Your Next Health

Mountain – Bangkok,

SERVING MONTECITO AND SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA

NYC…now Chef

Play It Forward – Four-time Emmy winner Cheri Steinkellner delivers All of Me to an old baby for ETC, P.20

YOUR NEXT HEALTH

Talking to Direct

Being Prepared – As the Gifford Fire rages on, Montecito Fire has these preparatory tips for when things get hot, P.35

La Merienda Fiesta

As Old Spanish Days ramped up, the Santa Barbara Women’s Club did their historic part at their 95th Annual Fiesta event, page 14

IT’S SUMMER – TIME TO GET THE PLASMA REFRESHED, BASK IN THE INFRARED LEDS, AND OPTIMIZE THOSE HORMONES. NEXT HEALTH MONTECITO IS NOW OPEN AND READY TO MEASURE YOUR BIOMARKERS (STORY STARTS ON P.5)

Pilates Power

Groove Pilates and Jessica Ballonoff are bringing mobility, positive energy, and, yes, undeniable groove to all the life stages, page 18

Little

Paris,

Diego Moya has landed in the Upper Village. Ethicallysourced noshing was never like this, P.10

Relief’s excited new chief, page 16

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

5

In Business – Next Health Montecito is offering the newest you with their range of longevity and preventative processes

Beings and Doings – 2,000 years ago, confessing your Christian faith would earn you a lunch date with lions. Today we have a Christian congress. Who knew?

Montecito Miscellany – A Wild Night Out, millinery mayhem at the Polo Fields, Fiesta festivities, and more miscellany

Curator’s Choice – This new weekly feature offers a glimpse into just one of the 3.5M specimens, artifacts, and documents from the SB Museum of Natural History

News Bytes – Little Mountain comes to town, WaterWise winner, Cassandria Blackmore gallery closes, and more Tide Guide

Our Town – Dr. Leonie H. Mattison responds to the July 15th Board of Supervisors meeting and shares her personal experiences on immigration

Society Invites – It was Fiesta fun when the Santa Barbara Women’s Club held its 95th Annual La Merienda celebration

16

The Giving List – Direct Relief’s new CEO Amy Weaver talks about the role, her goals, and the challenges facing the momentous organization

18 Finding Your Groove – Get in the groove of Pilates with Jessica Ballonoff and her Coast Village Road studio

20 On Entertainment – Playwright Cheri Steinkellner thrills to an old-new work, Ahab’s Tale at CAW chases the whale, and SBIFF’s Cinema Society chats up Josh Brolin

22 Brilliant Thoughts – Read on without a worry about Ashleigh’s musings around caring, the Antipodes, and a match king 24

Elizabeth’s Appraisals – Elizabeth finds a Brutalist caricature in a Ventura thrift store and discovers a story of outsider folk art

26 An Independent Mind – Trump is Everything Everywhere All at Once… but should he be?

28 Your Westmont – Innovative programs expand to new downtown building, and Martin Institute honors Theology of Health

30 In Passing – Remembering the life and impact of Ralph Minc Spirituality Matters – Time to tend to the dreams with these master classes, plus Sacred Space sessions and rooftop yoga

32

This Week @ MAW – The final week of the Summer Festival is here… and it’s going off with a bang (and some twangs and tunes)

34

Robert’s Big Questions – Who should pay for the climate crisis and the problems it causes in past and present?

35 Hot Topics – As the Gifford Fire looms over the hill, Montecito Fire has these reminders on being prepared during an emergency

37 Crime in the ‘Cito

44 Calendar of Events – 1st Thursday happenings, Tina Schlieske at SOhO, Creative Resistance at CAW, and more

46

Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads

47 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles Local Business Directory

In Business Next Health Montecito

by Joanne A Calitri

Just opened, Next Health Montecito, at 559 San Ysidro Road Suite C, is owned and operated by locals Zahra and Nick Salisbury, Next Health Area Developers.

Next Health CEO and Founder Dr. Darshan Shah and Co-founder Kevin Peake explain the concept of their centers, “Our mission is to empower people to achieve optimal vitality and longevity through our personalized, data-driven approach to health optimization.” Dr. Shah is a board-certified Surgeon who turned to longevity and preventative care in 2016. He graduated from the accelerated six-year MD/BS program at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and earned his medical degree at the age of 21. He trained in trauma and reconstructive surgery in Kern County and trained at the Mayo Clinic. He is a published author and speaker on longevity, and since 2024 hosts the podcast “Extend.” Next Health centers are in the U.S. and Canada, and soon in Dubai.

This week I had a tour of the Montecito location with Zahra and Dr. Nicole Strauss, their onsite naturopathic doctor. Their center offers Cryotherapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Infrared LED and Sauna Therapy, EBOO Ozone Therapy, Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE), custom-formulated IV Therapy Drips, NAD+ Therapy, bioavailable Vitamin Shots, Hormone Optimization, Weight Optimization, and advanced Functional Medicine Biomarker Testing. Also available are regenerative aesthetic services including wrinkle relaxers, dermal fillers, biostimulators, laser therapies, ViPeel chemical peels, micronee-

dling with PRP, and AnteAGE® growth factor skin care; all performed by licensed medical aesthetic nurses.

After my tour, we did an in-depth interview for our readers:

MJ. What is Next Health about in relation to a med spa?

Zahra Salisbury [ZS]. Next Health is a medical facility, and both Next Health and a med spa operate and practice under those utmost standards. We’re focused on proactive, data-driven care in close part nership with medical providers, stream lining patient access to services previously encumbered by red tape. Next Health provides a very real way for individuals to optimize their health and not wait until they are sick or experiencing symptoms of disease. If you take care of your health before symptoms show up, a lot of chronic illness can be prevented or even reversed. Our goal is to help individuals to stay healthier for longer, and hopefully get ahead of disease in a way that extends their lifespan. Next Health is proactive, clinical, and rooted in longevity medicine.

MJ. What baseline tests are done at Next Health Montecito?

ZS. The Next Health Baseline Test measures more than 50 biomarkers, including those related to inflammation, hormones, heart health, metabolism, thy roid, nutrient levels, and much more. The Baseline Test is a great place to start and is offered standard to our members. We per form the blood draw here, and once the lab results are received we welcome you back in for a one-on-one consultation to review the report – biomarker-by-bio marker – with a medical expert.

In Business Page 38

Zahra Salisbury, owner of Next Health Montecito (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Beings and Doings

War of the World

by Jeff Wing

When I was in high school, I was hijacked by Christ. It wasn’t bad. My girlfriend had asked if I wanted to go to a Young Life meeting with her.

“Uh, what’s that?”

“Just a bunch of singing and hanging out and doing skits and stuff.”

My family had relocated to Phoenix from Boulder, Colorado, the year before. I had a few friends but was not yet the gregarious conversationalist I would, much later in life, never become. I was a dweeb in the Fantastic Four mold; superheroically chained to that jaw-dropping magnitude of dweebness typically conferred through an intense blast of cosmic radiation. My girlfriend was not a dweeb per se, but was a theater geek like me. Unlike me, she had talent and could sing the birds from the trees. Our secret language featured words like Fresnel, Loft, and Pin Rail. She made a compelling case for going to this Young Life thing and I nervously agreed.

“Sure.”

The meeting was an hour of singing and hanging out. I couldn’t help but notice the songs were about joy and Jesus – but whatever! These kids were fun and clever and the scene was jumping. The closing moments of the meeting included a sort of skit in which three mortified teens selected from the audience had to cluelessly “sell” what was concealed in a brown paper bag. A newbie, I was of course selected.

