on it. For the “America First” crowd who only have selfish interests: They discovered that USAID was largely a welfare program for American agribusiness. That money never left the U.S. USAID bought vast amounts of farm products and shipped them to hungry people abroad. Agribusiness suffered under Trump’s lawless destruction of USAID. It is possible for Democrats to start to undo that damage. ICE is a big challenge. Trump stepped up funding for ICE by a factor of almost ten. Through the Big Ugly Bill. That money is allocated through 2029. Democrats can create more transparency around the crimes committed by ICE, but they are limited in their ability to launch any new initiatives to change policies. Unless they get some Republicans to sign on.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus

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

12 – 19 November 2026

An Independent Mind

Beings & Doings (Continued from 25 25))

What’s Next for America? by Jeffrey Harding

he election was a referendum on Donald Trump. There has been no modern politician more divisive than Trump. Chaos and disruption have been the themes of the first two years of his Administration. Even though the economy is doing relatively well, voters overwhelmingly reported that they thought the country was heading in the wrong direction. Why? Their pocketbooks were an everyday reminder that food and gas were more expensive, and they did not appreciate Trump making excuses for rising costs caused by his tariffs and his bungled Iran war (“A-for-da-bility”). What did voters see every day on TV and social media besides people complaining at the gas pump? Trump imposing punitive tariffs on friendly Canada, our closest ally and trading partner. Defending ICE for the murder of protesters (“terrorists”) and rough arrests of immigrant workers and grandmothers. Lying about “terrorist sabotage” at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Campaign speeches that were vulgar, unhinged, nonsensical, and unpresidential. Building garish monuments to himself at the nation’s capital. Hawking gold watches, shoes, smartphones, and coins. Seeing his family getting rich in billion-dollar deals that have a lot to do with their proximity to the president of the United States. Trump’s constant lying and petty attacks on anyone who disagreed with him. Voters blamed the guy in charge. Their message was pretty clear, and it resulted in a Democratic sweep and control of Congress. One lesson from the election that really stood out was that gobs of money cannot swing an election. At least that’s what happened in Texas and the South. Elon Musk spent a reported $440,000,000 to swing voters to candidates he preferred. It didn’t work. Voter dissatisfaction was high and they wanted to punish the people and party whom they thought were responsible. Musk failed to read the room. Another guy who failed to read the room was Donald Trump. He relied on the same playbook he has always used, which was exactly what voters rejected. His massive ego hid the reality of what we masses were thinking. He can’t help himself. His personality is what used to be known as megalomania (delusions of grandeur, craving for power and 12 – 19 November 2026

dominance, inability to accept fault, belief in one’s superiority, lack of empathy). To sum it up in a phrase, “It’s all about me.” When the Republicans won the presidency in the 2024 election, they had control of Congress and the Presidency. It was hailed as a mandate for MAGA policies. Political victors always say they have a mandate. It wasn’t a mandate: the Democrats ran a very weak candidate. Any middle-of-the-road Republican candidate with an ounce of charisma could have won. The “mandate” set President Trump and his administration off on a Trumpian policy binge. Trump closed the southern border. He set ICE against illegal immigrants. He imposed tariffs on just about every country on the planet. He started a war with Iran. He took a stab at reducing the federal bureaucracy with his failed “Department of Government Efficiency.” (I’ll give him a pat on the back for trying.) He got his One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed. He went after “woke” agendas. It was very ambitious. What has that gotten us? More taxes (tariffs), war, and inflation. Now that the Democrats control Congress it’s going to be interesting to see where they go with this. While my fellow political pundits believe the Democrats will propose more center-left policies, it is more likely they will seize this opportunity to present their Progressive programs to America as a set up for a call for epochal political change in 2028. The Democrats see the victories of soon-to-be-senator El-Sayed, a policy socialist, and other Progressive/socialist types, as an opening to pursue legislation such as Medicare for all, additional or expanded welfare programs, greater controls over the economy and financial infrastructure, higher taxes on the rich, and other leftist policies that shift power from the people to the government. President Trump will likely veto most of them. In the 2028 presidential elections they will say we need to move forward and throw out these obstructionists to progress. They will campaign for a European-style welfare state. They will be difficult to stop. This does not bode well for the America that embraces innovation, capital investment, hard work, free markets, free trade, and modest taxes, and which has produced the most prosperous country on the planet. The rest have declining economies, lower standards of living, and a future of bankruptcies. That is the European way. We need to understand what truly made America great and fight for it.

Union soldiery to Franklin, the Ohio 26th forming part of the rear guard, so that when the Confederates caught up with the Union army, Gist’s regiment was nearest the advancing enemy and was all but isolated. “We hastily built little fires and began to make coffee, but we had to fall in and change our position nearer town as I recall,” he later wrote. “Soon the Confederate army appeared in battle array on the hill in front of us, and it would have been a grand sight had it not indicated a bloody conflict.” Historians have wondered aloud: Did Hood’s apoplectic fit over the Union army’s nighttime escape compel him to cruelly send his men across two miles of open field with meager artillery cover? “We stood or kneeled with loaded guns in hand,” Gist wrote. A great rebel yell was heard and the Confederates charged. Parts of the Union line began to collapse. Gist’s regiment squeezed off a few shots and sprinted for the main Union works behind them. The Confederates followed in a frenzy and ran pell-mell through the Union works, where savage hand-to-hand combat commenced, in Gist’s memory a nightmarish blur of blood and fisticuffs. Guns were fired at close range and swung like clubs. “The guns of the combatants almost flashed into one another’s faces. A ball pierced a man and he fell a few feet to my left,” Gist later wrote. By the end of the horrific melee, the Union line held, their casualties about 2,326 total. Confederate Casualties were at about 6,200 to 6,252 total – but included six irreplaceable Confederate generals killed or mortally wounded. General Hood’s bravado would see his army all but done in at the later Battle of Nashville, where they would

• Voice of theVillage •

be effectively neutralized as a fighting force. “It was about noon when I reached our line drawn up south of Nashville,” Gist would later write. “I threw myself upon the ground without a blanket and slept till the next day.” My great-grandfather, William Wesley Gist, would go on to his adult life, becoming a pastor and, later still, a beloved professor of English. In 1920, W.W. Gist – as one of the few living members of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R. – an organization of retired Union soldiers of the Civil War) would read out the invocation at the Arlington National Cemetery’s opening of the Memorial Amphitheater that now abuts the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier there. In 1890, at about 40 years old, Gist would record these words read out by a Lt. Luther Timberlake at a reunion of the 26th. “Rather than see your flag trailed in the dust, and your constitution, the Magna Carta of your civil and religious liberties, abolished; rather than have the struggling desire for constitutional liberty among the restless and dissatisfied governments of the old world perish forever in the downfall of this, the most hopeful experiment of popular government the world ever witnessed – you, many of you were then beardless boys and only acquainted with the pursuits of civil life, rushed to arms and fought with a will that astonished the nations of Europe.” “Freedom” and “liberty” and “prosperity” get a lot of play these days, the talking heads volleying back and forth with blah blah blah. It’s not clear the heart of this place is really understood and embraced as it once was. Veterans Day Abides.

