Pingel Plays – What do Miles, Mozart, and Metallica have in common? Hint, it’s one of MAW’s Teaching Artists, P.16
Traffic Patterns – Construction is moving along on the HWY 101 expansion – find out what’s opening and closing, P.30
Raise a glass to Brander as it salutes 50 years of pushing the boundaries of Bordeaux varietals. Montecito local Fred Brander calls it “trial and error” but we feel this legendary winemaker may be the root cause of it (Story
)
Bellosguardo Symphony – The Huguette Clark estate was popping with bubbles
patriotic tunes from the SB Symphony, P.8
Pancakes, vintage cars, and pie ...it takes a village, page 20
starts on p.5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
vintages along the central coast
Beings and Doings – America is a country, yeah. But let’s remember the
Miscellany – July 4th at Bellosguardo, honoring Sarah Chrisman’s Granada work, and more miscellany
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025, 7:00 PM (Early Start Time)
Gustavo Dudamel, Music & Artistic Director Program includes STRAVINSKY’s Firebird and Rite of Spring !
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025, 7:30 PM PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA,
Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Principal Conductor
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026, 7:30 PM CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Riccardo Muti, Music Director Emeritus for Life
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026, 7:30 PM DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Fabio Luisi, Music Director Hélène Grimaud, piano ⫽ Sofia Fomina, soprano
Fiesta Finale – This year, the iconic finale to Old Spanish Days will feature a special highlight on Erin Graffy de Garcia
This Week @ MAW – Scott Pingel, the double bassist who’s played with both the SF Symphony and Metallica, is ready to rock MAW
Your Westmont – Sheep begin to graze on campus, new vice president for student life hired, and tennis coach resigns
An Independent Mind – Jeffrey shares his thoughts on what the nominating of Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor means
Elizabeth’s Appraisals – In preparation for taking her grandchildren to art museums, Elizabeth reflects on all the havoc wreaked in museums by whippersnappers
Spirituality Matters – Empathy in a circle, meditation by moonrise, and yoga on the beach
Robert’s Big Questions – Who will suffer most from the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill? What is the real intent of this bill?
Ernie’s World – What makes a humor writer? Ernie gives his best tips – and it all starts with a good snooze.
News Bytes – 101 updates in Montecito, firemen get pinned, and upcoming pop-ups in town Crime in the ‘Cito
Stories Matter – Sibling cult survivors… estranged fathers… and more family drama and thrillers that will keep you busy reading this summer
Calendar of Events – Summer is here and so is the slew of outdoor concerts, plus tgif! at the EDC, science talks, and more
Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads
Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here
Santa Barbara by the Glass
Golden Jubilee: Celebrating 50 Years of Fred Brander’s Winemaking Legacy
by Gabe Saglie
Fifty years can teach you a lot about growing wine. These days, Fred Brander knows full well that Bordeaux grapes – reds like cabernet sauvignon and whites like sauvignon blanc – grow really well in the warm eastern stretches of the Santa Ynez Valley. But in the beginning – 50 years ago – it was a lot about “trial and error.”
The vintner remembers that the early 1970s were “a golden age for California wines, with Napa getting a lot of notoriety,” thanks to vintners like Robert Mondavi, Jed Steele and Sutter Home’s Bob Trinchero. “But there was no real track record for Santa Barbara wines.”
Brander, who was born in Buenos Aires and grew up in Santa Barbara, would go on to earn a viticulture and enology degree at UC Davis, alongside “the sons and daughters of prominent California wine families,” he says. He brought his know-how back home, where his parents, driven by a love for agriculture, had purchased land in Los Olivos. It was 1975, and a handful of vineyards had just started to sprout nearby – Lafond, Firestone and Sanford & Benedict, most notably. The young Brander, who’d fallen in love with Bordeaux wines, believed his family’s property might be well-suited for wine grapes, too.
And the rest is viticultural history.
Fred Brander’s first big win happened early on, in 1977, with sauvignon blanc. Vines he’d planted two years earlier had offered up their first viable harvest, and the budding winemaker opted to do things a little differently. “The fashion at the time was to barrel-ferment chardonnay – that was the white grape getting
most all of the attention,” he muses. “I decided to try that technique with sauvignon blanc, and I think that had a lot to do with making it stand out.”
Stand out so much so, actually, that it won gold at the L.A. County Fair – the first medal for any Santa Barbara County wine in a major competition, ever.
The white grape went on to become a calling card for Brander – he’s affec tionally known in the California wine industry as the King of Sauvignon Blanc.
“I am still very fond of it,” he says. “Our site is really good for growing it, and we make it so that it reflects a sense of place. Pure, fruit-driven, not too heavy, not too over-ripe. Refreshing acidity. Tank fermented. Released early. Fresh character.”
Today, the Brander brand produces various sauvignon blanc bottlings every year, with fruit from various vineyards, including the label’s Los Olivos estate. The work horse is the Brander Santa Barbara County Sauvignon Blanc ($23). The most remarkable one may be the Brander Au Naturel ($45), aged exclusively in stainless steel, aromat ic, concentrated and racy. The Cuvée Nicolas ($42), named for his son, is a best-seller for its richness and balance. Sauvignon blanc is also a primary ingredient in the Cuvée Natalie ($37), named for the winemaker’s late daugh ter, and Nicolas’ twin; its fresh miner ality, and refreshing notes of flowers, honey and citrus make it a perfect summer sipper.
SB by the Glass Page 28
Montecito resident Fred Brander is celebrating 50 years of making wine in Santa Barbara County (courtesy photo)
Early years: a young Fred Brander, right, with his dad, Erik, crushing grapes (courtesy photo)
Beings and Doings Singing in Rain
by Jeff Wing
Ijust flew back from The Netherlands, and boy are my arms tired. This old sepia-toned quip still charms me with its Americanness – its nod to Henny Youngman and to the large, ornate pre-television radios families once gathered round, heads bent in rapt concentration. But, yeah. Holland is a round trip 20-hour journey through the lower stratosphere that can test a fraidy-cat’s mettle. “The airplane stays up because it doesn’t have the time to fall,” explained the damnable Orville Wright – a sentence made more palatable by the neat triple scotch you splashily snatch from the startled flight attendant’s hand.
As I’ve explained before to your possible exhaustion, my wife is from the Netherlands, and my mother-in-law – a loveable gnome comprised of a tungsten steel/ carbon fiber composite – turned 90 this year. At the crowded party thrown for her in a community room near the village center, she danced, gamboled, and conversed with no visible sign of senescence. I could feel my own pulmonary system sag as I watched her joyously work the room. Hendrieka “Riek” van Vliet has been in my life since 1987, her daughter Judie, my ex-girlfriend and delightful “wife,” for a year or so longer.
I lived with Judie in her hometown on the Dutch channel coast for nearly two years in the late ‘80s, and we returned to the U.S. through Washington, D.C. to visit with my brother and his family for a week or so before continuing on to Santa Barbara.
The architectural gigantism of D.C.’s National Mall proved the perfect re-entry for my return to a country whose cultural psyche is as bracingly nutty as it is improvised. I vividly remember being on a D.C. bus shortly after arrival and
choking up at a diverse throng of luminously American teens in worn Chuck Taylors and Levis laughing and roughhousing. You return home from abroad and see everything anew. This happened again this past Wednesday.
I don’t exactly know what a Patriot is (apart from a brand of defensive missile… you know, ‘cuz ordnance is the soul of any great convocation), but I do know, and have long known, that the United States of America is an attitude. Yeah, it’s also a “country,” but almost incidentally. Yup yup yup: there are delineated borders and a legally defined continental seabed. There are mountains out west and the middle part is flat. The states in the older, eastern part of the place are shaped like psychotic jigsaw pieces and grow more childlike and squarish as you head to the Pacific, the surveyors clearly wearying. But “America” truly is an attitude – one that is utterly absent in the Archie and Jughead Halls of Power® , no matter who’s in charge. It’s reflexive to think “America” is a throng of overdressed, jittery nitwits endlessly bitching at each other. “We’re gonna pass this law now and it’s really really good!” “You are not gonna pass that law!” “Are so!” “Are not!”
Shaddup, kids! And make your beds!
If you believe these laughable jackanapes on Capitol Hill have anything to do with the actual American spirit, you have been hijacked by the hypnotic drone of the news cycle, which currently leads the Probable Extinction Event Jamboree, followed closely by AI and an errant asteroid the size of Rhode Island. Can you spot your country’s actual avatar in the “National Character Dinner Party” crowd? G’head, look around. Hint: the Johnny Mercer guy across the room, he of the poorly chosen necktie
Beings & Doings Page 344
Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green in somber rehearsal for the stage production On the Town (photo via NYC Library/public domain)
Abject Horror over Greenland
Montecito Miscellany
A Patriotic Bellosguardo Bash
by Richard Mineards
Bellosguardo – magnificent estate of the late reclusive tycoon Huguette Clark – and the Santa Barbara Symphony staged a landmark cultural event on July 4; the first ever outdoor Independence Day concert at the East Beach aerie.
The sold-out event attracted more than 700 guests to the 90-minute performance on the estate’s seaside lawn overlooking the glittering Pacific Ocean.
In his stirring tribute to American heritage, maestro Nir Kabaretti, the 72-year-old symphony’s music and artistic director, led the talented musicians in a program of beloved patriotic anthems and popular classics – celebrating the spirit of freedom, community and artistic excellence.
Adding a dramatic and emotional highlight to the program was Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian Jane Lynch who performed “The Gettysburg Address” from An American Story, with music and text by Hershey
A Simple Formula
Felder, based on the original letter by Dr. Charles Augustus Leale.
Jane is a five-time Emmy winner, best known for her iconic portrayal on Glee She currently hosts FOX’s revival of The Weakest Link and appears in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building
She moved to our Eden by the Beach five years ago and has become a tremendous asset to the community.
“There is something profoundly moving about celebrating Independence Day with music at a place so rich with artistic beauty and historical significance,” says Kathryn Martin, president and CEO for the symphony.
The inaugural event reflects the Bellosguardo Foundation’s plans to transform the magnificent estate into a vibrant hub for art and culture.
“Bellosguardo was always meant to
Founded right here in Montecito in 2007, we’ve developed a deep knowledge of our local trees and plants – and how best to trim, nourish, and maintain them. We have the right people for the job, including sales and service who will answer the phone when you call. With our expert staff, we make tree and plant trimming, health care and plant pest control easy to understand. And we do exactly what we say we will.
No Worries
Worry-free, confidence, and expertise. These are words that locals just like you use when they talk about Branch Out Tree Care. We listen to our customers needs, put it in writing, and show up with a team of tree-care professionals – so you'll be 100% satisfied with the results.
Second Opinion
Even if you use another company, take advantage of our expert staff to give you a second opinion on your tree trimming and plant health-care needs. We’d love to help you maintain your property wisely, and avoid unnecessary work that often leads to higher maintenance costs.
inspire, and what better way to begin than by inviting the community to gather for an unforgettable Fourth of
Miscellany
Jenna Reichental, Jane Lynch, Kathryn Martin, Nir Kabaretti, and Avi Reichental (photo by Priscilla)
Maestro Nir Kabaretti keeping the crowd moving (photo by Priscilla)
Kathryn Martin with Jeremy Lindaman (photo by Priscilla)
On Entertainment Musical Monster Mash-up
by Steven Libowitz
The Theatre Group at SBCC opens its 80 th season with Mel Brooks ‘ musical adaptation of his own smash hit film Young Frankenstein in the first big professional production of the show that was boffo on Broadway, one that coincides with the 50th anniversary of the film earning an Oscar nomination. The plot finds Frederick Frankenstein inheriting his famous family’s estate in Transylvania, and while he sees himself as a much more serious scientist who would never make monsters, Frederick finds himself falling back into the same scientific experiments that his grandfather did. But unlike the original movies about the monster, Young Frankenstein is a comedy, and the Broadway show adds the musical element.
“The musical closely follows the movie, which was a spoof of the 1930s Frankenstein movies,” said director Rick Mokler. “It’s very clever how they took each of the scenes and turned them into songs. Some are very vaudevillian, others are wonderfully dramatic but they’re all fantastic Broadway songs, surprisingly catchy and very accessible. It’s one of those very hummable shows.”
The cast includes Dillon Yuhasz, who played straight man Brad in The Rocky Horror Picture Show at SBCC, as Frederick. Mokler called the actor “an amazing physical comedian who is really funny. He can dance and has a great singing voice, too. He’s the full package, and we are lucky to have him.”
SBCC veteran Sean O’Shea, who founded the Santa Barbara Shakespeare Festival and teaches stage combat at
Entertainment Page 344
In Passing Jay Simmons: April
25, 1968 – July 5, 2025
James Daniel Simmons, known as Jay to most, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2025, at the age of 57 after his short battle of liver and kidney disease. Born and raised in Oxnard, California, Jay was a proud graduate of Rio Mesa High School, class of 1986.
Jay was a devoted husband to his wife, Jamie, and a caring father to his children, Logan and Taylor. He is predeceased by his father, Waylon Simmons, and his mother, Sandy Vandekieft. Jay’s family was the center of his world, and he cherished every moment spent with them.