I said a few things and got some laughs; an audience response comparable in effect to pouring vodka down the neck of an alcoholic. I started riffing and ended by theatrically hollering “..what is in this bag will lift you to new heights of ecstasy!” The place went wild. I vividly remember Young Life leader Mike Jacobs helplessly laughing and clapping his hands. When I opened the bag it contained a bikini, and I briefly feared my face would literally catch fire. Some weeks later, and following many latenight conversations, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Hard Ass

Christ preached love and was a real hard ass about it. He asked a lot of his disciples. He asked a lot of me, and it cost me my faith. That’s a feature of being a pal of Christ, though you wouldn’t necessarily know that today. He asks a lot of you. When terrible times befell a family member I prayed until my knuckles popped and it did not change the situation. God of course has His own plan and if our desperate ministrations and beseeching were to change that by one iota, He would be a bargain basement God. It’s called Faith for a reason. Faith is not evidence-based – and in a possible nod to cosmic humor we have been given rational minds.

These tend to war with faith. Go figure. In the case of my family travails, when my absolutely feverish prayers went unanswered, my faith broke. One might reasonably suggest that calls into question the purity of my faith in the first place. I can’t argue too vociferously against that position. But I considered myself a believing, practicing Christian, and when terrible hardship arrived, I wondered at God’s intransigence. The bible says not to expect thanks for just doing what’s expected of us anyway, but sometimes the brute ingratitude from On High is too much for the rational heart to want to bear. That’s what happened to me.

Today I am what you would call an agnostic. “I don’t know whether or not there is a God.” To my mind, the faithful are also agnostic by this definition; they also don’t know if their God exists; but faith bridges doubt. I no longer consider myself a Christian, but my experience gave me a perspective for which I’m eternally grateful. No, I’m not trying to be ironic.

A theme that runs through Christ’s very intentional commentary (apart from his incessant command to Love – ho hum!) is the idea that the Christian is not a part of the World. In 1 Corinthians 4:10, the often-dyspeptic apostle Paul

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Montecito Miscellany These Wild Ones Care

by Richard Mineards

It was all too beastly for words when the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (SBWCN) hosted a soldout Wild Night Out at the historic Lobero Theatre. The occasion was SBWCN’s world premiere presentation of Wild Rescue, a 41-minute film about the organization, which launched in 1988. The film is directed by Santa Ynez resident Ian Shive, who served on the network’s board.

Their current home in the Goleta foothills was acquired in 2012 after moving from another home, a former avocado orchard, bought in 2004. In 2021 – after a $6 million funding campaign – the organization broke ground on a 5,500 square foot wildlife hospital, which opened in 2022.

In the film, pelicans, hummingbirds, bats, foxes, possums, racoons, and bob-

cats are seen getting care. Marc Summers, former host of the Food Network’s Unwrapped, narrates the documentary.

Back in the ‘80s I used to appear on his Queens, New York-based TV talk show Biggers and Summers, co-hosted by Marc and Sissy Biggers, and directed by my former boss, Joan Rivers.

The film project took two and a half years, 80 hours of footage, and nearly 50 versions of the script to finally bring it to the screen. There is now talk it may be eligible for an Academy Award.

The network’s Executive Director Ariana Katovich says they hoped to raise $150,000 from the fest.

Among the party animals were Gretchen Lieff, Mindy Denson, Ginni Dreier, Connie Pearcy, Eve Bernstein, Nigel and Connie Buxton, and Robert and Ellen Lilley.

Miscellany Page 434

sbnature.org/seacenter

Feel the tickle of a sea anemone’s tentacles and the smooth shell of a cowrie snail. Marvel at baby sharks still nestled in their translucent egg cases, and explore interactive exhibits that reveal the Santa Barbara Channel. Discover how we study the ocean! 211 Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara, CA 93101

These guests were ready for a Wild Night Out (photo by Priscilla)

Wild Rescue is a 41-minute film about the organization (courtesy photo)

Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network staff and supporters enjoying the evening (photo by Priscilla)

Curator’s Choice

The Madagascan Sunset Moth, Chrysiridia rhipheus, was initially described as a butterfly, due to its brilliant colors. However, it lacks the clubbed antennae characteristic of butterflies and therefore is indeed a moth! These moths, which are only found on the island of Madagascar, are toxic to predators when consumed, and advertise their toxicity with their bright colors, similar to the Monarch butterflies found in California. Like Monarchs, sunset moths migrate, but not in response to weather. Instead, as their caterpillars feed, the plants they consume increase in toxicity, and eventually the plants become too toxic to eat. When this happens, the moths migrate to a new region, where the plants are more palatable. This specimen is one of over 350,000 insects preserved in the Entomology Collections at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Inspired to get up close with more winged wonders? The Museum’s Butterflies Alive! exhibit runs through September 1.

CMadagascan Sunset Moth, Chrysiridia rhipheus, from the Museum’s collection

urator’s Choice is a new weekly column from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, offering Montecito Journal readers a glimpse into the remarkable stories behind special items in our collections. With over 3.5 million specimens, artifacts, and documents, the Museum preserves the natural and cultural heritage of our region while promoting scientific literacy and a deeper connection to the natural world. This mission is made possible through the generosity of our community: 350 volunteers contribute more than 17,000 hours annually, supporters donate $3 million each year, and a growing number of legacy donors are securing the future of our cherished scientific and educational institution by adding the Museum to their will.

The Museum’s new Space Sciences exhibit, Our Cosmic Coast, is open now for your viewing pleasure and galactic wonder!

News Bytes Little Mountain Coming to Montecito’s Upper

by MJ Staff

Montecito’s Upper Village is about to welcome a new culinary gem: Little Mountain, a refined, ingredient-driven restaurant helmed by acclaimed Chef Diego Moya. Slated to open soon, the restaurant will showcase Moya’s signature wood-fired, seasonal cooking rooted in sustainability and global technique. His diverse culinary journey spans top kitchens from Lima to Paris to New York, including celebrated tenures at Astrid y Gastón (Lima, Peru), Nahm (Bangkok, Thailand), Le Comptoir (Paris), and Racines of NYC fame. Moya, known for his produce-forward menus and ethical sourcing, brings his philosophy of simplicity and terroir-driven cuisine to Santa Barbara County through Little Mountain. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner daily, offering a cozy dining room and serene patio for relaxed meals or festive gatherings. Guests can enjoy an array of artisanal cocktails and a curated wine cellar in a space designed for lingering and connection – a fitting addition to Montecito’s food scene.

Montecito Garden Takes Top Honors in WaterWise Contest

Santa Barbara County has crowned its grand prize winner in the 2025 WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest: Teri and Pat Guillies of Montecito. Their vibrant, eco-conscious garden, dubbed a “pollinators’ dream,” captured top honors for its dazzling display of over 65% California native plants, including sagebrush, blueeyed grass, island buckwheat, and more. Designed and maintained by Teri, a certified Master Gardener, the garden features

Montecito Tide Guide

Aug 15

Village

hand-watering, drip irrigation, a rain barrel, and a recirculating fountain – all set along a descending flagstone path with sweeping coastal views. The annual contest, hosted by the Santa Barbara County Water Agency and local purveyors, aims to spotlight sustainable gardening practices across the region. In addition to engraved sandstone trophies, winners received garden supply kits and gift cards. The Guillies earned a $250 Lotusland gift card for their efforts. Organizers hope these water-wise landscapes inspire others to conserve and embrace native beauty – even in dry times.