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Montecito JOURNAL

Westmont (Continued from 16 16))

her keen curiosity about human behavior. She plans to study psychology, with potential minors in English or music, as a step toward a career in social work, criminal psychology or law. Above all, her music remains tied to her faith. “My singing is an emotional expression of faith in the Lord, which is the reason I do what I do,” she says.

masterpieces, traditional carols and congregational hymns. Alumnus Daniel Gee (‘13) conducts the Westmont College Choir and Chamber Singers.

First-Year Musicians Arrive Ready to Play a Key Part

A new era of musical talent has arrived at Westmont as two decorated first-year students bring national ensemble experience, award-winning artistry and a deep passion for community. Violinist Nathan Schafer (‘30) joins the college with two top honors already under his belt: the prestigious Music Guild Scholarship, and selection as an Augustinian Scholar. Schafer began his violin studies at an early age and quickly fell in love with the stage. He spent four years with the Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra, gained concertmaster experience at elite camps like the Idyllwild Arts Instrumental Artist’s Intensive and the Brevard Summer Music Festival, and honed his ensemble skills through the

Men’s Soccer Captures PacWest Championship Westmont men’s soccer team won the Pacific West Conference Tournament Championship with a 3–2 victory over top-seeded Hawaii Pacific on Nov. 7 in San Rafael. Following a physical, scoreless first half, the Warriors exploded for three goals in a 15-minute second-half stretch. Cash Anderholt broke the deadlock in the 60th minute off a set-piece service from Tiago Aranibar and Julius Oehmichen. Weston Ash doubled the lead in the 68th minute off a pass from Micah Maljian. Hawaii Pacific answered in the 70th minute, but Westmont restored its twogoal cushion in the 75th minute when Luis Cortes buried a shot off Aranibar’s second assist. HPU cut the deficit to 3–2 in the 83rd minute, but the Warrior backline closed out the final minutes to lock down the title. “You don’t play finals, you win them,” said Head Coach Morgan Cathey. Barrett “Bear” Goodman logged 90 minutes along the backline and received the PacWest Defender of the Tournament award. With the victory, Westmont earns the PacWest’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament with first-round action beginning Friday, Nov. 13.

Monet Pelluer (‘30) Nathan Schafer (‘30)

Ed and Mary Edelman Chamber Music Institute Honors Program at Los Angeles’s Colburn Community School of Music. For Schafer, who plans to double major in violin performance and mathematics, music is deeply relational. “Learning and performing with musicians provides great

Christmas Festival returns to the Granada Theatre

MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING ON ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 101

bonding experiences, and I’ve met most of my best friends through chamber music,” he says. Homeschooled throughout high school, he looks forward to the full collegiate experience. “I’m excited to live in a community centered on academics and surrounded by people pushing me to think critically and theologically. I look forward to connecting with my professors and peers.” Vocalist Monet Pelluer (‘30), a Music Guild Scholarship finalist from the Seattle area, sings with the Westmont College Choir and will join the cast of the college’s opera production in January. Back home, she lent her voice to community events and historic gatherings, including featured performances for the patriotic 9/11 Remembrance Event at the historic Hartley Mansion in Everett, Washington. As a high school senior, Pelluer brought down the house as Regina in “Mean Girls,” her first foray into musical theater. At Westmont, her creative passions match

Tuesday, November 17, 2026 9:30 A.M.* NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Montecito Water District (District) to be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 9:30 A.M., the Board will consider the adoption of Ordinance 101, an ordinance updating Water Use Efficiency Policies and Recommendations. The proposed updates implement California Assembly Bill 1572, which establishes a phased prohibition on using potable water to irrigate non-functional turf on certain public, commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential association properties. *The meeting will be conducted in person at the District office located at 583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Members of the public can also participate remotely. Remote participation information will be available on the meeting agenda posted at the District office, on the website www.montecitowater.com, and by calling 805-9692271. Published November 12, 2026 Montecito Journal

32 Montecito JOURNAL

Men’s soccer wins PacWest Tournament Championship (photo by Hope Hensley) FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAGE IV, 1125 COAST VILLAGE ROAD, MONTECITO, CALIFO 93108. SAGE IV LLC, 1125 COAST VILLAGE ROAD, MONTECITO, CALIFO 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 23, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it.” – George Eliot

correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0002622. Published Oct. 29, & Nov. 5, 12, 19, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MISSION AGENCY PROCESSING & DRAFTING, LLC, 729 W MICHELTOERNA ST, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. MISSION AGENCY PROCESSING & DRAFT-

ING, LLC, 729 W MICHELTORENA ST, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 24, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0002379. Published Oct. 29, & Nov. 5, 12, 19, 2026

12 – 19 November 2026

News Bytes (Continued from 33 33))

Rotary Club SB Sunrise Online Fundraiser

Unity Shoppe Sets $1 Million Goal

Karen Kawaguchi of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise invites community to participate in an online silent auction of 70 items to raise funds for the organization’s work here and globally. Bidding opens Monday, Nov. 9 at 8 am and closes Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 8 pm. The community is encouraged to bid generously at: https://paybee.io/@sbrotary@7

With grocery prices climbing and food insecurity affecting thousands of local families, Unity Shoppe has launched its “Give Food. Give Hope. Give $1 Million.” campaign, aiming to raise $1 million by year’s end. The nonprofit currently serves more than 61,000 Santa Barbara County residents, distributing over one million pounds of food annually alongside clothing, toys, and other necessities. Fundraising highlights include the Voices for Unity benefit concert at the Granada Theatre on November 24, featuring Kenny Loggins, Brad Paisley, and Michael McDonald, followed by Unity Shoppe’s 40th annual telethon on December 11. Community members can contribute through donations, food drives, sponsorships, and matching gifts, helping ensure local families have food on their tables this holiday season. 411: unityshoppe.org/sponsor