A proud veteran, Jay served in the United States Air Force from 1988 to 1992, including a deployment to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. His service to his country instilled in him a sense of duty and pride that he carried throughout his life.
After his military service, Jay dedicated himself to his career at UPS, where he worked tirelessly from 1992 until 2025. Known for his strong work ethic, he often put in long hours to provide for his family. However, it was more than just a job for Jay; he loved his work, cherished his colleagues, and most importantly, he valued the relationships he built with his customers, always greeting them with a warm smile and a friendly word.
A true sports enthusiast, Jay was a die-hard fan of the Raiders and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and found great joy in chasing the ball on the golf course. Whether cheering for his favorite team or enjoying a round of golf with friends, his passion for sports was evident and infectious.
Jay was a kind-hearted, good-humored man whose laughter and pos-
Montecito Tide Guide
itivity could light up any room. His generosity and spirit touched the lives of everyone he met, and he will be deeply missed by family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Rest in peace, Jay. Your legacy of love, kindness, and laughter will live on in the hearts of all who knew you.
A celebration of Jay’s life will be held in Oxnard on July 26th. If you would like information on his memorial, please contact his sister Geri Ventura at CelebrateJaySimmons@gmail.com
Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Jessica Sutherland, Joe DeMello
Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick
Proofreading | Helen Buckley
Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz
Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Beatrice Tolan, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Tiana Molony, Houghton Hyatt, Jeff Wing Gossip | Richard Mineards
History | Hattie Beresford
Humor | Ernie Witham
Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri Health/Wellness | Ann Brode, Deann Zampelli
Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook Food & Wine | Melissa Petitto, Gabe Saglie, Jamie Knee
Published by:
Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC
Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108.
How to reach us: (805) 565-1860; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; EMAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net
Young Frankenstein… it’s pronounced Fronken-STEEN (photo by Ben Crop)
Word of Mouth series
4 events | Save 20%
Elizabeth Gilbert
All the Way to the River
Sat, Oct 11 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
Fareed Zakaria What It Takes
Thu, Oct 16 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
Ezra Klein
Abundance
Tue, Nov 4 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
Ed Yong
The Amazing Nature of Animal Senses
Wed, May 6 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
LYNCH CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Custom Crafted Homes Since 1989
Polo & Friendship An Afternoon of Polo with the Friendship Center
by Zach Rosen
Next week, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club will play host to more than a thrilling afternoon of sport – it will serve as a chance to learn about a local nonprofit that’s been quietly making a difference for nearly 50 years. On July 18th, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm, the Friendship Center will host a polo experience in the Mountain Tent, inviting new friends and longtime supporters alike to enjoy some drinks and small bites while learning more about the organization.
Founded in 1976, the Friendship Center has become one of Santa Barbara County’s most vital resources for families navigating the challenges of dementia. With a mission rooted in dignity, compassion, and inclusion, the Friendship Center offers adult day services for older adults – primarily those living with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive impairments. What sets the Friendship Center apart is its unwavering commitment to accessibility: no one is turned away due to an inability to pay, thanks to a sliding scale payment system and dedicated fundraising efforts.
“The people we serve are not just clients – they’re part of our family,” explains Executive Director Kathryn Cherkas Westland. A former program manager who returned to lead the organization in 2023, Westland’s connection to dementia care is deeply personal. Her experience supporting a grandfather with advanced dementia has shaped the Center’s renewed focus on culturally responsive care, inclusive programming, and stigma reduction. Under her leadership, the Center launched Herencia Latina, a Spanishlanguage program, and opened a new satellite location in Carpinteria—doubling down on efforts to reach more families where they are.
The upcoming polo event – sponsored and hosted by longtime supporter Claudia Uretz – is a celebration of these efforts and an invitation to the wider Montecito community. With light appetizers, desserts, an open bar, and a silent auction, the gathering promises a convivial atmosphere amid one of the area’s most iconic settings. Guests will also enjoy a “Polo 101” crash course from Uretz and a warm welcome from Westland herself, offering a glimpse into the values and vibrancy that animate the Center’s work.
“This is something new for us,” says Justine Casady , Friendship Center’s events and marketing lead. “We’ve never done a polo event before, but it felt like the right opportunity to reach people who might not know we’re right across the street from the Miramar.” The goal, she adds, is twofold: to raise essential funds and, perhaps more importantly, to build relationships with potential supporters who care about family, community, and quality of life for older adults.
Indeed, the numbers speak volumes. Over the past few years, the Center’s daily attendance has climbed from 17 to nearly 50 members, a sign of both growing need and strong community trust. With the addition of the Carpinteria outpost – open two days a week and already easing travel burdens for local families – the organization is expanding its footprint while remaining grounded in its mission.
Events like the polo fundraiser are key to sustaining this growth. With no state funding and a commitment to affordability, the Friendship Center relies heavily on donors to bridge the financial gap. And yet, as any family touched by their services will attest, the return on investment is immeasurable: peace of mind, joyful moments, and a loving, supportive environment where elders can thrive.
Tickets for the July 18th event will be available through July 16th or until sold out. For those unfamiliar with the Friendship Center, it’s more than an afternoon outing – it’s an open door to learn, connect, and help shape the next 50 years of compassionate care in Santa Barbara County. Plus, of course, make some new friends.
For tickets and more information, visit fcsb.org/events
The Friendship Center serves its community with pet therapy, arts & crafts, and a whole lot more (courtesy photo)
Fiesta Finale
Honoring One of the Area’s Greats
by Sigrid Toye
Viva la Fiesta, Everyone! Brightly colored ruffles rim the hem of the traditional Spanish dress, fluttering fans and colorful confetti stirs the air to the strum of guitars, clicking castanets, and high heeled shoes. An entire city in excited preparation is a reminder that at month’s end Old Spanish Days will host Fiesta Week in Santa Barbara! Five days of music, dance, and honored vaquero traditions will begin on Wednesday, July 30th with days of festive events, the highlight being the world-renowned Fiesta Parade. On Sunday evening, August 3rd, Old Spanish Days will wave ‘Adios’ for 2025 with its annual Fiesta Finale Gala on at the El Paseo Restaurant hosted by the John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts.
Celebrating its 25 th Anniversary year, the Profant Foundation has a history spanning five generations connected to the arts in Santa Barbara. In 1922, when Dr. Henry Profant and his wife, both musicians, arrived to join Dr. William Sansum in founding what was then known as the ‘Clinic,’ Dr. Profant occasionally entertained his patients with music, sometimes wondering which one was the better healer – the music or the medicine! Over the years the couple expanded the family’s interests in the arts throughout Santa Barbara, in CAMA, promoting the Music Academy of the West, hosting parties and musical events at various venues, and during Old Spanish Days, with events in the Santa Barbara Courthouse Gardens.
During 1950s Fiesta week, their son John met his future wife at the El Paseo
Restaurant – a day that would change both their lives. One of the couple’s four daughters, Marie Profant, recalls, “My mother Lyn often told us that on their first date they went to a CAMA concert and on the ride home on Cabrillo Boulevard in the moonlight my father sang “La Vie en Rose” to her with his
Fiesta Finale Page 274
The Profant family’s Fiesta Finale returns to El Paseo, “Where it all started” (photo by Fritz Olenberger)
This year’s event honors the one-and-only Erin Graffy de Garcia (courtesy photo)
This Week @ MAW
Pingel’s Purview: Miles, Mozart, Metallica and the Music Academy
by Steven Libowitz
It’s a good bet that, unlike Scott Pingel, none of the other Music Academy of the West teaching artists on campus this summer have played a concert with the mega-selling rock band Metallica – or for that matter, any concert in front of some 20,000 people.
It was back in September 2019 that double bassist Pingel took the spotlight alongside the heavy metal icons and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra to solo on Metallica’s “(Anesthesia) –Pulling Teeth” in tribute to the band’s late, lamented early bass player Cliff Burton. This performance occurred at the newly opened Chase Center as part of a concert called S&M2 to mark the 20th anniversary of the two musical acts’ groundbreaking 1999 concert together.
It was something of a full circle moment for Pingel, whose earliest musical gig was playing in a neighborhood garage band that covered heavy metal favorites like Led Zeppelin and Metallica.
“I remember learning Burton’s bass lines in the 1980s,” Pingel said. “I specifically remember listening to that bass solo. I never could have imagined I’d play it one day with Metallica.”
Of course, that show had nothing to do with why Pingel is one of three double bassists taking over this year’s role on the faculty, held for decades by Nico Abondolo. Pingel’s bonafides include serving as principal bass at the SFS since
2004 and a decade of teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where some of his students have gone on to win major competitions and appointments with other world class orchestras.
MAW had to lure Pingel away from a couple of his usual summer gigs at the esteemed chamber festival Music@Menlo and half of Music in the Vineyards, but it didn’t take much convincing.
“MAW is such a compelling program, and one of the most prestigious festivals in the United States, one that brings in many of the best artists from all over the place and best students,” he said.
“We had more than 90 applicants for the seven fellows positions, and it was quite a difficult process to figure out who to select because the level was so high. I’m honored to have been asked to be a part of it.”
Pingel’s commitment to the bass came after stints on piano, cello and trumpet, and he remembers the moment clearly.
“I just fell in love with the sound and I’ve always loved the role that it plays in every style of music,” he said. “There’s this pentatonic lick that Weather Report bassist Jaco Pastorius played on ‘Birdland’ that I heard as a kid that was incredible. I decided then that this is what I had to do… What sealed the deal was studying the last movement of Mozart’s 41st symphony, the ‘Jupiter.’ There’s this amazing fugue in the last movement. I was blown away and decided I wanted to put that sound into the atmosphere.”
He transitioned from electric bass to stand-up just before his senior year in high school in order to be able to study the instrument in college. But the school didn’t have a string program at the time.
“They did have an old white fiberglass base up in a storage room,” he said. “I was so determined that I grabbed that thing and saw that the fingerboard had fallen off, so I got some Elmer’s and some clamps and glued it back on. I tuned up the strings that were probably the same ones from the 1950s. But I just made it work. My parents were so impressed with my commitment that they offered to buy me my first upright bass, a plywood model made by American Standard, the same people who make toilets.”
Just two years ago, a new student showed up in his studio with a bass that reminded him of that instrument, and it turned out to be the same one he’d sold decades earlier.
“That was wild,” Pingel recalled.
True to his muse, Pingel has also played jazz alongside his classical commitments, sitting in with some big names along the way.
“Nowadays, it’s only a handful of jazz gigs every year and it’s so much fun,” he said. “I really miss it.”
His versatility may have some value for the fellows, even though they’re all focused on winning an orchestral audition.
“Besides the technical aspects, I’ve found a background in jazz very useful in having a sense of pulse and keeping time, along with knowledge of harmony in various scales,” he said, “There are aspects of left-hand technique that are strengthened by playing pizzicato so much to get that resonant sound out of the instrument.”
The fact that Pingel is still as enamored with the double bass as he ever was – well, that can’t help but also be inspiring.
In his first-ever MAW performance at the Lobero on July 26 – between his time coaching the fellows in master classes on July 18 and August 1 – Pingel will join faculty violinist Martin Beaver, pianist Jeremy Denk, with violist fellow James Antoni Renk and cellist fellow Karim Maggio to play Schubert’s ever-popular “Trout” Quintet at the Lobero on July 26. It’s a staple that’s certainly much better known in the classical world than Metallica’s “(Anesthesia),” one that’s “listener friendly,” as Pingel put it.
“There are very singable melodies, but it’s also a very witty piece of music with a range of textures and colors that are delightful,” he said. “It’s such an exciting and uplifting piece.”
“I love and relish the supportive role the bass plays to the whole orchestra. Everything kind of sits on top,” he said. “There’s an element of the bass being the truth, the bottom line, the foundational instrument that allows for the rich seniority of the ensemble.”
Thursday, July 10: On Tuesday evening, we heard both Benjamin Kamins and Dennis Michel, two of this summer’s teaching artist bassoonists, performing in the tribute to Michel in his final season at MAW. Kamins – who is also departing the Academy following this summer’s stint, and after some 26 years on the MAW faculty –leads the masterclass this
Scott Pingel looking for more metal sets (courtesy photo)
25 cancer specialists. One dedicated team.
Ridley-Tree Cancer Center is now part of Sutter Health. When life doesn't go to plan, we're here for you with a whole team of oncologists, surgeons and nurses, dedicated to your care. We provide the most accessible, comprehensive cancer care available in Santa Barbara County.
With our leading-edge treatments, state-of-the-art technology and groundbreaking clinical trials, we never stop finding new ways to give you hope. Learn more at sutterhealth.org/ridleytreecc
Ridley-Tree Cancer Center at
now part of .,.Sutter ™_.. Health
Sansum Clinic
Brilliant Thoughts
What Is It Worth?
by Ashleigh Brilliant
In the early chapters of the Old Testament, we find the story of two brothers, Jacob and Esau, one of whom (Esau) sold his entire inheritance (his “birthright”) to his brother for a single simple meal (a “mess of pottage”).
That might be regarded as a very bad bargain. The more civilized method of determining what things are worth is by establishing a medium of exchange, generally known as money. This represents quite an advance in people’s thinking – because the money in and of itself may have no use or value. At first, it at least had to have some evident substance – which made metallic coinage serve a very important purpose. And various factors put gold at the top of the list of desirable metals.