Executive Editor/CEO | Gwyn Lurie gwyn@montecitojournal.net

President/COO | Timothy Lennon Buckley tim@montecitojournal.net

Managing Editor | Zach Rosen zach@montecitojournal.net

MoJo Contributing Editor | Christopher Matteo Connor

Art/Production Director | Trent Watanabe

Graphic Design/Layout | Stevie Acuña

Administrative Assistant | Kassidy Craner VP, Sales & Marketing | Leanne Wood leanne@montecitojournal.net

Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Jessica Sutherland, Joe DeMello

Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick

Proofreading | Helen Buckley

Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz

Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Beatrice Tolan, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Tiana Molony, Houghton Hyatt, Jeff Wing

Gossip | Richard Mineards

History | Hattie Beresford

Humor | Ernie Witham

Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri

Health/Wellness | Ann Brode, Deann Zampelli

Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook

Food & Wine | Melissa Petitto, Gabe Saglie, Jamie Knee

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Montecito Journal 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

Pat Guillies of Montecito in her award-winning garden

Our Town Leonie H. Mattison on Immigration and Local Healing

by Joanne A Calitri

Last week Leonie H. Mattison EdD reached out to me regarding her personal experiences on immigration and the recent July 15 Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting regarding the same.

Mattison is currently transitioning from her three-year contract with Pacifica Graduate Institute as its CEO. She explained that during this time of reflection for her, she attended the July 15 BOS meeting on immigration and felt compelled to comment publicly on it, driven by her personal experiences growing up as a Black woman and daughter of a Jamaican immigrant farmer in the United States.

Here is our interview brief, and an excerpt from her response to the BOS which she hopes will inspire and heal.

Q. Explain your leave of absence from Pacifica Graduate Institute?

A. I am currently on a planned and voluntary leave of absence from Pacifica Graduate Institute, with my three-year contract as president and CEO set to conclude next month. During my tenure, I led the institution through a comprehensive transformation, securing reaffirmation of accreditation, launching a bold 2030 strategic plan, growing enrollment and academic offerings, advancing a new philanthropic, campus consolidation, and scholarship strategy, and rebuilding stakeholder trust across governance, faculty, and community partnerships. I am proud of the results we achieved and the culture of care, excellence, and innovation we cultivated.

Where are you going next in your career? Are you relocating?

I am actively discerning the next horizon of service, seeking opportunities where I can leverage my full portfolio of experience: leading systemic transformation, advancing inclusive excellence, and driving sustainable innovation and growth. While I remain deeply connected to the Central Coast and its people, I am fully open to the right opportunity where purpose, leadership, and impact converge. I also remain committed to my service as a Commissioner with BeWell, Santa Barbara County’s behavioral health commission.

What led you to attend the BOS July 15th meeting?

I care deeply about people and how policy decisions shape the well-being of our communities. I attended the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting to stay informed about critical issues, support civic engagement, and embody the

Our Town Page 334

Dr. Leonie H. Mattison, departing president and CEO of Pacifica Graduate Institute (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

5-time GRAMMY® Award-winner

ROBERT GLASPER

Produced By Jill Newman Productions

Robert Glasper is the leader of a new sonic paradigm with a career that bridges musical and artistic genres. To date, he boasts 5 GRAMMY® wins and 15 nominations across 11 categories, an Emmy Award for his song for Ava Duvernay’s critically hailed documentary “13th” with Common and Karriem Riggins, and a Peabody Award for his Composition of “Mr. Soul!”

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Society Invites SB Women’s Club’s 95th Annual La Merienda Fiesta Event

by Joanne A Calitri

On Wednesday, July 30, the Santa Barbara Women’s Club (SBWC) held its 95th Annual La Merienda Fiesta celebration. Per tradition, it was held on SBWC’s storied property “Rockwood,” home of the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club ever since they purchased the property in 1927. I attended to honor their tradition and contributions to the town.

Historically, this event was hosted by SBWC’s members with tea and homemade cookies to celebrate Old Spanish Days (OSD) with invitations to newcomers to town. One of the SBWC members mentioned to me that the event used to be on the patio outside as it drew 2,000 guests. She couldn’t recall when the club members transitioned the OSD celebration to what it is today – a sit-down buffet luncheon for the club members only, with special invited guests and performers of Old Spanish Days. The SBWC has seen days when its members were suffragettes, sewing masks for the Spanish Flu and contributing to local organizations.

La Merienda Co-chairs were Pat Haro and Cevin Cathell, supported by their event committee members: Victoria Bailin, Cindy Gracey, Pat Hooser, Stephanie Ingraham, Maureen Killian, Barbara LaPlante, Julie Morrow, Leanne Saar, and Bonnie Tanase-Cairns

Two Parlors of the Native Daughters of the Golden West are members of the SBWC, and represented at the La Merienda event. One was the Reina del Mar Parlor 126, who decide on the annual appointment of Saint Barbara for Old Spanish Days. Attending on July 30 th were Jeanine Robles , Julie Romero Hathaway , Marisol Cabrera , Betty Dominguez , Patricia Oreña , Heidi Dillon , Ellen Thermos , Mary Louise Days , Yvonne Robles , and Leeanne Figueroa . Hathaway is the 2025 Saint Barbara. The second parlor is Tierra de Oro, Parlor 304, whose attending members of the 95 th luncheon were Debby Aceves , Pat Haro, Jessica Haro , Rae Rosas , Anna Ortiz , Jenny Martinez , and Liz Badillo

Cathell provided the welcoming address and introduced Old Spanish Days El Presidente 2025, Fritz Olenberger. Fritz chided that for decades he was the Old Spanish Days photographer and was happy to be riding in the parade, so happy that he invited over 20 family members from out of state to join him. Following lunch there were performances by the Spirit of Fiesta Natalia Treviño , the Junior Spirit of Fiesta Victoria Plascencia , the Zermeño Dance Academy, the Baile de California, the Groupo Folklorico de West Los Angeles, and a Spanish guitar virtuoso, emceed by Jessica Haro.

304

La Merienda co-chairs and the event committee members (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Tierra de Oro, Parlor

Daughters of the Golden West (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

The Giving List

Direct Relief Amy Weaver New CEO

by Steven Libowitz

Direct Relief has a new President and CEO, Amy Weaver having taken the reins from retiring Thomas Tighe, who over his 24 years of stewardship shepherded the health nonprofit to exponential growth. The world-renowned humanitarian organization, founded in Montecito back in 1948, today delivers more than $2 billion annually in medical aid to people in need worldwide. Tighe came to Direct Relief from the Peace Corps in 2000, where he’d been Chief of Staff and COO. Under his leadership, Direct Relief enthusiastically embraced the structural efficiencies of a for-profit, with the result that the nonprofit today is considered not only one of the world’s most innovative nonprofits, but one of its most effective.

Weaver’s path to Direct Relief is an unusual one for the nonprofit world. She began her career as an attorney, eventually working for a pair of Fortune 500 companies (Expedia, Univar) before

rising to Chief Legal Officer at cloudbased software giant Salesforce. Then she made an unprecedented move to President and Chief Financial Officer — the first such transition in a Fortune 500 company – ultimately guiding Salesforce through a period of tremendous growth and transformation.

Her start in the legal profession, however, might have presaged her new job at Direct Relief.

“Growing up with the law gave me a real sense of justice, or to be less lofty – a sense of fairness, wanting things to be fair in the world,” Weaver said.

“That’s always guided many of the decisions I make.”

Weaver comes from a multi-generational family of attorneys who not only practice law but believe strongly in nonprofits and volunteer work.

“Some of my earliest memories are about accompanying my parents on volunteer events or political campaigns,” she said. “They were very involved civically. So it’s been part of my life forever. I’ve always been involved, including serving on the board of Habitat for

Humanity for four years.”