Girl Scouts Get Down to Business Santa Barbara’s Girl Scout Troop 55524 is putting its entrepreneurial skills to work with Seasonal Sales, a community holiday art market coming to Dos Pueblos High School on Sunday, December 6, from 10 am to 4 pm. Organized entirely by the Girl Scouts, the market will feature local artists, makers, and young entrepreneurs selling their creations while giving troop members handson experience in budgeting, marketing, customer service, and event management. The troop is currently seeking youth and adult vendors, with booth fees of $25 for youth and $55 for adults. Applications are due November 27. Admission is free, offering shoppers an opportunity to find unique holiday gifts while supporting local creativity and the next generation of business leaders.

SB Museum of Natural History Events - Nov 14, Star Party with Telescopes, 7:30-10 pm at the Palmer Observatory, free, bring a telescope, warm clothes and star map smart phone apps. - Nov 18-20: Book sale at the museum library 411: www.sbnature.org

El Encanto’s Culinary Series This upcoming Saturday, November 14, at 6:30 pm, the El Encanto Hotel’s Culinary Series features 30-year Los Angeles Chef and Restaurateur Josiah Citrin. Chef Citrin is affiliated with the two-Michelin-star Mélisse Restaurant, the one-Michelin-star Citrin Restaurant, and several of L.A.’s most celebrated restaurants. He is partnering with El Encanto Executive Chef Joel Viehland on a collaborative menu served in the resort’s hillside Dining Room and Terrace overlooking the Pacific. 411: www.elencanto.com/stay

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M SHERIFF’S BLOTTER Rattlesnake Bite / Foothill Road and Cravens Lane Sunday, October 25, 14:29 hours Montecito Fire responded to a reported rattlesnake bite near the creek above Cravens Lane. Fire and medics were unable to locate the patient. Deputies familiar with the area from previous calls for service located the victim and shuttled fire personnel in a patrol vehicle to provide treatment and transport. Patient transferred to AMR (ambulance) and transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Restraining Order Violation / 300 block Foothill Road Sunday, October 25, 18:59 hours Deputies responded to the apartments following report of a restraining order violation having arisen from an ongoing dispute between neighbors. The order stipulates no harassment or contact, direct or indirect. At 09:30 hours, the restrained party – who had been served the Temporary Protection Order (TPO) on 10/22 – stopped and talked directly to the couple’s Ring camera in direct violation of the TPO. Several other instances were captured on the Reporting Party (RP) Ring camera as restrained party made comments and remarks directed toward the couple as she passed by their apartment. The restrained party was arrested and booked at SBJ without incident. Harassment / 200 block Calle Culebra Monday, October 26, 21:13 hours Suspect has been going to the victim’s house when told multiple times to stay away. The suspect has been dropping letters off at her home and has been sending messages to the victim and her family members through social media. The suspect also followed the victim to a coffee shop and entered the business to have a conversation with the victim. The victim would avoid any type of conversation with the suspect by leaving. The suspect is known to have a mental disability and is not taking prescribed medication. This has been an ongoing issue for approximately 11 months, since the victim broke up with the suspect. No criminal threats at this time but victim is worried that it would eventually come to that or worse.

12 – 19 November 2026

Juvenile Disruption/CPS / 500 block Santa Rosa Lane Tuesday, October 27, 19:52 hours Juvenile was dragged out of the YMCA gym by his father when gym staff reported that his son was knocking and kicking the trash can near the gym’s lobby area. The father told his son to come outside with him and the juvenile refused. The father attempted to grab his son by the arm, but the juvenile sat down on the floor. The father then pulled the juvenile outside the gym by grabbing the child’s hoodie and dragging him out the door entrance, causing the sweatshirt to pull up against the child’s throat. Gym members and staff were very disturbed by the actions and decided to call law enforcement to report child abuse. After talking to all witnesses, including the parents, the officer didn’t believe that the father had any intent in harming his child, but based on the method used to move the child, the officer decided to contact Child Welfare Services and notified them of the incident. There were no obvious signs of injuries to the child’s neck. The child was allowed to go home with his parents. Citation / Danielson Road and Virginia Lane Wednesday, October 28, 21:14 hours Contacted subject sitting in her vehicle near the location. Records check showed the vehicle’s registration was expired since December 2024, but it was displaying a 2026 tab. Subject cited. Warrant / 1300 block Danielson Lane Friday, October 30, 11:54 hours Subject was arrested at his home pursuant to an outstanding warrant. Theft / 1700 block South Jameson Road Saturday, October 31, 05:22 hours RP was working at the Miramar and left her purse just outside the room where she was working. A male took her purse and left the property in the direction of the nearby railroad track. The RP was leaving work to go home and due to a language barrier, the officer was only able to get her name and phone number before she left. Later in the morning, the officer was able to watch security video and positively identified the suspect. He is clearly seen in the video taking the brown colored purse and leaving the premises. Deputies searched the tracks and transient camps between the Miramar and Lookout Park but did not locate the suspect. Follow up to be done by patrol.

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

In Business (Continued from 12 12)) For the photo of the diamond clips, we asked Robin Leiva to model for us. For the women, Erik showcased the classic Laykin triple layer diamond bracelet on 14K gold. He detailed, “The classic Laykin diamond bangle bracelet is one of my favorite pieces for women because of its timeless elegance and versatility. It is a classic example of mid-century modern American jewelry design, as clean and elegant in its presentation today as it was more than 60 years ago. It can be worn casually during the day or with formal evening attire. We offer the bracelet in single, double, and triple-row versions. The diamonds are mounted using a specialized hexagonal technique that is exceptionally difficult to execute. The design was originally created for Doris Day in the film Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson, in which she wore two of the double-row versions. The bracelets have flat sides, allowing them to stack beautifully. Women have worn these bangles for decades, and some never take them off.” To model the bracelet for the photo we asked guest Rebecca Liu from Los Angeles. Erik was generous with his time for a few more questions: Q. What would you like our readers to know about Laykin et Cie and the new location in Montecito? A. I would like for our customers to know that Laykin represents elegance based on quality and the lineage we carry forward from the past. We feel very connected to the Montecito community, always have. It is my hope to bring beauty, happiness, and joy in the art form in which we express ourselves, that is jewelry and perfumes. Today, the day we held our opening, was also Montecito’s Beautification Day, and I thought to myself, what a perfect day for us to open our store and be part of that beautification.