The nice thing about metallic coinage was that, unlike stones or trees, a uniform set of words or images could be imprinted on it, on both sides. And the most common image on one side was usually the head, probably in profile, of the issuing ruler. The other
side might not actually depict a tail –but for the purposes of flipping and gambling it became the side opposite to the head, giving us our familiar duo of “heads” and “tails.”
Actually, the most common Roman coins, which were already in use back then for betting, had on the reverse side an image of a ship – probably signifying Rome’s domination of the Mediterranean. Hence, the call then was not ‘Heads or Tails,’ but ‘Heads or Ships.’
One very poignant piece of coinage history concerned the early days of the French Revolution. In 1791 King Louis XVI, together with Queen Marie Antoinette and all their children, attempted to flee Paris, where they were being held captive in their own palace. Travelling by coach, their plan was to reach the border and find safety there with Royalist troops. They were in disguise, but at the town of Varennes they were detained, having been recognized. How did this happen? A local baker, bringing them bread, recognized the king from his image on the current coinage! That
Drink Beer... Help Elings Park!
discovery turned out to be the first step on the road to the guillotine. But, in subsequent years, there somehow developed the startling idea that you didn’t need metals at all – except for relatively minor transactions. Instead, a paper promise would serve just as well, if it was issued by a government or a bank that could be trusted to back up the promise with actual metal – usually gold or silver. Here in the U.S., within living memory, even the one-dollar bill carried the words “Silver Certificate,” and could legally be taken to a bank and exchanged for an equivalent amount in silver coins.
was to prevent the criminal practice of shaving off small amounts of metal (which might not otherwise be missed) from the edges of a large number of coins and thus acquiring a usable fresh stock of copper or silver.
One interesting feature of the problem of what things are worth is the large number of people whose profession consists of giving answers to that question, based on their training and experience. The need for their services arises, for example, whenever anything of high value, such as an “Estate,” is going to be up for sale. Those particular specialists are known as “appraisers” – and similarly-employed experts are called assayers and assessors.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
PINTS FOR THE PARK: A BENEFIT FOR ELINGS PARK
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 • 4 – 8 p.m. General $65 • VIP Early Entry $85
Ages 21 and older only ElingsPark.org/beerfest
We still have dimes, quarters, and silver dollars – but in England all metal coinage has been abolished. When I lived there, however, the “Pound Sterling” (then worth about U.S. $2.40) was still the basic unit. It was divisible into 20 shillings, which in turn consisted of 12 pennies, pluralized as Pence. And there were half-penny coins (called what sounded like “hay pennies”) – and there was an even smaller coin, worth a quarter of a penny, and called a farthing (i.e., a “fourth-ing”). But by then there was hardly anything you could buy with one of those except, perhaps, a single small piece of candy in a “sweet shop.”
Coins of higher value, in various countries, often had “milled” edges – i.e. tiny little grooves, very close together, all the way around. The purpose of this
Among my published epigrams, there are more than 100 on this topic – but I will close here with one of my favorites:
If I don’t do the things that are not worth doing – who will?
Ashleigh Brilliant born England 1933, came to California in 1955, to Santa Barbara in 1973, to the Montecito Journal in 2016. Best-known for his illustrated epigrams, called “Pot-Shots,” now a series of 10,000. email: ashleigh@west. net. web: www.ash leighbrilliant.com.
Samara Joy
Thu, Oct 2 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane
Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial Tue, Jan 27 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
Chucho Valdés & Arturo Sandoval
Legacy Quintet
Sat, Mar 7 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
Emmet Cohen Quintet
Miles and Coltrane at 100 Sun, Apr 12 / 7 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
Our Town Village 4th Takes off with Longer Parade Route
story and photos by Joanne A Calitri
The Montecito Association’s Village 4th went full on with a longer parade route that officially started at the intersection of San Ysidro Road (SYR) and East Valley Road, then proceeded down SYR to Lower Manning Park. The parade route was packed with kids of all ages and dogs donning their best July 4th-inspired fashion statements. The pre-parade Annual Montecito Firefighters Association Pancake Breakfast at Montecito Fire Station 91 saw over 1,776 tickets sold! Proceeds from the event benefit the Montecito Firefighters Charitable Foundation. Congrats to those flapjack flippin’ omelet tossing firefighters!
The Village 4th parade was led by Boy Scout Troup 33, followed by Montecito Union School and Cold Spring School students and parents. Parade Grand Marshalls were the schools’ respective Superintendents Anthony Ranii and Amy Alzina, who rode in a Rosewood Miramar Beach green surrey car. They were followed by First District Supervisor Roy Lee with his Chief Deputy Aida Thau, and antique convertible cars with town luminaries like David Bolton and Gonzalo Sarmiento riding with Jenna Reichental, Homer
Montecito, and Mission Linen in their 1930 Model T, the Blankenships representing Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation in a 1942 U.S. Navy Jeep, Dana and Andrea Newquist’s Little Toots Firetruck, Montecito Sanitary District General Manager (and retired Rear Admiral) John Weigold , SB County Search & Rescue Team, Adam McKaig, Direct Relief, the CHP, the Montecito Association, the Montecito Community Foundation, and many locals driving highly polished antique cars waving U.S. flags.
Parade contest winners are:
Most Patriotic = #34 Direct Relief
Most Community Spirit = #12 the Rosewood Miramar Beach
Most Entertaining = #9 SB County Search and Rescue
The annual tug-of-war challenge for the Montecito Cup was won by Montecito Union School who defeated Cold Spring School for the fourth year in a row. The event rounded up with a sack race, a pie eating contest won by a hungry kid in less than minute, live music by the Music Academy of the West brass ensemble and the Outta the Blue band, BBQ by Oak & Fire, wine, beer and pastries!
Happy 4th America!
“Barbecue sauce is like a beautiful woman. If it’s too sweet, it’s bound to be hiding something.” – Lyle Lovett
Your Westmont A Natural Defense: Sheep Clear Brush to Curb Fires
by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott
Westmont has welcomed a herd of sheep to campus to eat non-native vegetation and reduce wildfire fuel in the barranca west of Voskuyl Library, adjacent to the dry Westmont Creek. Coordinated by Montecito Fire, the flock from Cuyama Lamb will eat their fill before the grasses dry out later this summer and have the potential to feed a wildfire.
“As we saw in the Thomas Fire and the Tea Fire, this canyon is notorious for funneling fire down into the community,” says Maeve Juarez, a wildland fire specialist for Montecito Fire. “We’re really sensitive to controlling the flashy fuels in this area, trying to prevent dangerous ember cast, when heavy winds carry embers downwind to a new area and ignite spot fires.”
“Fire risk assessors still identify this ravine as a high priority area for fire mitigation,” says Laura Drake-Schultheis, Westmont assistant professor of biology, who has worked with ecology students to restore the property to a native oak woodland. “A big part of that mitigation includes containing exotic weeds that sprout up every year, and when we reduce those types of fuels, we help protect both Westmont and the surrounding communities from future fire risk.”
Schultheis says that Montecito Fire has been reducing flashy fuels, which ignite quickly and spread rapidly, through
hand-pulling and weed-whacking in the past few years, but never with sheep.
“Grazing provides a very effective and eco-friendly alternative to these methods with less noise and the added benefit that surrounding communities enjoy watching the sheep do their thing,” she says.
The herd, surrounded by a portable electric fence, will graze in the ravine for about three weeks. “It sounds kind of funny, but it’s based on palate preferences,” Juarez says. “We’ll use the first few days to gauge what they like eating and assess it from there.”
They hope the sheep, which are finickier than goats, will eat tobacco, tumbleweeds, castor bean, and eucalyptus regrowth. The fencing will keep them away from the Westmont Creek riparian area and native plant species. “Sheep work really well with restoration projects as they’re less invasive, and we can target some of the species we’re trying to eliminate.”
Fire removed many dead and dying eucalyptus trees in the area. Schultheis and her ecology students took the opportunity to plant about 60 coast live oaks, improving the ecosystem while increasing wildfire resilience in the interface between wildland and urban areas. Last spring, Plant Classification and Biodiversity students checked on the oaks, which had grown to more than three feet tall, and planted additional trees.
Cleek Named New Vice President
Stu Cleek, who has more than 35 years of experience in Christian higher education, has been named vice president for student life at Westmont.
“This is a significant and exciting moment for our campus community, and I’m deeply grateful for Stu’s legacy of faithful service during the past 26 years at Westmont,” said President Gayle D. Beebe
Cleek has served Westmont with distinction in a variety of roles that have shaped the student experience and advanced the mission of the college. His leadership in launching and overseeing the Center for Student Success, effectively responding to a range of campus crises, and his advocacy for first-generation college students have profoundly affected the lives of countless Westmont students.
“Stu loves being with students and is deeply committed to creating an environment where they are holistically supported and encouraged to grow into the people God created them to be,” Beebe said. “His thoughtful, student-centered approach and unwavering commitment to Christcentered education make him an exceptional choice to lead our Student Life division.”
Cleek earned a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Southern California, where he focused his research on the campus racial climate and student belonging at faith-based institutions. He also holds a Master of Education in college student affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in recreation from Azusa Pacific University.
He and his wife, Cathy, have three children, two of whom are Westmont alums. “I’m honored and excited to continue serving our students and the college in this new role,” Stu says. “I feel genuinely called to this work, and it’s a privilege to help shape the student experience as we pursue our shared mission at one of the nation’s preeminent Christian colleges. Doing so alongside trusted colleagues and friends, in a place that feels so much like home, is a true blessing.”
Cleek fills the position left by Edee Schulze, who retired in 2024 after serving in the role for a decade.
Search Launched for New Tennis Coach
Westmont has begun a national search for a new head coach of women’s tennis after Cade Pierson resigned July 3. Pierson, who was a two-time NAIA All-American while attending Westmont, had served as head coach since the 202223 school year. Her resignation brings an end to her overall Westmont tennis tenure that began as a student in 2017.
“The women’s tennis program at Westmont has a bright future and we look forward to identifying the next leader who will mentor our student-athletes and lead the program to excellence at the NCAA Division II level.”
The oak woodland restoration project began in summer 2023 after Montecito
Sheep from Cuyama Lamb have begun grazing on campus
These wooly firefighters are reducing flashy fuels
Stu Cleek has served at Westmont for more than a quarter century Cade Pierson steps down from coaching at Westmont
An Independent Mind
Barbarians at the Gate
by Jeffrey Harding
New York City Democrats just nominated a very woke socialist, Zohran Mamdani , for mayor. They say he has a good shot at winning.
I’m not surprised. After all, NYC is a liberal/progressive bastion. They’ve already got AOC (Andrea OcasioCortez), the Congresswoman representing much of the Bronx.
Most democratic socialists want free stuff like health care, tuition, and transit fares. They also want rent control, high minimum wages, union control, more business regulation (Green New Deal), and high taxes on the rich to pay for all the free stuff.
Mamdani ran on more rent control in NYC which, they say, is the key reason that got him nominated. Housing is a problem in NYC but he doesn’t bother to ask why rents are high and housing is in short supply. He also wants to take over the power utilities because profits are bad. He advocates City-owned grocery stores, and free bus and subway fares. And more.
Mamdani is quoted as saying “I don’t think that we should have billionaires – because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality…” This is the quote that really has wealthy NYC capitalists scared. I would bet on Florida here.
He is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, as is AOC. That organization espouses classic socialist goals like abolishing capitalism and transforming the USA into a socialist state.
He denies advocating violence to achieve his socialist goals, but he did say this to the Young Democratic Socialists of America:
“But then there are also other issues that we firmly believe in, whether it’s BDS [Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions of Israel] … or whether it’s the end goal of seizing the means of production, where we do not have the same level of support at this very moment.”
I verified the quote with Politifact. They said that he’s no Commie and cited several academics who parsed the quote into a meaningless statement. OK, he said America is not ready to support such a move, but like it or not, it’s a goal which he and his party support. It’s evidence of his mindset. They think they are playing the long game, but they are just ignoring socialism’s failures.
Mamdani and AOC cite Sweden as an example of a successful socialist/welfare state, which it isn’t. Sweden ditched socialism years ago and are solidly capitalistic, but they have high taxes to pay for welfare programs. And I mean high. If you made $65,500, the government will take 55% or $36,000 leaving you with $29,500. That’s not all. You pay a 25% VAT tax (like a sales tax) on most goods you buy (ex-food-12%).
But, hey, you get free health care, pension, childcare, education, etc. You also get high inflation, sluggish economic growth, and poorer people. U.S. living standards are about 50% higher than Sweden. The average consumption (what people spend) in Sweden is about equal to the bottom 20% of Americans. Is this what democratic socialists want?
If Mamdani is elected mayor of NYC and his policies are supported by the City Council then NYC may become a socialist paradise.
More restrictive forms of rent control and housing regulation will disincentivize developers from building more housing. It will also lead to the further deterioration of rental housing (something NYC
is already famous for in existing rent-controlled housing). City sponsored public housing will be riddled with corruption and deterioration. City subsidized health care will go broke. The government owned/controlled power companies will have service outages due to frozen rates and increased costs. The free public transportation will run out of money and the equipment will deteriorate and service will be disrupted. Tax revenue shortages will require more debt. The City’s bond rating will go to junk status and its debt service will increase.