Indeed, fresh out of law school, she eschewed the typical path to a huge Wall Street firm and moved to Hong Kong, where she worked for a year assisting the legislature on issues around the rule of law and democracy – matters of tremendous import in the runup to the U.K.’s historic handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

The leap from legal department to CFO at Salesforce also had a huge influence on Weaver’s seeing the top job at Direct Relief as one she could confidently inhabit.

“When I first got a call from our CEO asking me to consider taking the

CFO role – it was more than just out of the blue, because I am not a traditional finance candidate by any means,” she said. “So of course I said no, because I have common sense. But after thinking through the opportunity for two months, I decided to take it. It was risky and terrifying, but I wanted to show people they could do it, that you can take big risks, that you can do things that are hard, that you can and should make jumps like that and you can be successful. It was daunting to take on a very steep learning curve. But I’m thrilled that I did it.”

New Direct Relief President and CEO Amy Weaver (courtesy photo)

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Finding Your Groove Inside the Joyful World of Groove Pilates

by Zach Rosen

Step into Groove Pilates, and the first thing you’ll notice isn’t the state-of-the-art reformers or the sleek tower units that look like steampunk yoga machines. It’s not even the bright natural light streaming, or the glimpses of the glistening Pacific and mountain scenes peeking through the second-story windows above Coast Village Road. It’s the energy. A warm, vibrant, distinctly communal hum that says: “You belong here.”

That’s exactly what owner and lead instructor Jessica Ballonoff wants you to feel.

Not Your Average Pilates Studio

At Groove Pilates, you’ll see a former volleyball athlete working through her flexibility issues beside an 86-year-old powerhouse named Simon, who’s pulling off advanced exercises that defy both expectation and gravity. Mothers and daughters, newlyweds, high schoolers, and even the occasional nine-year-old come through the doors – and they all find their rhythm in the space Jessica has so carefully cultivated.

“We really do have something for everyone,” Jessica says. “Pilates here isn’t about fitting into a mold – it’s about finding your groove, literally and figuratively.”

Groove Pilates isn’t a place for trendy, influencer-style workouts or rigid expectations. It’s a playground for movement – a supportive studio where diverse bodies, ages, abilities, and backgrounds come together with one shared goal: to move joyfully, safely, and with purpose.

Jessica Ballonoff getting in her groove (photo by Nolan Montgomery)

On Entertainment

Steinkellner Plays It Forward with New Version of Her Musical Baby

by Steven Libowitz

Longtime Montecito resident and four-time Emmy Award winner (Cheers) and Tony nominee (Sister Act the Musical) Cheri Steinkellner thought she had seen the last of Hello! My Baby, her original musical set in the apex of the Tin Pan Alley/Gangs of New York era. The song-filled musical is about “King of the Song-Pluggers” Mickey McKee – who sings like a dream but can’t write a note – and factory girl Betty Gold, a garment worker who writes like a demon, turning into Buddy O’Reilly, the new plugger king, in a funny, charming and decidedly singalong celebration of young voices too bold to be boxed in.

It premiered starring young actors at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre 13 years ago and later played at the Lobero, but never made it to New York, instead finding a home at high school and theater academies, including at Goleta Valley Junior High, where a planned production was scotched by the pandemic shut down after the dress rehearsal.

Steinkellner’s latest effort – 2023’s stage adaptation of the Judy Garland/Gene Kelly MGM musical film classic Summer Stock (now called Get Happy) – received rave reviews from critics in its Connecticut debut, admirers including the almighty New York Times. Now that Get Happy is on its way to Broadway, Steinkellner naturally got to thinking about the earlier work deserving another look.

“The songs are still great, ones from the public domain that are adapted to help tell the characters’ stories in their voices to push the action along, which is very different from a jukebox musical,” Steinkellner said. “That was part of my original impetus for writing it: to put old songs in young people’s hands so that they would ‘sing new’ again – songs my grandma taught me that can live on through new generations. But I wanted to tweak the story.”

Steinkellner described the adjustment as a slight shift to more clearly create a theme that the music itself supports, to transcend the limitations that we place on ourselves or that the world places on us.

Which is why Steinkellner also changed the show’s title to All of Me

“A lot has changed in the last few years around identity, and what was timely then now feels urgent,” she explained. “This is the story of a young girl who goes out in the world and explores a much larger, more all-encompassing identity than she ever imagined she could. Now more than ever, the message that we are more than we let ourselves be is important for all of us and especially for theater kids who are drawn to this world where they are trying on all different kinds of ways of being through theater.”

This Saturday, August 9, the new version gets a staged reading debut at the New Vic Theatre in a special performance as the centerpiece of Ensemble Theatre’s 2025 Play It Forward, which benefits ETC’s Education and Outreach Initiatives. It’s also a reunion with program director Brian McDonald, who helmed the original production at the Rubicon in 2012.

Steinkellner herself joins a huge cast that combines young local thespians and a few veterans near (Rod Lathim and three local theater teachers) and far (Khaila Wilcoxon, Six the Musical and Hadestown; Gilbert Bailey, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon). Direction is by Will Roland, who appears in Get Happy and gave the Steinkellner notes on her script changes.

“I did the original demo tracks way back when, but this will actually be the first time I will have ever performed it on stage with an audience,” she said. “It’s very exciting.”

THE FOURTH ANNUAL

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

Playwright Cheri Steinkellner reinvigorates an earlier work for ETC’s Play It Forward event (courtesy photo)

Brilliant Thoughts

Cares

by Ashleigh Brilliant

Looking back on my life, what do I regret? Quite honestly, I don’t even think in those terms. The Past is over, and there’s no point in having second thoughts about it. Did I make any wrong decisions? Should I be sorry for mistakes I’ve made, for people I’ve hurt, for exercising bad judgment (something I was more than once accused of)? My answer to all such questions is: WHO CARES? As I wrote not long ago in one of my Brilliant Thoughts – “The secret of happiness is: Not Caring.”

I can already hear a chorus of protests: Surely, the essence of humanity is caring about how people think, and feel, and behave. I am reminded of an old English folksong about a “Jolly Miller” who lived and worked beside the River Dee. Presumably, the work in his mill consisted of grinding grain between two large millstones, which reduced it to a powdery consistency capable of being eaten, or first cooked, or fed to horses or oxen. The song tells us that this work kept him busy “from morn till night,” but, rather than being tired or depressed, there was “none so blithe as he.” And what was his secret? As the song quotes him:

“I care for nobody – No, not I – And nobody cares for me.”

Considering that I learned this song, and sang it, at school, I don’t know what that says about the British education system.

But there were other songs of around the same vintage, which we also learned and sang. One that has stuck in my mind counseled, “Begone Dull Care,” when the word “dull” obviously had much of the sharpness which it has since lost. It went on to say that “Too much care can make a young man go grey,” and can “turn an old man to clay.”

And of course there were, and are, many other words for care. One of the most popular, especially down in the Antipodes, is worry. “No worries” is very common Aussie lingo and can be emphasized with various additions. I remember first hearing one of them when

I was in the process of renting a car in New Zealand. That country, as you may know, consists mainly of two large islands, having the romantic names of “North Island” and “South Island.” Their primary connection is a ferry-boat service, which carries both cars and people. I was on my first visit, and traveling by myself, and wanted to drive around both islands. At the car-rental office on the North Island, I couldn’t help revealing how much anxiety I was feeling about this whole adventure. It was there that the man in charge said to me those comforting words, “No worries, mate – not a worry in the world.”

Here, in our part of the worry-world, one expressive ditty, with its own measure of comfort, says repeatedly that “It takes a worried man to sing a worried song,” but it concludes by saying “I’m worried now – But I won’t be worried long.”