Tell us about the collection you will showcase here in Montecito. The exciting thing about my collection is that it evolves over the years, by both my inspiration and my client’s requests. It’s about building pieces that are unique and new, along with our historic pieces that have provenance. We have such a rich heritage. As a result, our focus is to stay on point with the brand, which may change over the years while maintaining the classic undertone. Would you consider loaning [or renting] pieces for galas, film studios, red carpet…? I don’t think that renting a piece of jewelry is the right approach. Jewels speak something very special to the soul if you really appreciate what the gem is to you. It reflects your aesthetic, or an emotional event in your life. The ownership and integration of that gem into your life represents who you are, it is a foundational element of what jewels are all about. I am happy to loan out a piece of jewelry for a charity event, a fashion show, red carpet, studio, TV show; that kind of thing. I would love to share the team’s names at the new Montecito store…. Laykin et Cie’s General Manager, Mary Wagner, oversees both the Montecito and San Marino salons. The Montecito team includes Nalia Lewis, Kate Morphy, and Elsha Narachi, all local women who bring a personal understanding of the Montecito community. Nalia previously worked with Laykin et Cie at the Rosewood Miramar Beach resort, providing continuity between the company’s former location and its new permanent home. And I can assure our customers here that I will be making frequent visits from Los Angeles to the Montecito salon. 411: www.laykin.com

Curator’s Choice Color-changing Birds

his jaunty pair of godwits may look like a flirtatious mating pair, but they’re actually distinguished by season, not sex. The bird on the left is wearing winter plumage and the individual on the right sports the colors of summer. The artist Prideaux John Selby (1788–1967) was an innovator in the art and science of recording how plumage changes through the seasons, with the age of birds, and as an indicator of their breeding status. The dancing rhythm of the composition’s repeated and mirrored forms makes this hand-colored etching as pleasing to look at as it is instructive. This work from the historical print collection at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is part of the exhibition Selby’s Circles: Art & Nature in Romantic Britain in the John and Peggy Maximus Gallery. The exhibit runs October 9, 2026, to January 4, 2027, and is included with museum admission.

Erik Laykin showcasing the diamond wing clips on model Robin Leiva (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Prideaux John Selby, Black Tailed Godwit, hand-colored etching from Illustrations of British Ornithology (1821–1834) At the Laykin et Cie upper village opening, Cici Williamson, Erik Laykin, and Penny Bianchi (photo by Russell Laykin)

34 Montecito JOURNAL

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” – William Blake

12 – 19 November 2026

Moments (Continued from 8) 48 Sedan, fresh from winning its class at Pebble Beach. Lending further pedigree were national advisors Richard Doucette, founder of the Boston Cup Classic Car Show, and Lilly Pray, chief judge of the Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance. The Petersen Automotive Museum and private collectors also contributed exceptional vehicles. “It was a terrific celebration of automotive history, design, and craftsmanship, set against a beautiful Santa Barbara backdrop,” said Leis. “What began as a vision became a reality through the generosity, enthusiasm, and unwavering support of our incredible community, sponsors, entrants, and volunteers,” said Rosso. The weekend benefited Santa Barbara City College’s automotive program, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, and Family Service Agency. Beautifully designed, exquisitely maintained, and dressed to impress, these million-dollar motors were elegance in motion – even standing still. See more of the cars and stars on page 36!

Zoo Be Dazzled At the Santa Barbara Zoo, the animals were positively glowing. Invited guests stepped through an archway of brilliant flowers and illuminated creatures for the shining preview of IllumaNature: California Coastin’, a magical after-dark journey across the Golden State. Zoo President and CEO Charles

Lighting up the Night are Jan and Rock Rockenbach (courtesy photo)

golden poppies and neon-colored flamingos provided plenty of dazzling photo opportunities for families. IllumaNature opens November 11 and continues on select evenings through January 10. At this zoo, the stars aren’t just overhead. They sparkle at every turn.

Groovy Granada

Hoppily Glowing, a California Red-Leg Frog, sponsored by Leslie Thomas (courtesy photo)

Hopper explained that the dazzling journey celebrates “everything from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, everything that makes California a beautiful landscape and rich tapestry.” More than decorative whimsy, the experience connects to “our important conservation work,” he said. Indeed, the light exhibits are designed around the zoo’s “Big Six” conservation species: the California condor, Channel Islands fox, southern sea otter, California red-legged frog, monarch butterfly, and western snowy plover. Glowing tributes to these animals appear throughout the California-themed displays, linking the redwoods, desert, and coastline with the wildlife the zoo works to protect. “The whole theme is a road trip through California,” said Guest Experience Manager Tanner Linden. Hopper was especially enthusiastic about “new projection interactives,” explaining that visitors can engage with colorful images on walls and floors. Then there’s the new IllumaNature Express, “kind of like the Polar Express,” he said, but “completely lit up” for a magical nighttime train ride. Forget snowdrifts; this express has palm trees! Among those enjoying the sparkling spectacle were Dana Hansen, Jan and Rock Rockenbach, and Jill Nida and Gary Simpson. Jan and Rock posed beside an enormous glowing Hollywood movie camera, while rainbow butterflies,

IllumaNature spotlights the conservation of wildlife (courtesy photo)

12 – 19 November 2026

Peace, love, and a little psychedelic pandemonium. The Granada Theatre took a trip back to the swinging ‘60s and ‘70s when the Doublewide Kings joined the Santa Barbara Symphony for Psychedelic Symphony 2: Take Another Trip, a wild musical adventure that proved classical music can have a decidedly groovy side. “The Symphony loves collaborating with our talented performing artists – including rock bands!” wrote Nir Kabaretti, the Symphony’s charismatic music and artistic director, whose orchestra gave the evening’s psychedelic sounds an extra dose of orchestral opulence. Presented by the Granada and Earl Minnis, the Saturday night concert brought together rock ‘n’ roll and symphonic sophistication, with a musical journey described in the program as grand, odd, lusty, and uplifting. No hallucinogens required. Executive Producer Palmer Jackson, Jr. doubled on guitar and vocals, joined by fellow Kings Charlie Crisafulli, John Simpson, Dan Zimmerman, and Robert D. TenEyck. Musical guests included keyboardist George Friedenthal, vocalists Miriam Dance and Terrill Carter, and special guest guitarist Cord Pereira, a founding member of the band. Orchestral arrangements by Brett Strader and Carl Rydlund gave the musical time machine some serious horsepower. The Kings, celebrating four years of collaboration with the Symphony, offered a cheeky reassurance in their program: Unlike the mind-expanding adventures of yesteryear, Granada patrons could enjoy the entire trip from the safety of their comfortable theater seats. And the Kings’ parting wish to the audience? “Have a nice trip.” Far out indeed.