You can’t tax rich people enough to pay for all this free stuff and they won’t stick around to find out. As America’s financial capital, businesses will go to states with more freedom and less taxation. With fewer billionaires, one may wonder who will support all the arts organizations and charities.
I am not making this stuff up. This is a familiar scenario for most cities and countries that have tried democratic socialism. Socialists, democratic or otherwise, are utopians who believe that a perfect world is attainable. It’s a fantasy akin to religion. Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot
believed in utopia and hundreds of millions died in its pursuit. Hugo Chavez and his democratic socialism fantasy left Venezuela in tatters.
It makes you wonder what these politicians are after in light of the obvious failures of socialism.
I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite economists, Thomas Sowell:
“The fact that we don’t have people who are educated to be able to analyze arguments and who are swept along by rhetoric is one of the reasons that allows people to get away with these kinds of things.”
Jeffrey Harding is a real estate investor and long-time resident of Montecito. He previously published a popular financial blog, The Daily Capitalist. He is a retired SBCC adjunct professor.
up to a good cup of news!
Subscribe to the MJ’s Morning MoJo newsletter and get local news delivered to your inbox twice weekly.
SCAN ME!
Elizabeth’s Appraisals Kids & Museums: A Match Made in Chaos
by Elizabeth Stewart
My two grandchildren (both under six years) are now old enough to experience an art museum; thus I “family” membershipped the Santa Barbara Museum Art, the Maritime Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. I am ready for my second set of new eyes with which to share some of our great museums. I remember with fondness the first museum show Adrian and I showed Lock (our two-year-old son), and I remember a little hand going out to touch the Braque at the Picasso-Braque exhibit at the MET in New York.
I wondered, looking back 35 years, about damage innocently caused by kids in museums, liability issues, and who pays for the restoration. Some museums have attempted to bill or charge parents (who are claimed as negligent) for restoration when their kids damage an object. Maybe the Shanghai Museum of Glass is not the place for kids. In 2016, two parents filmed two kids pulling at a wall sculpture made of delicate glass (the kids had climbed the platform). The sculpture was titled Angel is Waiting in the shape of two glistening angel wings. One of the kids broke the bottom of one wing. The artist, Shelly Xue, turned this mishap into a noble gesture: she renamed the artwork Broken Angel, augmenting the work with surveillance camera video of the boys torturing her piece. Five years ago, in the same museum of glass, two kids were chasing each other, and collided with a display case that held 30,000 pieces of glass that comprised a 1/6 scale model of Disneyland’s Enchanted Storybook Castle by the Arribas brothers.
In another tragedy, a young boy was so intrigued by a work of art completely created out of Legos that he pulled the six-foot sculpture down at a museum in Ningbo, China, one hour after the display was opened to the public. The boy, who loved this Fox character from Disney’s Zootopia, apologized for destroying the $15,000 work to the artist, who accepted the apology.
Two Norwegian kids attempted to dig a little deeper into the lines of a 5000-year-old petroglyph on the island of Tro: the glyph is the oldest representation of “skiing” and was the theme of the design for the Olympics. Likewise, a young man who was on a trip to visit the monuments of Luxor in 2013 carved on the bottom of a 3,500-year-old hieroglyphic “Ding Jinhao visited.”
Large stone works of art thought by museum staff to be safe are threatened by a misapprehension of just how fast a four-year-old can climb. In Southendon-Sea in England, a display of Roman artifacts containing an 880-year-old child’s coffin was mounted by a six-yearold who played dead.
A group of young men climbed an 18-million-year-old stone landmark in Oregon, one of the climbers breaking his leg in the effort. The group later achieved revenge by toppling the rock
formation to the ground. The vandals were never caught
At Tomahawk Ridge in Overland Park Kansas, the museum was rented out for a wedding and a young boy – in love with a sculpture in stone by Bill Lyons called Aphrodite di Kansas City – hugged it and pulled it over. Can we blame the young man for falling in love with Aphrodite?
Ceramic jars used to store water and oil were featured at the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel. A four-year-old wanted to see what was inside and pulled a massive jar closer to his face; peering inside, it fell over and shattered. The jar was from the Middle Bronze Age and had sustained no damage for 3,500 years.
Repeating ledges of blue glass traveling up a white wall to the ceiling – a work by contemporary modern master Donald Judd for the Tate Modern valued at $10M – was damaged when a child used the work as a playground ladder. Her parents explained that the piece was irresistible to kids, and it was the museum’s fault for tempting their child.
In Taipei in 2015, a Baroque painting (1600s) behind a rope barrier was damaged when a 12-year-old tripped, punching a hole through the work.
The most valuable painting to be damaged by a child happened just this year – a $56M Rothko Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8, 1960. Rothko intended the flat “color fields” to be intense – and at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, a young man could not resist the color and attempted to “feel” it, scratching the paint layer.
Elizabeth with early art enthusiast, Lock, describing his appreciation for postmodern minimalism
Spirituality Matters
Empathy from the Inside Out
by Steven Libowitz
Mindful Heart Programs’ Founder Dr. Radhule Weininger is teaming up with Santa Barbara Empathy Circles for a one-day retreat at Santa Barbara Middle School’s aptly named Lotus Theater on Saturday, July 12. Combining meditation with empathy circles, the event serves as an opportunity to put into almost immediate practice the compassion that is at the center of most Mindful Heart’s offerings through the ensuing circles.
The first half of the day will be devoted to meditation focusing on non-dual mindfulness to invite participants to a deep space of grounding, where wisdom and compassion are always present. Sustainable compassion practice will be used as a guide to help attendees hold themselves, others, and our world with utmost care. The discussion and meditation practice will be led by Weininger.
After a one-hour pause for lunch, the group will break into small circles to practice empathic listening, each led by Santa Barbara Empathy Circles trained facilitators. Each participant will have multiple opportunities to be seen and heard while speaking about whatever is on their mind during the two one-hour sessions, and to serve as the listener, who reflects the essence of what was spoken without judgment of any kind, including expressing agreement or disagreement or even offering advice or pity.
The Empathy Circles, which are also held every Sunday morning at 11 am just down the street at a space above the Riviera Theatre, are a safe way to express deeply held thoughts and feelings and know that you are being heard and held with empathy and compassion. The simple practice can have startling results.
A debrief of the circles follows the second session, followed by a closing meditation led by Weininger.
Participants should be prepared to spend some time outdoors on the grounds of the Santa Barbara Middle
School campus and are invited to bring their own lunch, as there are no restaurants in the immediate area. (A refrigerator and microwave are available.) There is no official charge for the retreat, although funds raised by the suggested donation of $60 will go to help support Mindful Heart Programs’ mission to expand access to meditation for the benefit of individuals, our community, and the world.
Register for Empathy from the Inside Out at https://tinyurl.com/SBEmpathyCircle, or contact mindfulheartprograms@gmail.com
Mindful Relationships at Casa de Maria
Weininger and David Richo, PhD, MFT – the revered former Adult Ed workshop leader who combines Jungian, poetic, and mythic perspectives to integrate the psychological and the spiritual – have a half-day retreat scheduled for later in the month at La Casa de Maria Retreat Center in Montecito. Focusing on Mindful Relationships, the July 26 event addresses the challenge of staying clear-minded and open-hearted when the world seems remarkably out of balance around us. In a three-hour retreat that features talks, discussion, and meditation practice, the leaders will offer suggestions on ways to stay mindful and compassionate in our personal relationships as an alternative to judging others who don’t fit our expectations. The retreat is free, although a $30 donation to Mindful Heart Programs is suggested. The required advance registration can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/MindfulHeartMaria
Full Moon Meditation and More at East Beach
Peter Moreno, another Mindful Heart facilitator and a meditation co-facilitator at The Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, hosts a full-moon meditation with crystal bowl and bells sound bath on East Beach at 8 pm on Thursday, July 10. The onehour event, timed with the simultaneous sunset and moonrise, takes place near the volleyball courts, across the street
Anya Consiglio MD
from the condo complex on Cabrillo Boulevard. Bring a beach chair and blanket for the event, and dress warmly as it can get chilly after sunset by the ocean. The suggested donation is $10. Call Moreno (805) 453-1813 for details.
Extended East Beach Endeavors
Santa Barbara Beach Yoga offers all-levels yoga classes on the sand every Saturday & Sunday at 10 am, hosting a one-hour session of peaceful yet invigorating movement sequences to harmonize body, breath, and soul on the beach in front of the Cabrillo Pavilion. The classes weave together the basics of alignment with movement and relaxing restorative poses as well as calming breath work by the sea with a fun and light-hearted offering. The sessions are not only held on the beach but incorporate the sand as a supportive prop, focusing on balancing and building confidence and strength. Posture variations will be offered throughout the experience to ensure accessibility for all.
Participants experience the voice instruction as well as music simultaneously through Santa Barbara Beach Yoga’s signature yoga headsets, with adjustable volume settings for each listener. A beach towel or blanket works better on the sand than a traditional yoga mat.
The July 12 session is led by Kimberly Zimmerman, founder and operator of The Juicy Life Yoga and Juice Bar, who has more than 2,000 hours of teaching experience and is a certified Reiki Master. Vicki Yeung handles July 19 & 26 classes and Azizull Kaur leads the July 13, 20, & 27 sessions. Visit https:// santabarbarabeachyoga.com.
Santa Barbara Beach Yoga also puts together a monthly full moon session supported by a sound bath – although
yoga takes the place of meditation, and the events don’t always exactly coincide with the full moon. They’re held at the Carousel House across the street from the Pavilion, a unique space that was home to a 1916 merry-go-round for almost 20 years until 2017. August’s event is slated for Monday, August 11, at 6:30 pm. Visit https://santabarbarabeachyoga.com
Steven Libowitz has covered a plethora of topics for the Journal since 1997, and now leads our extensive arts and entertainment coverage
Robert’s Big Questions
Shock and Awful?
by Robert Bernstein
“Shock and Awe” was the G. W. Bush term for his attack on Iraq in 2003. Trump’s Big Ugly Billionaire Bailout Bill (BUBBB) is a shock and awe attack against our own people. Perhaps this should be called “Shock and Awful.”
The bill adds $3 trillion to the U.S. debt – almost all from tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans – and serves no useful economic purpose. There is no such thing as “supply side economics.” It was just a made-up term by the Reagan administration to justify handouts to wealthy donors. Economies are driven from the bottom up by those who do real work and those who spend money on real needs.
“From the needy to the greedy” was Reaganomics and it was an utter economic failure. But a great success for political corruption. Bankrupting government is their intention.
The biggest assault on the needy in the BUBBB? The attack on Medicaid. Throwing perhaps 17 million Americans off basic healthcare. Vice President Vance outrageously called this “minutiae” and ”immaterial.” The carnage is cleverly delayed until after the 2026 election.
A few token crumbs are thrown to a few working people. Notably, no taxes on tips. Great for a few restaurant workers, but no help to those who flip burgers or toil as dishwashers.
Then there is ICE. Just before the 2024 election 60 Minutes went out with ICE on a raid. The raid was actually at Glenmont Shopping Center, next to my Maryland high school. They caught a felon and let the other “illegals” go who were not criminals. The ICE officer explained that their mission was public safety, not arresting law abiding immigrants.
They also interviewed former ICE director Tom Homan. Homan said there would not be “sweeps” or “concentration camps.” Guess what? BUBBB is all about sweeps and concentration camps. The sweeps already are netting mostly law-abiding immigrants. The ICE officer said it would take “Department of Defense levels of financing” to go after everyone. Guess what? BUBBB increases ICE spending by a factor of about 20 – a higher level than the military budgets of most global powers, including Italy, Brazil and Israel. For what purpose? Clearly not for public safety. Undocumented Americans commit crimes at a far lower rate than documented Americans.
Trump has made it clear what it is really about. He said he would target cities controlled by democrats, while sparing Trump-supporting farm country. When Musk challenged the BUBBB, Trump suggested he might “denaturalize” Musk and deport him, along with New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani
I do not say this lightly. But Trump’s ICE looks more like Trump’s personal Gestapo than like a law enforcement agency. The Gestapo didn’t start by killing people. They started by rounding up “illegal aliens.” Jews were declared illegal aliens even though many families had lived in Germany for generations. And many Germans accepted that illegal aliens should go away. At first, they went “away” to detention centers. The killing came later.
My wife grew up under martial law. She says this is exactly how it begins. Fake emergencies are created. When people protest, that becomes further justification for crackdowns and suppression of rights and due process.
And all to what end? Trump has no principles or ideals. The BUBBB is about shifting the “Overton Window” of what is considered normal. Not so much about ideology. It is more about loyalty to one man.
But in other ways it is the normal Republican plan: a shift of power and wealth to the top. How do millions of Americans not see this? Because they get nothing but fake news pushed out through social media, while calling real news the fake news. Half of Americans didn’t know about BUBBB. Only 8% knew about the Medicaid cuts.