Such cheerful musical thoughts are of course particularly prevalent in wartime. In World War I, the message was to “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, smile, smile!” And, since those were days when practically every soldier smoked, the song could add “While you’ve a lucifer to light your fag.” (Lucifer began as a brand name for a particular type of boxed matches, then devolved into slang for any type of match.) With our modern medical knowledge, one cannot help speculating how many deaths, miles and years from the battlefields, were ultimately caused by those same fags – the mid-20th century slang for “cigarette.”

But the Lucifer story also reminds me of another world epic, the true story of Ivar Kreuger, who became known as the Swedish Match King. Between the two World Wars, he did indeed come to control a major proportion of match production in the entire world. In those days, when you bought a pack of cigarettes, it often came with a free box of matches. This was before the popularity of the now much more common folding “matchbooks.” But in either case, what really mattered, from a world business point of view, was the fact that these containers also provided highly visible, and commercially lucrative, surfaces for advertising.

Speaking of which, and returning to our theme – let us pay tribute to MAD Magazine, which, since 1953, popularized a character with a silly grin named Alfred E. Neuman and the accompanying caption “WHAT, ME WORRY?”

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.

“Life is the flower for which love is the honey.”

Victor Hugo

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Elizabeth’s Appraisals Ugly Thrift Store Art

by Elizabeth Stewart

What do YOU find in local thrift stores? At Avenue Thrift, my favorite place in Ventura (which, incidentally, supports the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura), I found an ugly brutalist folk art-style wood carving – two feet tall and depicting a one-legged man seated with a cane. For years I have been searching for the piece’s artist. Everyone who came to my house said it was the ugliest thing they had ever seen. I have a habit of picking up “orphans” – unsigned, ugly art from thrift stores.

Here’s how I found the artist. Years ago, a high school friend leased a flat on Bleecker Street in NYC from a developer who saw in The Village of the 1970s great potential. When developer Ira Weissman died in 2023, my high school friend, who had befriended him years ago, inherited a naïve-art wood carving in the mid-20th

century folk art style; a piece created by Ira himself. When my friend sent me a photo of this work asking for an opinion of value, the work looked like my ugly thrift store find. I learned that Weissman’s mentor had been the Swedish sculptor Emil G. Janel (1897-1981). Janel, after a long career in California, was known for his Brutalist caricatures in the Scandinavian style of woodcarving. The Maxwell Galleries of the American Swedish Institute, located in the Phillips West neighborhood of Minneapolis, contains 35 carvings by Janel, donated by Ira Weissman. Bingo! From Ventura, a Swedish style naïve wood folk carving done by a 1920s immigrant to California was discovered.

Janel was awarded the Royal Order of Vasa by the King of Sweden in 1965. His technique was idiosyncratic. In the 1930s Janel had a summer house on the Russian River, where he gathered alder wood. He would soak the collected wood in a bucket to keep the medium wet (to Janel, wet alder wood was living flesh). The folk-art carvings, slightly grotesque, were termed “exaggerated realism” by the artist. Janel’s work fits nicely into the l970s tradition of handmade crafts, a direct reversal of austere Scandinavian design, angular and clean, which predates the 1970s crafts revival. The 1970s revolution in craft and folk art turned away from American mass-produced culture. The true expression of a person, it was discovered, was creativity, shown by a handmade work of art, especially if the artist had no formal training. Remember the early 1970s Isley Brothers’ hit: “It’s Your Thing; Do What You Want to Do! I Can’t Tell you Who to Sock it to...”

During this period, museums began to realize that ‘artifacts’ and ‘artisans’ were indeed ‘art’ and ‘artists,’ blurring the lines between fine art and craft. An example of this was the founding, in 1961, of the American Folk Art Museum on Lincoln Square in NYC. The museum was dedi-

cated to folk and self-taught artists; those who, like the Swedish American Janel, created art as an expression of individuality. A subtle political message was behind this movement, which eschewed the machinemade object (post-WWII furniture and décor) and turned towards “outsider” art. Unconventionality, as far from mainstream as possible, was reconceived as a statement of uniqueness. “Authentic” (a difficult term to define) American folk art was only a categorizable ‘field’ after the mid-20th century, when self-taught art was synonymous with American individualism, the strong influence of the counterculture, and social movements that shaped the post-50s decade. The early 1970s began a legacy of respect for non-educated creatives of all kinds: poets, musicians, woodworkers, shaman, dancers – those whose unique skills and artistic identity brought ‘craft’ into the broader art world. If not for the ‘self-taught’ revolution of the 1970s, my 30-somethings would not be experts after reading an AI Google search. We trust non-experts today because of the “selftaught” revolution of the 1970s!

Many of Janel’s works were sold as “folk,” “outsider,” or “self-taught naïve” art, and I notice his human figured sculptures sold in both California and Swedish auction houses in the 2020s, as he has been rediscovered. Closely resembling my “lame” man, Janel’s Bodybuilder is equally imposing, and sold at Toomey Auctions for an estimated at $1k-2k. An old gentleman perched on a toilet at 5” tall sold for $1,747 at Stockholm’s Auktionsverk, and a dapper but ugly “Gentleman with Walking Stick” sold for $5,250. A carving created in 1922 called Skalvridning (twisting the bowl) at 8” high, shows two figures holding a massive bowl. The piece sold at Stockholm’s most famous auction venue, Bukowski’s, for $8,400.

Thus my “outsider” folk art in the Swedish caricature tradition, found in Ventura at Avenue Thrift – the Boys & Girls Club thrift store – is worth $4,000. Ugly, sure; but to me, interesting and emblematic of the 1970s (weird) folk craftsmanship revolution.

Elizabeth’s Swedish caricature found in Ventura

Janel’s Bodybuilder sold at Toomey Auctions was estimated at $1k-2k

This thoughtful piece of outsider art sold for $1,747 at Stockholm’s Auktionsverk

Jlin + Third Coast Percussion

Thu, Feb 19 / 8 PM

UCSB Campbell Hall Kronos Quartet

Three Bones

Sat, May 2 / 6 PM (note special time)

UCSB Campbell Hall

Philip Glass and The Poets

Sun, May 17 / 7 PM

UCSB Campbell Hall

(Philip Glass will not be performing)

An Independent Mind

Trump Is Everything Everywhere

All at Once

by Jeffrey Harding

Donald Trump is everywhere in the news lately. He dominates the daily headlines. Thus the title to this article (yes, I stole it from the movie). He’s hard to avoid.

The fact that Trump is in the news constantly is an important issue. He is the news. That is because of powers relinquished by Congress have devolved to the presidency. He often abuses these powers with unconstitutional overreach. He makes arbitrary decisions every day. The courts are full of challenges to his actions. I wrote about this in “Our Imperial Presidency” back in April (MJ Vol. 31 Issue 16, April 7-24, 2025).

The result of this overreach is that in many cases Trump is ruling by fiat (Latin for “Let it be done”) which means he rules without legal authority. Even with legal authority he rules by whim, which is not so far from ruling by fiat. There are three glaring examples of this.

Recently, because he didn’t like the new jobs report numbers put out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), he fired its head, economist Erika McEntarfer . On Truth Social, his media outlet, he said “In my opinion, today’s Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.”

I’ve been using BLS data for 20 years for economic analysis and I am familiar how the jobs data is gathered and how it is analyzed. It isn’t “gamed” but there are many revisions as the data comes in later. I sometimes question the methodology of other data (e.g., inflation), but not the JOBS data. None of these macro-data are perfect, but they have been generally reliable. In many cases there are nongovernment sources for the same data, so if you question the BLS you can usually find the data elsewhere, which are mostly similar. If he appoints a compliant replacement, will the data be reliable?