Sightings Cameron Diaz is back in action – and having a very Bad Day! Just dropped – the new trailer for her Netflix comedy shows the Montecito actress as a frazzled mother whose attempt to reach her daughter’s soccer game spirals into hilarious chaos. Joining the mayhem are Ed O’Neill (Modern Family), Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black), Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog), and Mark Duplass (The Morning Show). The film premieres December 11. Orlando Bloom brought a touch of Montecito glamour to L.A. on Saturday,

• Voice of theVillage •

Taking a trip with vocalists Miriam Dance, Lois Mahalia, and Terrill Carter (photo by Baron Spafford)

The music didn’t stop at the Granada as guests joined the performers for the after party (photo by Baron Spafford)

Good vibes with Presenting Sponsor Earl Minnis and Palmer Jackson, Jr. (photo by Baron Spafford)

at the star-studded LACMA Art+Film Gala, co-chaired by Leonardo DiCaprio and Eva Chow. The actor mingled with artist Alex Israel as Hollywood’s finest gathered to honor filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and artist Vija Celmins. The glittering Gucci-sponsored evening with dramatic eye-popping gowns raised nearly $7 million for the museum. Kevin Costner is making scents! The Montecito-based Yellowstone star has teamed with Milan fragrance house 19-69 on three new perfumes: After Hours, Pacific Coast Highway, and Heritage. The collab began after Costner fell for the brand’s Rainbow Bar body wash at a German hotel. Prices range from $80 to a heady $800. Eau de Costner, anyone? Montecito JOURNAL

photos by Priscilla, Ivonne Schley, & Roy Kuehn

36 Montecito JOURNAL

THE SANTA BARBARA

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

12 – 19 November 2026

INVITATIONAL CONCOURS

12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

Entertainment (Continued from 13 13)) work, “No Matter How It Ends.” That centerpiece premiered in May at DOVA’s 40th anniversary season at the Joyce Theater in New York. Set to Radiohead’s In Rainbows album, the 45-minute work has been described as interpreting the record’s restless beauty and quiet melancholy through movement that feels visceral and profoundly alive. The spark was something perhaps surprising and, as of earlier this month, now a bit dated. “We started this piece right after Trump 2.0 took over,” Varone said. “There was a lot of anger and confusion amidst our daily lives, and that ended up in this piece. I was drawn to the arc of the album as a guidepost for my state of mind and emotions. It has served a really great purpose to wash the evils away.” That state of agitation has been somewhat mitigated by the elections earlier this month, but that doesn’t lessen the impact of the work. “It’s about isolation, the all the things we feel as humans, regardless of what drove it originally,” Varone said. “[Trump] was the seed, but hopefully it’s a piece that allows people to see other things in the way the choreography was meant to create parallel universes to the lyrics, what Radiohead is singing. I was inspired by my feelings, not the words.” Feelings of all sorts have been arising for Varone recently, as he turned 70 the day before our interview, and thoughts have only been magnified by returns to Santa Barbara, he said. “I look back on the kinds of dances I made when I first started, how the trajectory of dances changed in terms of the vocabulary that I’ve built, and the structural complexities of how I move bodies in space,” he said. “I have become a better visual artist over the course of time. And every time I step into a studio, I understand implicitly what I’m capable of, which as a young artist, I didn’t really grasp. You’re always searching and challenging yourself to understand. Those challenges remain, but now I always know that I am going to find my footing and my way through the work by learning something different and new. I have the confidence knowing that it’s within me.”

Dance Dimensions: American Dance & Music Turns 20 American Dance and Music is celebrating two decades of building community through dance with – what else? – a dance-filled fundraiser for its nonprofit dance studio, The Dance Hub. The studio is also the site for the event on Sunday evening, November 15, that will honor David Bazemore, the longtime local arts photographer (UCSB A&L, Lobero and much more), and the photography and videography that he created for AD&M and its performing group Ballet Santa Barbara for over a decade. Bazemore has put together a retrospective video of AD&M’s 20 years that will premiere at the event which also features live ballet, a solo jazz dance by Carin Tahouri created for the benefit, a new solo work called Day Trip and choreographed by AD&M Founder Carrie Diamond for Evelyn Mills... and pintxos (Basque-style tapas) courtesy of the adjacent Dom’s Taverna, wine, and other festivities.

Visit https://adam-tdh.org

Art Abounds: SBMA Soirée With its Nights and Atelier events long out of sight in the rear-view mirror, Santa Barbara Museum of Art is trying something new this weekend to combine openings with something of a party. The Fall Opening Party, slated for 6-8 pm on November 13, celebrates the opening of three fall exhibitions including Cassatt & Friends; Stage Craft: Pictorialist Photography and Performance; Elegies of Abstraction; and Portraits Revealed. These exhibits will be sans special docent-led talks, but with music from DJ Ananas and DJ PTRK LMR, art making in the Print Parlor, costumed snaps from a photo booth (in case you’re already missing Halloween), and the sampling of artist-designed cocktails inspired by old Hollywood film and photography. Light bites will also be available for the 21 & over event.