BUBBB notably destroys Biden’s massive investments in sustainable energy jobs, which were mostly in red states. The climate crisis doesn’t care about politics. We must shift the Overton Window back to sanity. But first we need to break through the disinformation wall. Air America Radio did this 20 years ago. We must reach our natural allies who support Trump now, but who will suffer most under BUBBB.
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
Ernie’s World How to Write Humor
by Ernie Witham
Throngs of people, er, dozens of people, er, okay one person in my humor workshop once asked me what skills it takes to be a humor writer. I leaned back and thought a while.
“Excuse me, are you sleeping?”
“Huh? Oh, ah, no, of course not, ha-ha, it’s one of the skills required for all writing – deep thinking.”
“And the snoring?”
I wiped my chin. “All part of the game, my friend, all part of the game.”
Several students wrote this down. They will probably quote me in the future: “Famous humorist, er, funny person, er, this guy at the writers conference said dozing is important.”
Much later, which is often when profound what-I-should-have-said thoughts come to me, I realized the real secret of humor writing is… wait for it… screwing up a lot. Please hold the applause.
Home repair is a great place to hone these skills. I have a 50% success rate at fixing stuff. I completely disassembled the back of our washing machine once because the rotating thingee had stopped rotating and was making weird noises. After listening to it for several minutes and drawing on my vast knowledge of mechanical things, I figured the belt had come off. So, I started removing screws from the back but couldn’t gain access even after almost an hour. Meanwhile, my wife had called a repair guy who walked in, took one look at the back of the machine and said: “Oh man, who did this?” I whispered I thought it might be one of the kids. He shook his head, went to the front of the machine, loosened two screws and pulled the entire front of the machine off. Took him five minutes to fix it, and almost an hour to put it all back together.
Then that time we noticed a weird smell emanating from our gas stove, which we hadn’t used all summer because I was barbecuing every day...
“Who wants really well-done steak?”
“Not again!”
…I dragged the stove out to the patio and disassembled it. I found that mice had moved in and used the insulation as nesting grounds. I went online and found out I could simply order another insulating blanket and install it myself, saving hundreds of dollars! Yay me.
So, I tore off the old insulation, saving most of the things attaching it and waited. Turns out it was backordered from Asia, one of the Stans, I think.
“Who wants really well-done hot dogs and black beans?”
“I thought we were having brown beans?”
“Black is the new brown.”
Eventually, the insulation blanket arrived, I put the stove back together, throwing away the half-dozen parts that were somehow left over, dragged it back into the kitchen, hooked up the gas and yelled: “Here we go.” I yelled because the family was across the street, cowering behind large jacaranda trees.
But it worked! And when the family moved back in a few days later, I offered to bake something from the recipe book that came with the stove insulation, even though I couldn’t read a word of it.
“Hello, Rusty’s Pizza. We need a week’s worth.”
Another place I used to find humor was golfing. “Fore!”
“I think you mean ‘Five’ because that’s the fifth time you have scattered the folks eating lunch on the patio.”
“But we’re not anywhere near the clubhouse.”
“Yeah, all those folks were on their own patios.”
I gave up golf because of my back, which led to my latest method for discovering humor – lying down. This is not to be confused with the aforementioned snoring advice. Lying down these days is for procedures.
“Where does it hurt?”
“From my neck to my ankles.”
“Hmm. Probably your sciatica. Just relax while I prepare an injection.”
So, I stared at yet another ceiling. They should make ceilings more interesting. Like hire a modern-day Michelangelo or Marc Chagall to do a little painting. Although… that is an unusual light. I wonder who makes lights like that? Did they go to light-making school? Do you get a degree from light-making school? Guess you have to be a bright student. Wait. Is that funny? Bright student. How about…
“We’re ready Mr. Witham.”
“Just a minute okay, I’m working on my column…”
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.
afternoon. (1 pm; Weinman Hall). Also on the MC tap: Violinist Martin Beaver (1 pm; Lehmann Hall), Vocal Institute co-director and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, who charmed at the Lobero with her take on a trio of Ravel poems (Hahn Hall), and Trombone & Tuba teaching artist, have masterclasses (Weinman Hall) at 3:30 pm ($10). Speaking of tributes, the great Glenn Dicterow, who straight out of serving as concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic for an astounding 34 years, joined both MAW and the faculty of USC Thornton School of Music in 2014. Dicterow receives the new Academy honor in a special x2 concert this evening. “Examined Heritage” features the violinist performing two times with his wife, fellow faculty member and violist Karen Dreyfus, plus cellist Alan Stepansky, playing Gideon Klein’s “String Trio” and Brahms’ “Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60” (which adds pianist Jonathan Feldman). In between, it’s a combination of fellows and faculty performing Roberto Sierra’s Songs from the Diaspora. BTW, no need to worry, he’s not going anywhere, we’re told. (7:30 pm; Hahn Hall; $45-$60).
Friday, July 11: Sorry to tease you, but it seems there aren’t any regular tickets left for the Academy’s annual Music Note Gala, which supports music education, and this year features the Grammy-winning mandolinist/ composer Chris Thile starring in collaboration with the Academy Gala Orchestra and members of the Sing! children’s choir conducted by Daniela Candillari. Thile, who has appeared in his many guises multiple time in Santa Barbara, will play the Allegro movement from Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor” with violin fellow Angeles Hoyos, Caroline Shaw’s “And So” and his band The Punch Brothers “Julep” and “My Oh My” with the Sing! Choir. Maybe consider a late round of golf if the wind is blowing in the right direction?
Saturday, July 12: Daniela Candillari, who conducted MAW’s opera productions at the Granada the last two summers, instead wields the baton for the Academy Chamber Orchestra (mostly those fellows not playing the gala) in the cozy confines of Hahn Hall. The program includes both Piazzolla’s “Oblivion” with violin fellow Hoyos again soloing and his “Le Grand Tango” with faculty violist Richard O’Neil, plus “warp & weft” by 2009 Music Academy alum Sarah Gibson and Poulenc’s “Sinfonietta.” The pre-concert at 6:30 pm features Candillari, O’Neill, and MAW Chief
Tuesday, July 15-Thursday, July 17: Faculty pianist (and McArthur ‘Genius’ Award winner) Jeremy Denk begins his three-day immersion in Beethoven’s revolutionary piano sonatas with three evenings of performance and insightful commentary. Each 75-minute lecture-recital highlights a masterwork or two by the composer, complemented by pieces that range from Nina Simone to Ligeti and Wagner to explore new dimensions of Beethoven’s genius. Tonight’s centerpiece is “Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, ‘Tempest.’”
Tomorrow pairs the “Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111,” with Frederic Rzewski’s “De Profundis,” while July 17’s event has Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1” and “Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110” as bookending Simone’s “Just in Time” and two works by Wagner. (7:30 pm; Hahn Hall; $75-$80.)
Wednesday, July 16: Today’s masterclasses include the MAW debut by new teaching artist Billy R. Hunter, Jr., the principal trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2004 whose versatile career also encompasses orchestral, chamber and solo performances nationwide (3:30 pm; Weinman Hall; $10).
Thursday, July 17: The eight fellows who serve as understudies for the principal roles of this summer’s grand opera production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni get the chance to run through the entire masterwork in front of an audience, taking center stage to offer a preview at Hahn Hall. The far more intimate setting also means no stage set, and music from vocal piano fellows (or recorded), but there is a pre-concert talk with Robert W. Weinman on stage at 1 pm. (2 pm; $10).
from 14)
beautiful voice … en Français! Now how romantic is that?” Having both been dancers, their mutual love of the arts and interest in creative pursuits charted their course as a couple and as parents of their daughters. John’s dream was to pursue his own creative interests and establish a venue to give back to the artistic community from which he had gained so much.
Sadly, this was not to be as John died shortly after retiring. Courageously, his wife Lyn took up the mantle with the creation of the John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts in his honor to support developing visual and performance artists regardless of age or circumstance. Their daughter, Mignonette Profant noted, “We were well aware that circumstance often gets in the way of pursuing one’s dreams, therefore our scholarship application has no age limits. Our recipients have ranged in age from 9 to 75!”
This year’s Fiesta Finale Gala will honor Santa Barbara’s beloved Society Lady, historian, writer, dancer, and cultural champion, the late Erin Graffy de Garcia . Always a force of nature, known for her graciousness, humor, and boundless energy, Erin’s love for Santa Barbara, its traditions, and its artistic vibrancy is well known. The Profant Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is proud to facilitate the newly formed Erin Graffy de Garcia Legacy Endowment and its dedicated board, to continue to inspire, educate and enrich the community she cherished. This endowment is envisioned to grow, with annual dividends supporting specific projects that reflect Erin’s community involvement of historical preservation; especially of music and dance, storytelling, journalism, educational classes and exhibits that keep the rich cultural history of Santa Barbara alive. Contributions to build the endowment are presently
underway with further opportunities at the Fiesta Finale.
The 2025 Fiesta Finale Gala’s spotlight on Erin Graffy’s legacy and Santa Barbara traditions will be accompanied by delicious cuisine, vibrant costumes, lively music, and dancing… and a special ‘Art That Comes to Life’ Tableau Vivant, of the 2015 Old Spanish Days poster created by Erin herself! For almost a century the Profant family and Foundation’s mission continues. The family looks forward to welcoming their guests as they celebrate the arts in the City of Santa Barbara on August 3rd at El Paseo Restaurant –“Where it all started.”
For further information visit: www.profantfoundation.org
The Erin Graffy de Garcia Legacy Endowment: JEP@gmail.com
Toye is an Educational and Behavior Therapist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology, a freelance writer, and a storyteller. She loves all things creative, including her two (adult) artist children.
Fiesta Finale (Continued
The Profant family (courtesy photo) This year’s Tableau Vivant is inspired by Erin Graffy’s own Fiesta poster (courtesy photo)
Don’t miss this special Fiesta Finale with food, song, dance, and a celebration of Erin’s legacy (photo by Sigrid Toye)
Sigrid
Violin fellow Angeles Hoyos will play both the Music Academy’s gala event and ACO concert this week (courtesy photo)
In 2000, Fred Brander saw another major wine win with cabernet sauvignon. “I’ve always believed in it, even if our early efforts were not the best,” he admits. The tide turned 25 years ago, though, when, late in the harvest season, the vintner had harvested all his grapes, but for the cabernet. “I went up to Napa to taste barrel samples of cabs from the year before – Opus One, Harlan, Mondavi. Their reserve wines, big hitters. And I learned that you’ve got to wait [to pick cabernet sauvignon grapes], you’ve got to be patient. So I went back home and then waited a few more weeks. And that 2000 vintage, I made a really excellent cab!”
Brander’s cabernet sauvignons, the reserve line in particular, have since garnered awards and plenty of 90+ scores. Other vintages that stand out to him as collection-worthy include 2002, 2004 and 2016.
And other Bordeaux reds on the Brander portfolio that he’s especially excited about include cabernet franc and malbec.
If decades-long successes with grapes like sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon proved anything to the winemaker, it is that the region he calls home is especially well-suited for Bordeaux grapes. With the federal AVA designation of Sta. Rita Hills in 2001, recognizing the cool growing region in the western Santa Ynez Valley as ideal for grapes like pinot noir and chardonnay, Brander thought, “Now we need to delineate our warmer growing regions.” He studied climactic zones and soil maps, and took on a 10-year endeavor that would eventually result in the for-
mation of Los Olivos District AVA in 2016. Bordered by the Ballard Canyon and Happy Canyon AVAs, with the 60-acre Brander estate smack in the middle of it, the Los Olivos District AVA is now recognized for topography, soil, and climate that are ideally suited for growing world-class Bordeaux grapes. Today, consumers can find it prominently written across many labels by Brander and by many of his neighbors, like Margerum and Beckmen.
“It’s nice to see [the AVA] getting some traction,” says Fred Brander, “and it is
too to see more wine lists that features the Los Olivos District.”
These days, Mr. Brander splits his time between his home in Montecito and his winery in Los Olivos. The estate is a destination in its own right, with
THURSDAY AM - PM 7:0010:00 FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AM7:0012:00AM
SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY 7:30 AM - 10:00 PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
D’ANGELO BREAD
The Brander Vineyard in Los Olivos is planted mainly with Bordeaux grapes like cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc (courtesy photo)
Brander helped distinguish the Los Olivos District AVA (courtesy photo)
The Brander cabernet sauvignon is a top seller for the winery each vintage (courtesy photo)
Cellar Master Francisco Morales (courtesy photo)
a chateau-inspired Mediterranean tasting room, along with courtyard and picnic areas that host popular music events throughout the year. The flags that wave in the wind are symbolic to him: Argentina, a reminder of his birthplace, Sweden, a nod to his father’s heritage, and Old Glory, for what even-
tually became home. There are two Airbnb rentals onsite, too. And the vintner’s newest passion project – collecting Mexican folk art – is on full display.
“I’ve always been into collecting,” Brander says, “and Mexican artisanal art is something I got into later in life.”