The other vanity issue with Trump is his ad hominem attacks on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. He has been relentless because the Fed has not lowered the interest rate for Federal Funds which is a rate that largely influences interest rates on the private markets (mortgage rates, excluded). Trump, a real estate investor, thinks this will stimulate the economy and to an extent he is correct, but cheap interest rate policies usually end in tears.

Trump calls him the names he usually uses against those he doesn’t like in such as “MORON,” “STUPID,” and “TOTAL LOSER.” I’m not a fan of Powell but to his credit he has not caved in to Trump which is a positive. Trump would like to control the Fed which would be a disaster for the economy because he has no understanding of monetary policy or the role of interest rates. The history of the control of monetary policy by politicians usually results in disastrous inflation and economic ruin. Trump would be no exception to the rule.

Lastly, his tariff policy has been a disaster for world trade and our relationship with our trade partners. It is a good example of illegal “overreach.” He rules by whim. He changes his mind almost daily about what tariff rates will be to various countries. He raises tariffs even after a “deal” has been reached. He sets rates not based on trade relationships but on political issues that anger him (Canada and Brazil, for example). He has upset a well-working global supply chain that has benefited all countries who are involved, including the United States of America.

Trump is ignorant of how trade works. He does not understand what a trade deficit means (it has no consequence). He lies about the results of free trade. He thinks America is worse off and that we

are getting “ripped off” by other countries, yet we are still the world’s second largest exporter of manufactured goods. Things were working pretty well until he became president.

It is well known that Trump is a megalomaniac (“Narcissistic Personality Disorder”). He fits most of the characteristics: grandiose sense of self-importance, need for approval and admiration, his desire for the spotlight, a delusion of unlimited brilliance, thin-skinned retaliation against those who criticize him. He may be clever, but he is far from the smartest guy on the planet, which he seems to think he is.

As president, the power of his office seems to have inflated an already inflated sense of his own infallibility. This evident in his desire for the trappings of his office to mimic the palaces of foreign leaders (the tasteless gilding of his offices; a new $200M ballroom); basking in the fawning treatment he gets on foreign visits; his frequent arbitrary policy decisions related mostly to tariffs; his desire to control the economy through a compliant Fed chairman; his adolescent chiding of those he disfavors; and his constant references to how smart his decisions have been.

If you add all this up, but for the U.S. Constitution one might think he is an autocrat.

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.

Your Westmont

Innovative Programs Grow Downtown

by Scott Craig

Westmont is finishing renovations at the Keith Center, 29 West Anapamu, which will eventually house several programs, including the expansion of Westmont Downtown | Grotenhuis Nursing and other post-secondary allied health programs, as well as other post-secondary programs that meet the growing needs of the dynamic community.

The Center for Applied Technology Lab (CATLab) will move to the Keith Center. Since 2017, students studying computer science and data analytics have developed effective new components for Westmont’s Salesforce platform at a fraction of the price professional teams would charge. This innovative approach includes a summer-long session with students working on specific projects and gaining valuable experience and connections in Santa Barbara so they can launch their own tech careers. With a generous grant from the Fletcher Jones Foundation, CATLab students currently tackle three projects: a chatbot for navigating Westmont’s administrative ecosystem; a model to recommend efficiency

in purchasing energy; and a tool for admissions counselors to use with prospective students. Other initiatives include rebuilding the Westmont mobile application for Android phones, categorizing forms, and improving Salesforce system data.

The Keith Center will also house the Center for Technology, Creativity and Moral Imagination (TCMI). This program equips students with skills at the intersection of technology and creativity so they can make informed decisions about ethical issues surrounding rapid developments such as artificial intelligence (AI). The strategic location offers easy access to businesses, local government, start-up hubs and more. Renovations will install state-of-the art classrooms and technology designed to promote collaboration and innovation. Combining a liberal arts education with relevant internships and hands-on experience effectively prepares students for careers.

A new program at the Keith Center will cultivate wisdom in Christian leaders and offers a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Theological Leadership. Ministry professionals, laypeople eager to grow spiritually, and recent college graduates considering seminary will benefit from the

curriculum. Eight courses, taught one at a time during four semesters, blend experiences in person and online.

The first cohort completes their work in December 2025, and applications have opened for the next one, which begins in fall 2025. Whether students pursue the certificate as a terminal degree or apply it to graduate education, the program will connect them with churches and leading seminaries throughout the country. Partnerships with leading evangelical seminaries enable graduates to enter a master’s degree program with at least one year of academic credit.

‘Theology of Health’ Wins Book Award

The Martin Institute and the Dallas Willard Research Center (MIDWRC) at Westmont College have chosen Tyler J. VanderWeele’s A Theology of Health: Wholeness and Human Flourishing (University of Notre Dame Press) for the 2025 Book Award.

The MIDWRC Book Award program was created in 2015 to help place an enduring emphasis on the intellectual and spiritual legacy of Dallas Willard, a philosopher at the University of Southern California and a Christian

spiritual writer, who authored numerous books, including The Spirit of the Disciplines, The Divine Conspiracy, and Knowing Christ Today

VanderWeele, one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of human flourishing, directs the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. He is the John L. Loeb and Frances Lehman Loeb professor of epidemiology in the departments of epidemiology and biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dallas Willard (1935-2013) was a highly influential figure in the late 20th-century renewal of interest in Christian spirituality and character formation. The Martin Institute and Dallas Willard Research Center exist to help establish Christian spiritual and moral formation as a domain of publicly available knowledge.

Courtyard view of classroom (DMHA Architecture)

Overflow Chapel View (DMHA Architecture)

The new Keith Center (photo by Brad Elliott)

A Theology of Health: Wholeness and Human Flourishing wins the MIDWRC 2025 Book Award

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

In Passing

Ralph Minc:

September 9, 1945 – July 4, 2025

Ralph Minc , longtime Santa Barbara local, passionate athlete, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2025, at the age of 79.

Ralph was born in Tayport, Scotland, to Catherine Duncan Minc and Hendryk Minc, a Polish Jew who escaped the Nazis and eventually made his way to Scotland. In 1958, the family moved to British Columbia, then to Gainesville, Florida, and finally settled in Santa Barbara in 1963 when Ralph’s father joined the UCSB math department as a professor.

Ralph graduated from Santa Barbara High, where he was a standout basketball player, and later earned his degree from UCSB. He married Vicki Johnson in 1980, and they raised one son, Jeff.

Ralph was an exceptional athlete and loved sports of all kinds. Throughout his life and depending upon where he was living at the time, he played everything from soccer, baseball, football, basketball, tennis, volleyball and cricket. He also loved to surf and could often be found in the early morning hours before work at Hammond's Beach, checking out the waves.

He started his tennis career as Assistant Tennis Pro at La Cumbre Country Club and later became the Head Pro at Montecito Country Club, where he worked for three decades before retiring. He also taught volleyball clinics at East Beach and played in countless tournaments, racking up trophies and friends along the way.

Ralph had a passion for travelling the world with family and friends – he especially looked forward to annual vacations in Hanalei Bay, Kauai. He had a wide circle of close friends, many of whom shared his love of sports, laughter, dogs and his sense of humor.

Ralph is survived by his wife, Vicki; his son, Jeff; daughter-in-law, Sarah; and grandchildren, Cameron and Madison. He was predeceased by his parents and his two brothers, Robert and Raymond.

A celebration of Ralph’s life will be held Saturday, September 7, at 2 pm on the upper lawn of the Montecito Club, where Ralph ran the Men’s National Grass Court Tournament for many years. Everyone is welcome.