Visit www.sbma.net/events/fall-2026opening-party

Gary Chafe Haunts Roy Friday the 13th has long been considered an unlucky day in Western superstition, but for Maya de Silva Chafe

38 Montecito JOURNAL

Mexican Wrestler, 2004, by Gary Chafe, exhibiting at Roy (courtesy photo)

and her father, the late artist Gary Chafe, November 13 represents a red-letter day. That’s the date his solo exhibit opens at Restaurant Roy, in one of the final art exhibits at the Santa Barbara institution before it shutters at the end of the year. Gary Chafe, who died on his 80th birthday in 2017 after spending more than 60 years in town, started cartooning and using his graphic skills to illustrate school posters in high school, then went on to study art at SBCC before launching a career that veered into a wide variety of media. He painted sets for the Alhecama Theatre, taught printmaking at Adult Education, designed art for Frisbees (winning the 1979 Wham-O Disc Design of the Year), and created murals and greeting cards and satirical artwork addressing societal abuses and injustices. He also started the Yes Store artists’ cooperative, collaborated with dancers on multimedia projects, marched against Big Oil and the Vietnam War, helped to open Our Daily Bread and kept continuing to create art ranging from etchings, oil paintings, stone and bronze sculpture, to wooden toys, wax-cast jewelry, and most prolifically, monotype prints. It’s the latter expression that forms the new exhibit curated by his daughter Maya de Silva Chafe, who is also working to preserve his legacy through her forthcoming book Chafe, The Monotypes. Maya, a part-time Montecito resident, will be on hand to talk about the art, the man, and his methodology at the opening reception at 6 pm on Friday, where pre-orders will also be accepted. Visit www.GaryChafe.net

Mesa Studio Artists Tour There are a dozen artists participating in the 22nd Mesa Artist Studio Tour (MAST), the annual autumn weekend when participating members throw open their studios to the public to offer an opportunity to view artworks in the spaces where they were created. It’s a scaled down version of the even more venerable Santa Barbara Studio Artists Tour, which stretches from the upper reaches of Montecito to the outer edges of Goleta every Labor Day weekend. MAST makes things much more compact, even with its expanded inclusion Join Misa Art and other Mesa-based artists at the of the Mesa. This year there are in total upcoming studio tour (courtesy photo) only five different spaces involved, and three of them house overlapping artists. Six artists (for instance) share the Carl Oscar Borg home at 403 Loma Alta Drive, the spectacular space overlooking Santa Barbara’s Westside: Poppy Jewett, Meg Ricks, Myla Kato, Wendy Brewer, Wanda Venturelli, and Ellen Yeomans. Also participating are old standbys Karin Aggeler – the painter whose home studio abuts the ocean side of Elings Park, meaning a walk in one of the area’s most picturesque parks is just steps away – plus photographers Brian Kuhlmann and Chris Owen, Misa Art and Jim Martin, and Helen Day Breeze, whose Portosuello Ave. space isn’t too shabby either. Hours are 11 am to 4 pm on November 13 and 14, and admission is free.

Visit www.sbmesaartists.com

Sold Out Show of the Week: ‘Wonderful’ News … and Not so Much The good news? SBCC Theatre Department’s talented students are the stars of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Joe Landry’s 1996 stage adaptation that transforms Frank Capra’s classic 1946 holiday film into a 1940s live radio broadcast performed inside a studio. The popular format finds the actors standing before vintage microphones reading from scripts while a live Foley artist creates physical sound effects (walking in snow, car doors slamming, hitting the water below a bridge) right in front of the audience, providing a sort of insider’s story-within-a-story vantage. It’s a different angle for the Christmas Miracle tale of kind-hearted but down on his luck and Steven Libowitz has covered despondent George Bailey; he who gets a a plethora of topics for the wracking glimpse of just what life would Journal since 1997, and now be like for everyone had he never been leads our extensive arts and born. The bad news: all of the SBCC perentertainment coverage formances are sold out. The complicated good news? You can fly to New York to see the work’s belated Broadway debut starting November 18.

Visit www.theatregroupsbcc.com

“Give me juicy autumnal fruit, ripe and red from the orchard.” – Walt Whitman

12 – 19 November 2026

the giving list Santa Barbara volume 7

Coming Soon! 12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Calendar of Events

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13

by Steven Libowitz THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Sons of Misfortune – Sara Rademacher, fast becoming the in-demand director of choice in town, helms a revival of All My Sons. Arthur Miller’s first major Broadway hit and winner of the 1947 Tony Award for Best Author, he wrote the work as a final attempt to fashion a commercially successful play. The play unfolds in a backyard over roughly 24 hours and confronts the American Dream, corporate greed, and personal responsibility. All My Sons draws on a true story, but leverages Greek tragedy in addressing how moral sins catch up to the protagonist. Considered a classic on the order of his future Death of a Salesman, All My Sons is a devastating look at the lies we tell ourselves to survive, and the high price of the American Dream. Perhaps in contrast to the central theme of the play, admission to the UCSB Theater student production is free. WHEN: 7:30 Thursday-Saturday, plus 2 pm Saturday & Sunday WHERE: UCSB Performing Arts Theater COST: free INFO: (805) 893-2064 or www.theaterdance.ucsb.edu FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Spring Awakening in Concert – Out of the Box Theatre Company, Samantha Eve’s ambitious theater company still committed to producing alternative, conversation-inspiring contemporary musical theater, is reviving one of its very early presentations in Spring Awakening; a work that could be similarly described as out of the box. Spring Awakening is the musical adaptation of Frank WedeFRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Pip, Pip Hooray – Is it fair to still be associating “Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight primarily with her family music group Gladys Knight & the Pips? The group fueled Knight’s initial rise to fame way back in the 1960s and 1970s, but it’s been 38 years since the Pips performed their farewell tour, right? Well, sure, as long as she’s still belting out “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (the Motown classic song they first covered in 1967 – though Marvin Gaye had the biggest hit with “Grapevine” a year later), and “Midnight Train to Georgia,” among others. Knight has enjoyed continued success on her own, with such smashes as “That’s What Friends Are For.” More importantly, Knight – who boasts multiple Grammys, membership in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the Kennedy Center Honor among her accolades – has announced that after concluding her current tour, the singer, now 82, will be drastically scaling back from touring, which makes tonight’s gig at the Chumash Casino’s Samala Showroom her penultimate concert until who knows when. I’m sure it’s still true that “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)” – one of the great soul heartbreak classics – but apparently, for Knight at least, it’s time. WHEN: 8 pm WHERE: Chumash Casino, 3400 E. Hwy. 246, Santa Ynez COST: $80-$145 INFO: (800) CHUMASH (248-6274) or www.chumashcasino.com