Much of his barrel room was repurposed 15 years ago to house a museum of all types of handmade pieces, which he continues to acquire during multiple southof-the-border trips a year; in fact, when Brander and I spoke last week, he’d just returned from a ceramics competition,
winemaking, is part of a concerted effort by Fred Brander to make the estate that bears his name “a place with personality, and a place for artistic expression.” As he looks at the future of his eponymous brand – the next 50 years – he’s leaning more and more on the small team that surrounds him, too, which includes his head winemaker, Fabian Bravo, and his own son, Nicolas, who oversees vineyard and business operations. He’s happy about the younger Brander’s involvement, since “as a dad, you can’t really depend on the next generation to take over. That’s certainly [true] in the wine business, which has become less a family affair and more of a corporate affair.”
Also part of the Brander brand’s future: tequila and mezcal. Agave plants that were recently planted across nearly two acres of the winery property should be ready for their first viable harvest in the next three years.
The public is invited to celebrate 50
beginning with a concert and barbecue event this weekend. The big party, though, is slated for Labor Day weekend, August 29th through the 31st. An afterhours tasting and kick-off party on Friday night and painting-in-the-vineyard classes, live music and bottle discounts all weekend long. An exclusive winemaker dinner at Intermezzo in Santa Barbara is set for Saturday, August 30th
Find out more at brander.com
Gabe Saglie has been covering the Santa Barbara wine scene for more than 15 years through columns, TV, and radio. He’s a senior editor with Travelzoo and is a leading expert on travel deals, tips, and trends.
next door to sister restaurants
Photo courtesy of Olio e Limone Ristorante BOT TEGA
The chateau-inspired main building at Brander Vineyard is home to a popular tasting room and Mr. Brander’s growing collection of Mexican folk art
Today’s Brander team includes winemaker Fabian Bravo, right, and Fred Brander’s son, Nik (courtesy photo)
Father and son doing what they do best (courtesy photo)
NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND PENDING ACTION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO:
WAIVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON A MODIFICATION APPLICATION AND APPROVE, CONDITIONALLY APPROVE, OR DENY THE MODIFICATION APPLICATION
This may affect your property. Please read.
Notice is hereby given that an application for the project described below has been submitted to the Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department. This project requires the approval and issuance of a Modification application by the Planning and Development Department.
The development requested by this application is under the jurisdiction of the Montecito PC and therefore a public hearing on the application is normally required prior to any action to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application. However, in compliance with the Montecito Land Use and Development Code Section 35.472.120.D.7, the Director intends to waive the public hearing requirement unless a written request for such hearing is submitted by an interested party to the Planning and Development Department within the 15 working days following the Date of Notice listed below. All requests for a hearing must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Request for Hearing Expiration Date listed below, to Kathleen Volpi at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101-2058, by email at volpik@countyofsb.org, or by fax at (805) 568-2030. If a public hearing is requested, notice of such a hearing will be provided.
WARNING: Failure by a person to request a public hearing may result in the loss of the person’s ability to appeal any action taken by Santa Barbara County on this Modification Application to the Montecito Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors.
If a request for public hearing is not received by 5:00 p.m. on the Request for Hearing Expiration Date listed below, then the Planning and Development Department will act to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request for a Modification application. At this time it is not known when this action may occur; however, this may be the only notice you receive for this project. To receive additional information regarding this project, including the date the Modification application is approved, and/or to view the application and plans, or to provide comments on the project, please contact Kathleen Volpi at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101-2058, or by email at volpik@countyofsb.org, or by phone at (805) 568-2033.
PROPOSAL: MONTESANO TRUST PARKING MODIFICATION
PROJECT ADDRESS: 590 SANTA ROSA LN, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93108 1st SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT
The project is a request for a Modification to reduce the required number of off-street parking spaces from two covered parking spaces and one uncovered parking space, to, two covered parking spaces only. The parcel will be served by the Montecito Water District, the Montecito Sanitary District, and the Montecito Fire District. Access will continue to be provided off of Santa Rosa Lane. The property is a 0.16-acre parcel zoned 2-E-1 and shown as Assessor's Parcel Number 007-267-007, located at 590 Santa Rosa Lane in the Montecito Community Plan Area, First Supervisorial District.
APPEALS:
The decision of the Director of the Planning and Development Department to approve, conditionally approve, or deny this Modification application 24MOD-00009 may be appealed to the Montecito Planning Commission by the applicant or an aggrieved person. The appeal must be filed within the 10 calendar days following the date that the Director takes action on this Modification application. To qualify as an "aggrieved person" the appellant must have, in person or through a representative, informed the Planning and Development Department by appropriate means prior to the decision on the Coastal Development Permit of the nature of their concerns, or, for good cause, was unable to do so.
Appeals must be filed with the Planning and Development Department online at https://aca-prod.accela.com/sbco/Default.aspx, by 5:00 p.m. within the timeframe identified above. In the event that the last day for filing an appeal falls on a non-business day of the County, the appeal may be timely filed on the next business day. For additional information regarding the appeal process, contact Kathleen Volpi.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
information about this project review process may also be viewed at: https://ca-santabarbaracounty.civicplus.pro/1499/Planning-Permit-Process-Flow-Chart Board of Architectural Review agendas may be viewed online at: https://www.countyofsb.org/160/Planning-Development
Published July 10, 2025
News Bytes Montecito Segment 101 Updates
by MJ Staff
Montecito drivers should prepare for significant traffic pattern changes as Highway 101 construction ramps up this July. As of June 28, newly constructed northbound lanes from Sheffield Drive to Hermosillo Road have opened, including a new auxiliary lane between San Ysidro and Olive Mill roads. Commuters can now access an improved northbound on-ramp at San Ysidro and an upgraded off-ramp at Hermosillo.
The next major shift begins the night of July 12, when southbound lanes from Olive Mill to Posilipo Lane will be rerouted to the freeway median. This configuration, expected to last through summer 2026, will divide lanes with safety barriers while crews remove old pavement and install upgraded infrastructure.
The southbound on-ramp at Olive Mill Road will close for nine months beginning July 12, and the southbound off-ramp at San Ysidro will be inaccessible for three months. Detours are in place via N. Jameson Lane and Sheffield Drive. Additionally, bridge demolition will begin at Romero, San Ysidro, and Oak Creek as part of the median shift.
Drivers are urged to reduce speed to 55 mph and observe posted closures. For detailed maps and timelines, visit SBROADS.com
Montecito Fire Dept Promotions
Montecito Fire Chief David Neels announced the promotions of Fire Captain Daniel Arnold and Engineer Dustin Barthel with a badge pinning ceremony during their monthly Board of Directors meeting. Neels adding, “In the fire service, badge pinning is a meaningful tradition that marks a career milestone and honors the deep connection between firefighters and their families. Arnold’s father, Chris Arnold, a retired fire captain himself, had the honor of pinning his son’s badge, surrounded by many members of the Arnold family. Barthel’s wife, Brittany, pinned his new badge on, with his mother watching proudly.” Congrats all around for Captain Arnold and Engineer Barthel on this well-deserved achievement.
Events at Montecito Country Mart
- Trunk Show by 49 Square Miles at Emily Joubert: July 12, 1 to 3 pm. Bags designed in California and crafted using the highest quality Italian materials.
- National Ice Cream Day July 20: Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with Rori’s Creamery. Buy a single scoop and they’ll make it a double scoop!
CRIME IN THE ‘CITO Sheriff’s Blotter 93108 .
Burglary / Boeseke Parkway Monday, June 16, at 18:59 hours
Residents came home after being away for the weekend and discovered entry had been made through a broken window on the back door. The suspects ransacked several rooms and stole three watches (two of them being Rolex) and a box of ammo. The victims estimated the loss at this time to be $50,000. Report taken and forwarded to detectives.
Tresspassing / Ennisbrook Dr. Sunday, June 22, at 09:36 hours
Two unidentified males were trespassing near the gym facilities at Ennisbrook. Per the Reporting Party (RP), this has been an ongoing problem with the same subjects since May (this is the second call for service in two days). Per the RP, the subjects are parking at the trailhead, walking up to the clubhouse, and using the gym and swimming pool. They were gone on arrival, but the RP provided a good photograph.
Accessible Field Trips AND Accessible Volunteer Opportunities!
Every year, thousands of students learn and explore with NatureTrack volunteers.
Volunteering doesn’t require a PhD in nature, just a passion for learning and sharing! No set hours—join us when it’s best for you. ENJOY THE OUTDOORS ENJOY THE OUTDOORS ENJOY THE OUTDOORS WHILE VOLUNTEERING WHILE VOLUNTEERING WHILE VOLUNTEERING
How You Can Help
Lead or assist with K-12 field trips or Trax events
Assist with administrative and fundraising activities
Volunteer at the annual Nature Track Film Festival Follow Us Online!
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-01
AN ORDINANCE OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE MONTECITO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF THE MONTECITO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
WHEREAS, the Montecito Fire Protection District (“District”) operates under the provisions of California’s Fire Protection District Law of 1987, wherein the State Legislature declared that the local provision of fire protection services, rescue services, emergency medical services, hazardous material emergency response services and other services relating to the protection of lives and property is critical to the public peace, health and safety of the State of California and that local control over the types, levels and availability of these services is a long-standing tradition in California; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Government Code section 51178, the State Fire Marshal has identified within the District’s jurisdiction areas designated as moderate, high and very high fire hazard severity zones based upon consistent criteria applied statewide
WHEREAS, in accordance with Government Code section 51179, the District may, at District’s discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the District, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supporte d by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code section 511892 are necessary for effective fire protection within the District’s jurisdiction.
NOW THEREFORE, the Governing Board of the MONTECITO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ordains as follows:
Article 1. Adoption of Fire Hazard Severity Zones
The Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Montecito Fire Protection District (“District”) hereby designates areas not identified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by the State Fire Marshal, as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record, as set forth in Article 3, that the requirements of Government Code section 51182 are necessary for the effective fire protection within the area of the District
Article 2 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
The official map, approved by the District, is hereby incorporated by reference, and entitled Montecito Fire Protection District Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The official map is also located electronically on the District’s website.
Article 3 Findings.
The Board, following due consideration, hereby finds and determines that the inclusion of areas within the jurisdiction of the District, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones are reasonably necessary due to local climatic, geological, and topographical conditions existing in the District. The District hereby finds and declares that:
The area within which the District is located regularly experiences strong, hot down canyon winds referred to locally as “Sundowners.”
Such wind conditions increase fire danger by significantly contributing to the spread and intensity of fires and significantly increase the difficulty of effective fire suppression within the District.
If a fire involving a single structure cannot be immediately extinguished, such wind conditions can rapidly spread flames to adjacent structures, significantly endangering lives and/or millions of dollars in property value.
Such winds can spread existing flames from a structure or natural fuel to structures and natural fuel significant distances away, even jumping over fire breaks and freeways, resulting in significant property damage and/or loss of life.
Much of the jurisdiction of the District is within heavy brush and chaparral.
It is generally known to take about 25 years to build up extremely dangerous combustible brush conditions, and the District contains areas where combustible flora has built up for 50 to 100 years.
The District is in an area prone to extensive drought conditions, significantly increasing the already natural combustibility of the chaparral, brush and ornamental shrubbery in the District.
Such fuels can rapidly transform a small manageable fire into an uncontrollable conflagration, compromising the lives and safety of District personnel and residents.
The reduction of such fuels provides a direct correlation to the safety of the lives and property within the District, and will substantially reduce the risk of injury or death to District personnel.
The District is geographically situated such that extreme solar exposure (south, southwest, and west facing slopes) continually results in critically low live fuel moisture levels, further rendering most brush, chaparral and ornamental shrubbery highly combustible.
Due to these conditions even non-structural fires can pose a massive threat to the lives and structures located in the District.
The District is located in close proximity to several active earthquake faults.
During and after an earthquake, there is a high potential for fires and other emergencies threatening the lives of District residents, generally requiring the commitment of all available resources.
Geographic and topographic conditions delay response times for fire apparatus (these conditions include remote structures; narrow, winding roads which hamper the access of modern fire suppression apparatus; and extremely sloping roads which tend to slow fire apparatus response).
U.S. Highway 101 traverses the District, and is a transportation route for hazardous materials and some traffic accidents on Highway 101 require the presence of all available fire apparatus, leaving the District with fewer resources to combat structural fires elsewhere in the District.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/ are doing business as: Bronze Age Hardware, 2605 S. Miller Street, Suite 107, Santa Maria, CA 93455. Robert J Dickerson, 2605 S. Miller Street, Suite 107, Santa Maria, CA 93455. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 25, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the
original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20250001517. Published July 10, 17, 24, 31, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/ are doing business as: Montecito Medium; The Montecito Medium, 1187 Coast Village Road, 703, Montecito, CA 93108. Regina D Tomlinson, LLC, 1187 Coast Village Road 703, Montecito, CA 93108. This statement was filed with the
The Union Pacific Railroad line also traverses the District, and a train accident or derailment could immediately deplete the District’s resources, limiting the District’s ability to furnish fire protection for the balance of the District.
The Montecito Fire Protection District is in the mutual aid plan and is committed to supply personnel and equipment for serious fires outside the District and which can reduce the personnel and equipment available for response to possible emergencies within the District.
Further, in many instances because of the extra hazardous conditions, a defensible space protection zone around buildings and structures of only one hundred feet is not sufficient to provide for tenable wildland firefighting operations around such buildings and structures. These conditions are common upon lands within the District that are located within the area designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Such areas are rural areas with slopes exceeding 40% and are covered with old age class chaparral and dense vegetation, creating conditions that are dangerous to fire fighters.