THE BANKS

Spirituality Matters Tending to Dreams

by Steven Libowitz

There’s never been a better time to take up the practice of Dream Tending, both online and in person, locally and on retreat. The concept behind Dream Tending is that our dreams carry an inner knowing, an innate sensibility and an element of potency that affords each of us the capacity to explore the depths of our own experiences. Far beyond the idea of merely learning something from our dreams, the process suggests that by accessing the deep imagination through the dream state, the mind opens – leading us to be better able to overcome obsessions, compulsions and addictions, bring new warmth and energy to relationships, and participate in a life more vibrant, alive and aligned with your soul’s purpose.

The practical and accessible system guides practitioners through the process of going deeply within the dream state to engage with the wisdom of the dream images as they emerge and offer insights and perspectives that can be applied to daily life.

Stephen Aizenstat PhD, is the founder of Carpinteria-based Pacifica Graduate Institute. The world-renowned Professor of Depth Psychology is also the founder of Dream Tending. After 35 years, Dr. Aizenstat, who over the years has collaborated with many notable masters including Joseph Campbell, James Hillman, Marion Woodman, and Robert Johnson , doesn’t always lead every Dream Tending workshop conducted through Pacifica. But he’ll be hosting a Live Tending session at 12 pm on Tuesday, August 19, that is accessible online.

This free workshop is a chance to explore the Awakening Stories that are emerging in our collective dreams and imaginations, and to connect deeply with our inner and outer communities of Soul Companions, elders, and visionaries.

Also coming up in the field through Pacifica is a Dream Tending Summer Group (August 24-October 12), an eight-week online group to connect, learn, and discover the inspiring possibilities of tending dreams, led by Dream Tending Mentor Louise Rosager . Limited to a small group of no more than eight participants, the group ensures that everyone will have the opportunity to consistently work with their dreams, acquire new skills, and share any inspiration that arises for them within an intimate communal container. The summer group is ideal for both beginners and those who have had lots of experience tending.

Early autumn brings the Dream Tending Fall Retreat 2025 (September 29th-October 1), an intensive weekend on site at Pacifica Graduate Institute, where participants will explore Dream Tending theory through an embodied experiential method that embraces the landscape of Pacifica’s campus, creative expression, and connection. Two weeks later, a longer retreat takes place in Montana (October 15-19) at the B Bar Ranch near Yellowstone National Park, where Dr. Aizenstat will showcase unique examples of Dream Tending practice as he works with each participant’s dreams, offering clinical perspectives when appropriate. A unique ritual created by the group is presented at the conclusion of the retreat.

To learn more about any Dream Tending programming, visit https://dreamtending.com or email hello@dreamtending.com

Classes in a Sacred Space

The Sacred Space in Summerland has psychic intuitive Carrie DeVaney as one of its new on-site practitioners, 45-minute sessions held in the private garden room where DeVaney will use her gifts to offer clarity, guidance and

Spirituality Page 364

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This Week @ MAW MAW: Something to Sing About

by Steven Libowitz

The end is here. Just three more days remain in the Music Academy of the West’s 2025 Summer Music Festival. But there are still nine events to choose from, including master classes in Bassoon, Violin, Trombone & Tuba, Lehrer Vocal Institute songbirds on Thursday, August 7, and Oboe and Solo Piano on Friday, August 8. Thursday night also brings the final Piano Spotlight series concert, this one featuring the nine collaborative pianists who spent the summer pairing up with other instrumentalists for sonatas, concerto excerpts and the like, and just wound up their own part of the duo competition last week.

Winners of the duo competition –which included divisions in strings and winds/brass instruments – will share the stage with the winners of the 2025 edition of the venerable Marilyn Horne Song Competition in a new season-ending Winners’ Recital on Friday at the Lobero Theatre.

(Min Joo Yi, who won the 2025 Solo Piano Concerto Competition in June, gets the performance portion of her prize when she plays Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37,” as part of the Santa Barbara Symphony Beethoven Piano Concerto Marathon on Saturday, January 17. That event will be the first in a pair of weekend concerts showcasing all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos, each performed by a winner of an international piano competition.)

The summer comes to a close Saturday night with a final Academy Festival Orchestra concert, when the fellows take on Mahler’s most monumental work, his epic Third Symphony, joined by the Sing! children’s chorus, Music Academy Women’s Chorus, and mezzo-soprano fellow Julia Holoman. They’ll be under the expert guidance of Emmy Awardwinning and Grammy-nominated conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya, a true master of color – most appropriate for Mahler’s hymn to nature and reflection on the stages of being. Come fall, Harth-Bedoya adds a new chapter to his acclaimed career when he joins Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, assuming the post of Distinguished Resident Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting.

Also heading to Rice in the fall is Jack Burrows, the young baritone who surprised many, including himself, by claiming the vocal competition earlier this week. Burrows grew up in Seattle – singing in the choir, warbling onstage

in musicals and, naturally, belting out Nirvana covers. He only took up opera singing four years ago in a summer workshop at Pacific Lutheran University. He ended up transferring to the liberal arts college, and only applied to MAW in 2024 on the advice of his teacher, Holly Boaz, a PLU alum.

Burrows was a cover in Carmen and played the Cat in the children’s chamber opera, then stepped up to a major role as Masetto in Don Giovanni at the Granada this July.

“Music Academy changed my life,” he said. “The professional standards, the faculty, the fellows are all really stellar here. It’s much higher than I was used to.”

For his winning turn in the vocal competition, with Anson Ng on piano, Burrows settled on a set that moved from Rachmaninoff’s “In the silence of the secret night” from “Six Romances, Op. 4,” to Lori Laitman’s “The Apple Orchard” and closed with Brahms’ “Wenn ich mit menschen und mit Engelzungen” from Vier ernste Gesänge

“The set reinforces itself,” Burrows explained, “by starting in this very romantic dramatic landscape. And then there’s a moment of solace, nostalgia, and reflection followed by this idea: if you don’t have love for everything you do, why are you doing it? I always want to end on an up.”

Paired for Friday’s concert with vocal pianist Tony Stauffer, who was also a 2024 fellow and was named winner of the 2025 competition, Burrows will sing the Laitman and Brahms in the middle of their set, bookended by Ravel’s Don Quichotte à Dulcinée song cycle –which Burrows and Stauffer worked on together last summer – and closing with Strauss’ “Zueignung” from 8 Gedichte aus ‘Letzte Blätter’, Op. 10, No. 1.

“Tony is an incredible musician who is an absolute joy to work with,” he said. By August 20, Burrows will be on his way to Houston to start at Rice, where his next role is Papageno in The Magic Flute, which hopefully serves as springboard to a lifetime of singing choice roles and songs.

“My ultimate goal is to lead a freelance nomadic lifestyle in opera,” he said. “I want to jump from city to city and contract to contract. I wish to be an A-list performer like Sasha Cooke, getting eight months of work out of the year and teaching in the summer.”

Now, after a second summer at Miraflores, Burrows believes he is very prepared for whatever comes next on his path.

Week at MAW Page 404

kind of engaged, visible leadership our times demand. Whenever possible, I prioritize being present because informed, accountable, and accessible leadership are values I believe are essential to leading with integrity.

Have you experienced similar issues to what immigrant farmworkers face today? Yes, I did experience similar issues. As a Black woman and the daughter of a Jamaican immigrant who worked as a farmworker, I know firsthand the trauma of injustice, invisibility, and the quiet strength it takes to persevere. My father immigrated to the United States through the H-2A guest worker program and labored in Southern fields as a farmworker. He did not own land; instead, he worked on it day after day to secure a better future for his children. My mother, meanwhile, worked as a home health aide and housekeeper, caring for others while holding our family together. Their sacrifices shaped the values I carry today. As a mother, first-generation college graduate, and senior executive, I’ve lived through the same systemic exclusion that many farmworker families still face. So when I witness today’s immigrant farmworkers navigating systems that rely on their labor but disregard their dignity, I don’t see strangers, I see my own story. That lived truth fuels my lifelong commitment to building institutions that honor labor, restore dignity, and ensure no one is left unseen.