40 Montecito JOURNAL

Camerata Pacs a Powerful Punch – Monday’s email blast from Camerata Pacifica noted that its current series of chamber concerts are “a core Camerata concert – dynamic, virtuosic, full of the unexpected... and Mozart.” Well said. The program boasts the incredibly timely world premiere of the Camarata commissioned “The Innocence of Life” by Iranian American Composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh, which Camerata Founder/Artistic Director Adrian Spence says, “conceals a profound and penetrating depth of expression, combined with a command of form and harmony, and a remarkable sonic imagination.” Even without the overlay of current world affairs, which took something of a left turn 10 days ago or so, the 20-minute work for clarinet, oboe, horn, violin, viola, cello, percussion and piano is well worth hearing, as is the rest of the program, which features wide-ranging additional contemporary chamber works by, Michael Daugherty, Missy Mazzoli (heard at the Music Academy last summer) and the late Sarah Gibson, all anchored by Mozart’s “Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat Major.” WHEN: 7 pm WHERE: Hahn Hall, Music Academy campus, 1070 Fairway Road COST: $85 INFO: (805) 884-8410 or www.cameratapacifica.org

kind’s groundbreaking 19th century play exploring the tortuous sexual flowering of German teenagers. Created by poet/playwright Steven Sater and former altpop singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik (“Barely Breathing”), Awakening stunned Broadway and captured eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, back in 2006. Although Spring Awakening is set for an off-Broadway revival this month, just two months after Sheik’s untimely death at 56, this time around OOB kicks off its 16h season by producing the musical in a rock concert format, focusing on the brilliant Tony-winning score brimming with stories and emotions of sexual awakening, youth revolt, suicidal ideation and self-discovery. Eve co-directs with Lucas Nelson. WHEN: 8 pm Friday, 2 & 8 pm Saturday, 3 pm Sunday WHERE: Center Stage Theater, 751 Paseo Nuevo, second floor COST: $20-$50 (free for teens under 18) INFO: (805) 963-0408 or https://centerstagetheater.org FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 Music, Mayhem and (Maybe) Murder – That’s the tagline for the world premiere of Sunday After Next, a new musical comedy about a young gentleman who must commit a murder before his wedding. The premiere also heralds the star-studded arrival of a new theater company dedicated to the development of new works. New Art City Theatre was co-founded by husband and wife Kirby and Beverly Ward, who also co-wrote the book, music and lyrics for the farcical black comedy that was inspired by Oscar Wilde’s short story “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime: A Study of Duty.” The work boasts a company of actors who have amassed 70 total Broadway credits including star Clarke Thorell, who originated the role of Corny Collins in Hairspray. Kirby Ward directs and choreographs, while Brad Gardner – who most recently served as music director for Brigadoon at the Pasadena Playhouse – returns to that role for this production, whose score is by Larry Hochman, a Tony-winner for The Book of Mormon. Ventura Music Festival Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta is the featured violinist in a seven-piece chamber ensemble playing live on stage. WHEN: November 13-22 WHERE: Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Road, Ojai COST: $25-$65 INFO: (805) 242-8575 or www.newartcitytheatre.org

“The trees are in their autumn beauty, the woodland paths are dry.” – W. B. Yeats

12 – 19 November 2026

symphony, written in 1830 when the composer was just 26. Take that, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix! WHEN: 7:30 pm Saturday, 3 pm Sunday WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street COST: $71-$199 INFO: (805) 899-2222 or www.granadasb.org

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

The Magic of Monteverdi – UCSB Arts & Lectures’ second straight classical concert beholden to Baroque music brings Les Arts Florissants to the Lobero for a special program of sensual madrigals and dazzling vocal interplay. Led by Baroque masters William Christie and Paul Agnew, the historic French ensemble here marries an exquisite artistry and dramatic immediacy to the passionate music of Claudio Monteverdi; works full of sensual madrigals, heartbreak, desire, and dazzling vocal interplay. WHEN: 4 pm WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $75 & $100 INFO: (805) 893-3535/https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu or (805) 963-0761/www.lobero.org

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Piano Parade – The Santa Barbara Music Club kicks off Season 57 of free monthly cocnerts with a program of purely piano music, both the two- and fourhand variety. The ubiquitous Natasha Kislenko (UCSB, Music Academy, Santa Barbara Symphony) will play a set of Bagatelles and the famous “Für Elise” by Beethoven. There will also be selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons before Thousand Oaks-based piano duo Tachell Gerbert and Bradley Gregory (who each earned a Masters of Music from UCSB) collaborate on pieces by three women composers in Jane Savage, Marie Jaëll, and Amy Beach. WHEN: 3 pm WHERE: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 4575 Auhay Dr. COST: free INFO: https://sbmusicclub.org

A Little Rain Must Fall – Ojai singer-songwriter Rain Perry enjoyed some success in the pop music world when her song “Beautiful Tree” was tapped as the theme for the CW Network’s Life Unexpected. But her frustration with the state of the music business led her into filmmaking, acting, theater work and, most recently, creating an autobiographical one-woman show. The musical This Is Water, which premiered at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival to strong reviews, looks to Perry’s own family to tell a true story of American history. Inspired by the pendulum dramatically swinging – from cultural soul-searching to nonwhite history being scrubbed from government websites (hopefully only for a short while, given the election earlier this month) – Perry came up with the piece to address her own part in the narrative arc. She said about the work: “I look at my life and I see what I see.” Among the piece’s supporters is Dr. Yohuru Williams, who raved “Rain Perry has created one of the most courageous pieces of dramatic storytelling I have encountered in my work as a historian, and as founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative. It invites audiences into deep, necessary waters – where memory, accountability, and the possibility of repair converge… and offers exactly what our campuses, nonprofits, and communities need right now: a path to clarity, courage, and connection.” WHEN: 7 pm WHERE: Center Stage Theater, 751 Paseo Nuevo COST: $25 (Arts for All ticket, $12) INFO: https://centerstagetheater.org