The Board expressly finds and declares that the findings contained herein provide the basis for the inclusion of areas within the jurisdiction of the District, not identified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by the State Fire Marshal, as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Article 4. Severability.
If any article, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The Board hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each article, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more articles, sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or words may be unconstitutional or invalid.
Article 5 Effective Date and Publication.
(a) Effective Date. This Ordinance was introduced for first reading on May 27, 2025, and passed on June 23, 2025, and shall take effect thirty (30) days after final passage.
(b) Publication. In accordance with Section 25124 of the Government Code, this Ordinance shall be published once, with the names of the members of the Board voting for and against it in a newspaper of general circulation in the District within fifteen (15) days after its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the Governing Board of the MONTECITO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT on this 23rd day of June, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES: S. Dougherty, M. Lee, P. van Duinwyk, S. Easton
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: J. Pennino
ATTEST:
/s/ Sylvia Easton
Sylvia Easton, Secretary
County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 25, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0001506. Published July 3, 10, 17, 24, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: King Frederik
/s/ Peter van Duinwyk
Peter van Duinwyk, President MONTECITO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ) ss. COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA )
I, Sylvia Easton, Secretary of the Governing Board of the Montecito Fire Protection District, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 2025-01 of said District, adopted at a regular meeting of the Governing Board, held on the 23rd day of June, 2025, at which meeting a quorum of the Governing Board was present and acting throughout, and that the same has not been amended or repealed.
DATED: This 23rd day of June, 2025 /s/ Sylvia Easton Sylvia Easton, Secretary MONTECITO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Motel, LLC, 1617 Copenhagen Dr, Solvang, CA 93463. King Frederik Motel, LLC, 1617 Copenhagen Dr, Solvang, CA 93463. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 9, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0001380. Published June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Santa Barbara Financial Services; SB Financial Services; Montecito Financial Services, 432 W Valerio St, APT 4, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. PattersonSB, LLC., 432 W Valerio St, APT 4, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 10, 2025. This statement expires
five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0001389.
Published June 19, 26, July 3, 10, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Santa Barbara Creative Education, 632 East Ortega Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Avery J Almendarez Artigo, 6647 El Colegio Rd, Goleta, CA 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 10, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0001392. Published June 19, 26, July 3, 10, 2025
July 3 and 10, 2025
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV01729. To all interested parties: Petitioner Rey John S. Lingco and Gelen D. Rosario filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name of their child from Jeremiah Gabriel Dantay Rosario to Jeremiah Gabriel Rosario Lingco. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed June 20, 2025 by Terri Chavez. Hearing date: August 6, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 3, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published July 3, 10, 17, 24, 2025
Published
Montecito Journal
‘The
River is Waiting’
Wally Lamb is back with The River is Waiting and I am so excited for it. Full disclosure: I have not read this yet, but I can assure you if it’s half as good as any of his other heartbreaking books, this is bound to be a winner. If you read and/ or watched I Know This Much is True, you know what I am saying. He is one of my favorite authors and I’m sure his grocery list is more entertaining than most books I read.
‘Bitter Honey’
The complicated relationship between mothers and daughters is explored in Lolá Ákínmádé’s latest, Bitter Honey Tina is a singer on the cusp of stardom when a father she never knew shows up, throwing her off kilter and jeopardizing her career. Her mother Nancy isn’t interested in explaining why she told Tina he was dead. Nancy’s good intentions and
Stories Matter All in the Family
by Leslie Zemeckis
bitter regrets will haunt Tina, who tries to understand this strange man showing up in her life. From Gambia to Sweden this is sweet and sour, layered and complex, showing us that secrets buried never stay buried.
‘Finding Grace’
Loretta Rothschild ’s debut fiction
Finding Grace could have been written from any point of view, but the character she chooses to tell her story is brilliant. This one starts off with a wallop of a twist and just gets better from there. Honor and Tom are married. They have a child, Chloe, but Honor is desperate to expand their family, despite all the IVF failures. Tom isn’t a 100% sure he wants to continue down this road. What sounds like an average story is a deeply moving, emotional love story and I don’t want to give away the many surprises. I cried – okay, sobbed – numerous times during this one. It’s about love and loss and regret and it was everything I look for in a book – twisty, emotional, and well written. One of the best I’ve read this year.
‘Our Last Resort’
Our Last Resort is Clémence Michallon ’s latest thriller (her Quiet Tenant was bone-chilling). A brother and sister who escaped from a cult, years later find themselves
entangled in the murder of a beautiful young woman. The brother is a suspect, and it isn’t the first time he has been accused of killing someone. Frida and Gabriel have come to a desert resort to hash out the pros and cons of participating in a documentary about –presumably – living in the cult. When their neighbor is murdered, suddenly Frida worries Gabriel is involved after she catches him lying to police. Michallon is an excellent storyteller and master of psychological suspense.
‘The Satisfaction Café’
You will fall in love with Joan Lian in Kathy Wang ’s The Satisfaction
Café from the moment you learn she has been living in an attic since coming to America from Taiwan, she’s been married for six weeks, and she just stabbed her husband. A lot happens to Joan while she attends school at Stanford, the least of which is meeting her future short-lived husband. I love all the quirky characters Joan encounters while she grows older, raises a family, and tries to find herself and her satisfaction.
‘The View from Lake Como’
Adriana Trigiani brings us the delightful and witty The View from Lake Como. Jess Capodimonte is living in Lake Como, New Jersey, as a draftswoman for her uncle’s Carrara marble business. She has always dreamed about the other Lake Como, but something always seems to get in the way of her travels. After divorcing her perfect husband, enduring the loss of a loved one, and the revelation of a betrayal of trust, Jess will finally be on her way to Tuscany to discovery herself and the artist in her. This is a big, beautiful book and all we expect from this New York Times bestseller with dialogue that is snappy and delicious. A perfect summer read whether you are in Italy or just dreaming of it.
Leslie Zemeckis is an awardwinning documentarian, best-selling author, and actor. The creator of “Stories Matter,” professional female authors mentoring the next generation of female storytellers, co-sponsored by SBIFF.
UCSB, portrays the monster, using platform shoes to enhance his already six-foot plus frame.
“It’s impressive how comfortable and agile he is with all of that,” Mokler said.
As with Brooks’ The Producers , Young Frankenstein manages to come off as a very traditional musical while also making fun of the genre, Mokler said.
“There’s the big opening number, a big closer at the end of Act 1, the 10 o’clock aria. There are two big dance numbers with a full chorus, even tap dancing, lots of very funny moments, some romance – all the elements of a traditional old-fashioned musical, except it’s spoofing it all the time.”
More importantly for our times, Mokler said, Young Frankenstein –which plays July 11-26 at the Garvin Theatre on the SBCC campus – is very cheerful and upbeat.
“It’s escapism at its best.”
Visit www.theatregroupsbcc.com
No Sweat, Sherlock
Jeffrey Hatcher ’s mystery thriller Holmes and Watson turns Arthur Conan Doyle’s famed fictional detective on his ear in a fast-paced tale that begins when Dr. Watson is summoned to a remote asylum where three inmates all claim to be Sherlock Holmes. Director Michael Brusasco cautions audiences heading to see the PCPA production, which performs July 11-26 at the Solvang Festival Theater, to keep their wits steady.
“What you’ll see will be a foglaced, shadow-drenched, puzzle box of a play (with a script that) is a gift of precision – sharp, spare, and cunningly constructed. It demands clarity but invites ambiguity… We aim for tension with a wink, mystery without melodrama. Just enough danger to keep things interesting. Still, trust no one. Not the characters. Not the actors. And certainly not me.”
Visit www.pcpa.org
Focus on Film: Oui, We’re Going to the Dogs
UCSB Arts & Lectures’ annual series of free summer film screenings outdoors under the stars at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens might have come up with its smartest theme yet. Dubbed “Dog Days of Summer,” the series sports seven nights of dogthemed movies in one of the more spectacular venues in the heart of downtown, with picnicking, event
tie-ins and music preceding each screening shortly after sunset.
Walt Disney’s pre-CGI animated classic 101 Dalmatians (1961) kicks things off on July 11 with its beloved cast of canine heroes and the dastardly dognapper Cruella de Vil, with screenings of other mutt-centric fare continuing every Friday at 8:30 pm from through August 29, save for August 1 during Fiesta week. Come early for music and more with KLITE morning show host Catherine Remak , complementary puppy-themed face painting, info from dog trainers K-Nine Solutions, and raffle prizes that include a free day of doggy daycare from Dioji.
Other series highlights include Christopher Guest’s mockumentary masterpiece Best in Show (July 25) and Wes Anderson’s quirky Isle of Dogs, which rivals his great Fantastic Mr. Fox (August 15).
Visit www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu
Cinematic
Cultural Connections
SBIFF’s annual French Wave Film Festival brings 11 new French films to the Riviera Theatre screening in repertory July 11-17, including multiple winners and nominees for César Awards (France’s Oscars) and movies that have screened at major film festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Toronto and Venice. Among the highlights: The President’s Wife: Bernadette, which stars Catherine Deneuve as the womanbehind-the-man to her newly elected husband Jacques; Meet the Barbarians, about what happens when a family of Ukrainian refugees settles in a small village in Brittany, which was written, directed by, and stars Julie Delpy; and Monsieur Aznavour, a biopic about the great singer Charles Aznavour. Visit https://sbifftheatres.com/wave for details, showtimes and ticket/pass info.
The Alhecama Theatre hosts the 16th annual Asian American Film Series over three Friday nights from July 11-25, with four films followed by Q&A sessions with filmmakers or other guests. Opening night’s Home Court tells the coming-of-age story of Ashley Chea, a Cambodian American high school basketball prodigy in Southern California whose life intensifies as recruitment heats up. While the closing night selection, Starring Jerry as Himself, documents how a family’s immigrant father, a recently divorced and retired Florida man, was recruited by the Chinese police to be an undercover agent.
Visit www.sbthp.org/aafs
& Doings (Continued from 6)
and guileless gap-toothed smile frantically waving you over to the Martini station? Try him.
Moses Supposes
The people in the photo that leads this essay are (clockwise from left) Lenny Bernstein, choreographer Jerry Robbins, writers Betty Comden and Adolph Green. These four wrote and choreographed On the Town , a joyous, groundbreaking ‘40s ballet about sailors on shore leave – and a harbinger of Bernstein and Robbins’ wondrous West Side Story , in which big Bill Shakespeare’s doomed Romeo and Juliet are given blue jeans and circle skirts and turned balletically loose on the streets of Manhattan. Comden and Green wrote the movie Singin’ in the Rain . That movie could not have been written anywhere else in the world by any other people. Or peoples, as social scientists call them. Who else could’ve written that unbuckled joyride? The descendants of Hannibal, or whatever? Look at these four and you are looking at America
America is not a political or economic system, not a judicial framework, a parade, a manhunt, or a password-protected cabal. America is the guy at the end of your block who borrowed your new Toro Riding Mower and then drove it into his pool, announcing the mishap on your front stoop – soaked to the skin – with a sheepishly proffered six pack of Pacifico. America is the cashier who slammed her finger in the drawer at the seafood place and let out a cursing yowl that made the evening better by half. America is the old guy who invariably tips his hat to your mom in the retirement village dining room. The rest is distracting compost.
Did your corner grocer install the Shah of Iran in 1953? Uh, no. Which of your pickleball partners is most likely to throw someone into an unmarked van?
The people on the street – everywhere –are you and me; with a few sartorial variations. When a friend group of swinging Tehran hipsters filmed themselves dancing to Pharell Williams’ Happy, but for their charmingly clunky moves they could’ve been a bunch of pals in Brooklyn. Check it out on YouTube. So, what are we? America is Bing serenading Grace with a Cole Porter tune in High Society. We’re not deportations, speeches, and glowering news cycles. We’re not Trump, not Biden, not Obama, not the Keebler Elf who runs the House. We’re Bernstein, Robbins, Comden and Greene. We’re Gene Kelly when he abandons choreography and just wheels around in the rain, his umbrella uselessly outstretched, his giddy puddle-stomping that of a hope-stung breakaway nation still finding its geist, his upturned face taking the rain with a serene grin that makes all the right promises. God shed His grace on THEE.
We’re the happiest accident history has yet produced. Remember remember remember what we Are. REMEMBER. And spread the word.
Jeff Wing is a journalist, raconteur, autodidact, and polysyllable enthusiast. He has been writing about Montecito and environs since before some people were born. He can be reached at jeff@ montecitojournal.net
Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor – Singin’ in the Rain, as one does (photo via public domain)
July concert with the Santa Barbara Symphony,” says Jeremy Lindaman, president of the foundation.
I couldn’t agree more. It was a magical night.
Already Sold Out
Meghan Markle’s As Ever rosé wine went on sale last week and is already sold out.
Customers are able to buy three bottles for $90, six for $159 and 12 for $300.
It is made by Fairwinds Estates, a California vineyard that creates wines for celebrity labels, according to the tabloid, London’s Daily Mail. This move came after the winery lost its vineyard and tasting room in a 2020 fire, with only the cellar surviving.
The As Ever wine is Meghan’s first ever alcoholic product and joins other products, including raspberry spread and herbal teas.
Coincidentally, or not, the release date would have been the 64th birthday of Princess Diana, husband Prince Harry’s mother.
Waiting for Something Special
Former Montecito resident Michael Douglas says he has ‘no real intentions’ of acting again and explained why he has been on indefinite hiatus.
Michael, 80, son of the late screen legend Kirk Douglas, says he decided to stop acting during a press conference at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.
“I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop,” he said before explaining that he wanted to enjoy time off after his decades-spanning career.
“I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set,” the two-time Oscar winner elaborated.
Michael later emphasized that he does not consider himself officially retired because he would be open to returning to Hollywood if the right opportunity came along.
“I have no real intentions of going back. I say I’m not retired because if something special came up, I’d go back – but otherwise, no.”
A Service Well Done
After 23 years on the board of the Granada, philanthropist Sarah Chrisman – wife of fellow philanthropist Roger Chrisman – is retiring and was honored at a reception of the Birnam Wood home of fellow board
member Leslie and Harrison Bains for 60 guests.
“Sarah’s work has been important and inspiring,” said Caren Rager, the venerable theater’s executive director.
To mark the occasion of her retirement Sarah was presented with a crystal sculpture.
Among the musical mob were Santa Barbara Symphony maestro Nir Kabaretti, Brooks and Kate Firestone, Dan and Meg Burnham, Janet Garufis, Peter and Kathryn Martin, Mayor Randy Rowse, Peter and Deborah Bertling, Palmer Jackson Jr., and Bob and Val Montgomery
A delightful sunset soirée....
Suspicions Confirmed
Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry and British actor Orlando Bloom have confirmed their unfortunate breakup.
“Due to the abundance of recent interest and conversation surrounding the relationship, representatives have confirmed that Orlando and Katy have been shifting their relationship over the past
many months to focus on coparenting,” reps for the former twosome said a joint statement to the New York Post’s Page Six.
“They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is – and always will be – raising their daughter, Daisy Dove, with love, stability, and mutual respect.”
Katy is now facing more than just heartbreak following the split. She is also now heading for a major High Court showdown in a matter of months.
The former Dos Pueblos High student, 40, is preparing to defend herself in a high-profile legal battle – a trademark war with Sydney fashion designer Katie Perry – that’s been raging over a decade.
The High Court of Australia - the country’s top court – has set a date for September 9 to hear the dispute over the use of the name “Katie Perry” – a label registered by the Australian designer in 2008.
Katie, who was born with surname Perry but later used the surnames Howell and then Taylor, claimed the singer’s decision to put her name on clothing merchandise during the 2014 Australian tour infringed on her fashion label’s trademark and damaged her business.
and
Kathryn Martin, Roger Chrisman, Kostis Protopapas, Nir Kabaretti, Palmer Jackson Jr., and Randy Rowse with Sara Chrisman (photo by Priscilla)
Kate and Brooks Firestone, Roger Chrisman, Leslie and Harrison Bains, and Joan Rutkowski surrounding honoree Sarah (photo by Priscilla)
“My fashion label has been a dream of mine since I was 11 years old,” said the designer. “And now that dream that I have worked so hard for, since 2006, has been taken away.”
Gann on Board
Pamela Gann, a legal scholar and former college administrator with broad experience in higher education, public affairs, and international relations, has been elected chair of the board of directors for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. Gann studied mathematics as an undergraduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before earning a law degree at Duke University where she served as articles editor for the Duke Law Journal, eventually joining the faculty at Duke Law School.
She went on to serve as dean for Duke Law before being named president of Claremont McKenna College in 1999, a post she held until 2013. Gann succeeds Danna McGrew , who will remain on the Scholarship Foundation Board. McGrew also joins the Scholarship Foundation’s Past Presidents Council.
Sightings
Oscar winner Zoe Saldaña and family watching the Village 4th parade... Former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman noshing at Lucky’s... Actor Chris Pratt at Pierre Lafond.
Pip! Pip!
From musings on the Royals to celebrity real estate deals, Richard Mineards is our man on the society scene and has been for more than 18 years
Palmer
Susan Jackson, Sarah and Roger Chrisman, with hosts Leslie and Harrison Bains (photo by Priscilla)
Pamela Gann, new chair of Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Calendar of Events
by Steven Libowitz
THURSDAY, JULY 10
Eighteen-string Ecstasy – The inspired double-bill of two heralded Golden Statebased guitar trios promises to be a boundary-blurring blast for fans of both acoustic and electric formats. The 34-year-old California Guitar Trio continues to traverse rock, jazz, classical and world music with impressive interplay and magnetic stage presence that sees them covering everything from Bach to Radiohead and beyond. It’s a combination that has lasted through 21 albums and appearances ranging from NASA wake-up calls to soundtracks for broadcasts of the Olympics. Formed barely a decade ago, The String Revolution also boasts genre-defying performances and imaginative arrangements that run the instrument’s gamut, including reimagining iconic tracks like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” and Sting’s “Englishman in New York.” If you sit close enough, you can maybe figure out how these six string wizards pull off the magic.
WHEN: 8 pm
WHERE: SOhO, 1221 State St., upstairs in Victoria Court
COST: $30
INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
FRIDAY, JULY 11
EDC’s TGIF! – For more than 20 years, the Environmental Defense Center’s tgif! gatherings have been a staple of the Santa Barbara summer season sunset hours. Once monthly, the now periodic warm-weather events bring the community together at EDC’s charming courtyard – which actually sits in the center of its downtown headquarters. The tgif! events feature live music from a local band, refreshing beverages (with alcohol and otherwise), and local food vendors providing snacks, all as part of a gathering of regional nonprofit and environmental organizations, elected officials, and like-minded people from throughout the south-central coast. Each event features brief talks by four of the EDC’s nonprofit partners who share about their current work, after which the music resumes. Every event includes a raffle with prizes from such organizations as Patagonia. No wonder EDC’s tgif!s have a reputation as one of the best happy
Concerts in the Park – It’s already the middle two installments of the popular city-sponsored series that brings pop and other bands to the lush setting of the Great Meadow in Chase Palm Park just across the street from East Beach. The free, family-friendly summer tradition, now in its 25th year, is an efficient evening, the bands performing a single 90-minute set that winds up before the sun goes down. July 10 brings the annual heart-stopping sounds of Captain Cardiac and The Coronaries, the ‘50s & ‘60s cover band with over-the-top sparkly costumes and predictable range of songs that invariably concludes with “Shout” –the wildly kinetic anthem which invariably gets the crowd up and jumping on command. Expect a much wider range of genres on July 10 when The Academy, the professional cover band that originated with local Detar Music Studios teachers and students, brings their high energy show and broad spectrum of rock styles. As always, concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and picnics (but no alcohol) to enjoy the evening of free music amid sea breezes under the late afternoon sun.
WHEN: 6-7:30 pm
WHERE: Chase Palm Park, 300 W. Cabrillo Blvd.
COST: free
INFO: (805) 564-5418 or www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/ recreation/events/parkrec/concerts.asp
THURSDAY, JULY 10
The ‘Ingenuity’ of the Mars Helicopter – Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History delves into modern events that took place nowhere near town when Martin Cacan comes to Fleishmann Auditorium for an illustrated talk. The Chief Pilot of the Ingenuity Helicopter that conducted 72 flights across Mars (yes, that Mars) will discuss some of the discoveries and inspiring moments that comprised exploration of the Red Planet. These included overcoming operational and planetary challenges, and all manner of off-earth record-setting. Cacan, who assisted in over 50 flights through the Martian atmosphere as a guidance and control engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, appears as part of a monthly series of free astronomy talks presented by local astronomy club, the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit. The local connection? Cacan is a Santa Barbara native.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Rd. COST: Free
INFO: (805) 682-4711 or www.sbnature.org
Donna Will of VINTUS.
WHEN: 5:30-7:30 pm
WHERE: 906 Garden Street
COST: $20 at the door includes 2 drink tickets, free for kids under 10
INFO: (805) 963-1622 or www.environmentaldefensecenter.org/tgif
SUNDAY, JULY 13
Jazz Society – Pianist-composer Tom Gastineau had a seven year-plus stint working several days a week for Clint Eastwood as solo pianist at the famed film star-director’s Mission Ranch Restaurant and Resort in Carmel. Gastineau is currently collaborating on a CD of original music with native Santa Barbara bassist-composer Randy Tico and multi-instrumentalist/composer Jon Crosse Gastineau and Tico will be joined by Robert Kyle on saxophone, Santa Barbara stalwart Kevin Winard on percussion, and Dick Weller on drums for July’s Santa Barbara Jazz Society show at SOhO this afternoon.
WHEN: 1-4 pm
WHERE: SOhO, 1221 State Street, upstairs in Victoria Court
COST: $10-$25
INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
MONDAY, JULY 14
Amphibian Adventures – It’s not easy being green, as Kermit the Frog (and Sinatra himself) sang. Nor is it a breeze for any sort of amphibious animal in our world nowadays, as habitat loss and pollution have put amphibians at risk worldwide. For today’s Science Pub – Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s ongoing series of free science talks held on the second Monday of the month – wildlife biologist Vince Semonsen dives into the struggle of two notable California species facing threats to survival. Semonsen will share the history and survey stories about the California Red-legged Frog (California’s state amphibian), and the locally endemic California Tiger Salamander. Come early to secure a seat at a table or the bar, order your favorite food and drink, and perhaps buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win museum swag while supporting science education.
WHEN: 6:30-8 pm
WHERE: Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, 18 E. Ortega Street
COST: free
INFO: (805) 682-4711 or www.sbnature.org
hours in Santa Barbara. Today’s seasonal kickoff features talks from CAUSE, Mothers for Peace, Rooted Santa Barbara County, and Ruben Castro Charities; plus music from The Chaps, and wines & beers by Leashless Brewing, and Patrick &
Images from Ila Jade & NASA
Your Trusted Choice for Estate Sales, Liquidation & Downsizing
Moving Miss Daisy’s providing comprehensive services through Moving Miss Daisy since 2015. Expert packing, unpacking, relocating to ensure your new home is beautifully set up and ready to enjoy. Miss Daisy’s is the largest consignment store in the Tri-Counties - nearly 20K sq.ft.- always offering an unmatched selection of items. We also host online Auctions.
We Buy, Sell and Broker Important Estate Jewelry. Located in the upper village of Montecito. Graduate Gemologists with 30 years of experience. We do free evaluations and private consultation. 1470 East Valley Rd Suite V. 805-969-0888
LANDSCAPE
Casa L. M.
Landscape hedges installed. Ficus to flowering. Disease resistant. Great privacy.
Stillwell Fitness of Santa Barbara In Home Personal Training Sessions for 65+ Help with: Strength, Flexibility, Balance Motivation, and Consistency
John Stillwell, CPT, Specialist in Senior Fitness 805-705-2014 StillwellFitness.com
GOT OSTEOPOROSIS? WE CAN HELP
At OsteoStrong our proven non-drug protocol takes just ten minutes once a week to improve your bone density and aid in more energy, strength, balance and agility. Please call for a complimentary session! Call Now (805) 453-6086
AUTOMOBILES WANTED
We buy Classic Cars Running or not. Foreign/Domestic Chevy/Ford/Porsche/Mercedes/Etc.
We come to you. Call Steven - 805-699-0684 Website - Avantiauto.group
TILE SETTING
Local tile setter of 35 years is now doing small jobs only. Services include grout cleaning and repair, caulking, sealing, replacing damaged tiles and basic plumbing needs. Call Doug Watts at 805-729-3211 for a free estimate.
CARPET CLEANING
Carpet Cleaning Since 1978 (805) 963-5304 Rafael Mendez Cell: 689-8397 or 963-3117
PET/ HOUSE SITTING
Do you need to get away for a weekend, week or more? I will house sit and take care of your pets, plants & mail. I have refs if needed. Call me or text me. Christine (805) 452-2385
PIANO LESSONS
Openings now available for Children and Adults.
Piano Lessons in our Studio or your Home. Call or Text Kary Kramer (805) 453-3481
PRIVATE CHEF
Private Chef Eliza
Classically trained chef Customized meals in-home or drop-off Special occasions & small gatherings 805.705.3618 www.chefeliza.com
GRAND OPENING
Estate Sales & Concierge Consignment
Join us for our First in a series of summer Pop-Up Events featuring a distinctive collection of Modern, Contemporary, with Select Vintage and Antique Home Furnishings and Decor.
Saturday/Sunday July 12 - 13 9 to 3 3823 Santa Claus Lane, Unit B Carpinteria, 93013
ART SALE
billidalziel@gmail.com 700 East Mason 11 - 2 Sat. & Sundays Williamdalziel.work (50 years of art)
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
K-9 PALS need volunteers to be foster parents for our dogs while they are waiting for their forever homes. For more information info@k-9pals.org or 805-570-0415
$10 MINIMUM TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD
It’s simple. Charge is $3 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $10 per issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email Classified Ad to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860. All ads must be finalized by Friday at 2pm the week prior to printing. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)