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15

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Psychedelic Symphony? – The recent Psychedelic Symphony Concert found SBS Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti in his comfort zone, momentarily enlightening the audience on this week’s program. You may not know this, the conductor said, but there were drug-fueled, mind-expanding musical trips a century before the ‘60s & ‘70s psychedelia played at the Doublewide Kings-Symphony pairing. That would be (he informed the rapt audience) Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique.” The wildly imaginative tale – featuring passionate and obsessive love, opium-fueled hallucinations, a march to the guillotine, and a witches’ sabbath – is the centerpiece of Santa Barbara Symphony’s second concert of the new season. The concert as a whole celebrates the breadth of French music, opening with Debussy’s “Syrinx” and his famed Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun before closing the first half with Poulenc’s “Gloria;” a six-movement setting of the Catholic Mass text that thrives on contrast. “Gloria” features Grammy-nominated soprano Devon Guthrie as soloist and will be the season debut of the Santa Barbara Symphony Chorus. Then experience a trip of a different sort with Berlioz’s fantastique revolutionary

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NOTE TO READERS This entertainment calendar is a subjective sampling of arts and entertainment events taking place in the Santa Barbara area for the next seven days or so. It is by no means comprehensive. Please also see my feature stories elsewhere in this issue for more events. In order to be considered for inclusion in this calendar, please submit information – including hi-res photos – by 12 noon Wednesday eight days prior to publication date. Email: slibowitz@yahoo.com. 12 – 19 November 2026

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

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12 – 19 November 2026

Mini Meta

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Last Week’s Solution:

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PUZZLE #1

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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

N A P A L A B O R AMB I T B E A N S D S T

PUZZLE #2 4

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.

DOG E T R E P E E N S T R E V I O N Y X

Down 1 Drive-___ (pickup conveniences) 2 10-time Grammy nominee John 3 Site of the only World War II land battle on U.S. soil 4 Three out of twenty-two? 5 "Berlin and the Lady ___ an Ermine" (2026 Netflix series)

Across 1 Common "one-time code" delivery method, for short 4 Italian cheese named after an Italian river 7 Say "You said it!," say 8 One who could be cleaning up in a poolroom 9 Your substitute, long ago?

PUZZLE #5 3

Across 1 Word often used twice in a row, the first time as a conjunction and the second as a pronoun 5 Egg or eye part 6 Like the character Joan Crawford when yelling "No wire hangers, ever!" 7 Things to perform pliés in 8 Prez in "Oppenheimer"

PUZZLE #4

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Down 1 Potential escape option for a cat 2 It paid the first-ever Medicare claim 3 ___ card (item read to get a fortune) 4 1990s Geo model 5 VIPs at the Winter Meetings

Down 1 Their menus may include energy shots 2 "I Just ___" (2026 chart-topper for Bruno Mars) 3 Actress Snook of the 2025 miniseries "All Her Fault" 5 Muy, north of Mexico 6 Cry while jumping on a chair, in comics

META PUZZLE 3

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Across 1 With 5-Across, sort who tends to have a lot on his plate 4 Open-air swimming facility 5 See 1-Across 6 Inflict 7 Advisable way to get to the airport

OR scan the qr code. Please note, all ads must be finalized by Friday at 2pm the week prior to printing. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex

Montecito, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez

Oﬃce (805) 684-4537 | After-hours care (805) 684-4538 care@carpinteriadental.co | 5565 Carpinteria Ave. STE 2, 93013

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LAWN CARE SERVICE

LICENSED LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR: #1129976

For all your

Medicare Insurance options

» 805-962-4606

12 – 19 November 2026

ANDSCAPE

LAX • Airport Runs Special Events

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LOST HORIZON BOOKSTORE now in Montecito, 539 San Ysidro Road

Santa Barbara Branch 3712 State ST, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-898-2808 Direct kimbwala.nuh@ace.aaa.com www.nuhluxurytravel.com @nuhluxurytravel

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Historical Paintings Vintage Posters Original Prints

Down 1 Tiny, cutesily 2 Make it home safely, say 3 Move like a nauseated person's stomach 4 What you lack if you have no filter 5 Equipment for 2026 Olympians Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson

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Across 1 PC panic button 4 People called during PC panics 6 Actress Aimée of "Justine" 7 Clouds composed entirely of ice crystals 8 Blue Ivy Carter and North West, e.g.

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Down 1 Considerable confusion 2 Skeleton mixed team was a new one for the 2026 Olympics 3 In-favor contingent 4 Proceed after looking, perhaps 5 "Fallout" actress Purnell

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Across 1 Less discreet alternative to "Psst!" 4 With 7-Across, quit messing with 6 Humanoid race on "The Witcher" 7 See 4-Across 8 Shakes can solidify them

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Down 1 What a 5-Across usually is, at first 2 Something shot for but often not reached 3 Maxim studied in Russian schools 4 Croft of video games 5 Lambie on "Doc McStuffins," e.g.

WANNA PLACE AN AD IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS?

BUSINESS DIRECTORY (CONT.)

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

Jordan Futch

Bilingual Staff

(805) 683-3636

www.stevensinsurance.com

• Voice of theVillage •

Montecito JOURNAL

FREE copies of Sea Change will be available while supplies last (pick up at event, one per household)

Les Arts Florissants

Rana Foroohar

The Magic of Monteverdi

Sea Change: America’s New Great Game in the Arctic Circle Thu, Nov 19 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall

William Christie and Paul Agnew, Directors

Sun, Nov 15 / 4 PM / Lobero Theatre “Astonishingly beautiful… wonderful sensuousness of tone and rhythmic precision.” The Guardian (U.K.)

“Rana Foroohar has an uncanny ability to sense seismic shifts in economics and politics before the rest of us.” – Evan Osnos, The New Yorker staff writer

Hilary Hahn, violin Matthias Goerne, baritone Gloria Chien, piano Wed, Dec 2 / 7 PM Granada Theatre

Sankai Juku

TOTEM: Void and Height

Direction, Choreography and Design by Ushio Amagatsu

Fri, Nov 20 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre Unfolding through acclaimed Butoh company Sankai Juku’s signature blend of sculptural movement, visual precision and hypnotic stillness, TOTEM stands as the culminating statement of one of contemporary dance’s most influential visionaries.

Visit our website to view the full 2026-2027 lineup

Program includes: Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, (“Spring”) Beethoven: Three selected songs Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte, op. 98 Reena Esmail: Wir (A&L co-commission) J.S. Bach: “Hier in meines Vaters Stätte,” BWV 32 J.S. Bach: “Der Friede sei mit Dir,” BWV 158

(805) 893-3535 | www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu Granada event tickets can also be purchased at: (805) 899-2222 | www.GranadaSB.org Lobero event tickets can also be purchased at www.Lobero.org