411: www.leoniemattison.com

“How Santa Barbara County Residents, Employees, and Leaders Modeled Radical Kindness, Courage, and Presence in a Time of Fear”

by Leonie Mattison EdD [edited for press]

There are moments in a society’s life when a deeper question rises above the noise, one that invites us to reflect on what we are doing and who we are choosing to become. Such questions emerge in seasons of disruption, when the weight of the collective experience demands more from our leadership, our policies, and our public imagination. The question before us now is whether our responses truly reflect the compassion, courage, and shared humanity that we claim to value.

As an immigrant Black woman, the daughter of a U.S. farmworker, and a scholar-practitioner in organizational development and trauma transformation, I do not observe this moment from the margins. I inhabit it. I know what it means to carry the weight of systemic invisibility while holding space for healing, innovation, and structural renewal. My experience, healing, and work have taught me that unaddressed trauma becomes embedded in the DNA of our institutions. But when healing is made central to how we govern, we can regenerate trust, build collective resilience, and rehumanize the very systems designed to serve us.

This is precisely what made the July 15, 2025, Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting such a defining moment for public leadership. I was present for the full ten-hour meeting. What took place in Santa Barbara that day echoed these ancestral practices, a collective ceremony of civic truth-telling. Together, their presence became a sacred enactment of dignity, relational intelligence, and public integrity. The Board of Supervisors remained grounded, attuned, and open. They offered the world a living example of what soul-centered public service can look like: rooted, courageous, and quietly powerful.

From that day, five enduring lessons rise as guideposts for any institution, whether civic, nonprofit, or academic, seeking to lead with wisdom, relationality, and care:

1. Lead with clarity rather than concealment: Fear multiplies in the absence of clarity. When the distinctions between local and federal authority remain ambiguous, communities are left to fill in the silence with anxiety. Transparent communication is not only an operational best practice; it is an act of public care that stabilizes trust and centers psychological safety before fear escalates into crisis.

2. Uphold the law while honoring human dignity: Justice and compassion are not opposites. They are essential companions. Public safety is most sustainable when policies are enforced with fairness, empathy, and respect for every person impacted. Upholding the law with moral clarity strengthens the credibility of our institutions and restores the emotional contract between governance and the governed.

3. Resource healing as a form of infrastructure: Healing is not auxiliary to systems change; it is the foundation that allows institutions to withstand disruption without fragmenting. Budgets and policies must account for trauma-responsive training, culturally rooted mental health care, and structured recovery after high-impact events. When intentionally resourced, resilience becomes an organizational design principle rather than an aspiration.

4. Co-create safety through shared wisdom: Communities do not need saviors. They need to listen. Those with lived experience bring insights that no external expert can replicate. When residents are invited to help shape messaging, protocols, and policies, they move from the margins into shared ownership, and trust is rebuilt through relationships rather than rhetoric.

5. Reweave institutional culture from the inside out: The emotional tone of a workplace is not separate from its outcomes. It drives them. Psychological safety, transparency, and belonging must be cultivated not as soft ideals but as core leadership competencies. When staff feel seen, held, and empowered to respond with care, they become the living infrastructure of public trust.

What the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, employees, leadership, and residents demonstrated that day was a model of soul-centered governance, quiet, grounded, and transformational. It is a model worthy of deep study, courageous adoption, and national visibility

While immigration reform remains a national imperative, the work of care begins here, through the daily ways we listen, respond, and tend to the human spirit. What I witnessed on July 15 was a rare and powerful example of that care in action. To the residents who witnessed and spoke with truth, grace, and quiet strength, and to the Board of Supervisors, county staff, and leaders who met that truth with humility, presence, and moral courage, thank you. Together, you modeled what leadership rooted in dignity, emotional intelligence, and shared humanity can look like. To every leader reading this: your care matters too. When you tend to your grief and exhaustion, you become a steadier presence for those around you. When healing begins within, transformation becomes possible around you. So, ask yourself, with care and courage: What in me needs restoration? What might leadership look like if care for others and myself came first?”

Robert’s Big Questions

Make Polluters Pay?

by Robert Bernstein

The Climate Crisis is already costing the public billions of dollars a year. And the full effects have barely even begun. Who should pay for this?

There is a precedent: the law that created the Superfund for chemical cleanup. Before the Superfund was created, massive chemical spills had to be cleaned up at public expense. Love Canal in New York famously made news in 1977. Love Canal was originally conceived as a bypass to Niagara Falls to facilitate shipping. (Promoted by railroad lawyer William Love in 1890.)

The canal was never built, but Hooker Chemical dumped about 20,000 tons of chemical waste there from 1942 to 1953. Hooker Chemical went out of business in 1968. But the waste later caused serious health problems in the community. The resulting outrage helped pass the Superfund law in 1980 and was called the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Every chemical company was obliged to pay a tax into the Superfund to pay for cleaning up existing and future chemical waste. The law has expired and been renewed several times. Biden’s Inflation Recovery Act included making this Superfund permanent.

Given this precedent, why not create a Climate Crisis Superfund? To be funded by the industry that has the greatest responsibility for creating the crisis? The fossil fuel industry.

Well, this is starting to happen at the state level. New York and Vermont have passed Climate Superfund laws for exactly this purpose. The New York law will raise $3 billion per year for 25 years. Eight more states are following their lead, including California.

The California bill is AB1243 (Assembly)/SB684 (Senate): The “Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025.” This money would fund projects to protect communities against fossil fuel caused climate disasters. Such disasters already include floods and fires, events which have caused insurance prices to spike or even have made insurance impossible to obtain in some places.

The money also would be used to invest in sustainable energy and transportation projects to reduce fossil fuel use.

But won’t the fossil fuel industry just pass these Superfund taxes on to consumers? First, it is important to

grasp the scale of fossil fuel industry profits. ExxonMobil’s profits in 2024 were around $35 billion. Their CEO Darren Woods received about $37 million. They can absorb the taxes.

But it is also important to remember that fuel prices are set by markets. Adding a tax just means that some of the price is diverted to the public instead of to private profit. As long as all polluters have to pay the same tax, none is at a competitive disadvantage.

But is it fair for these polluters to pay a tax to clean up a problem that was unknown in the past? Well, I have been talking about the Climate Crisis since 1981 when it was already widely known. Internal documents show that ExxonMobil was well aware of the climate effects of their pollution by 1977 and maybe even earlier than that.

A Climate Superfund is actually much more fair than the chemical cleanup Superfund. In that case, companies have been taxed to pay to clean up after polluters that are long gone. And chemical companies that have played no part in pollution still have to pay. In the case of a Climate Superfund, all fossil fuel companies are to blame. There are no innocents.

The California bill would also only tax companies that have emitted at least a billion tons of climate changing emissions.

It is worth comparing climate legal action with tobacco legal action. Some of the same lawyers are even involved. It took many rounds of lawsuits for the public interest to prevail. In both cases the corporations knew of their public harms. They sowed doubt rather than providing evidence against the harms.

Can you be sure this cancer was caused by this cigarette? That this storm was caused by this barrel of oil? Of course not. But Climate Attribution Science actually can identify that a storm was likely caused by fossil fuel burning.

Please contact your state legislators and ask them to support this bill AB1243/ SB684. To make Polluters Pay.

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

Even more so is the idea that All of Me (née Hello! My Baby) is enjoying a “rebirth” with a potentially unlimited future.

“It has reminded me how much I loved it in the first place and how much more I’ve grown to love it ever since,” Steinkellner said. “It’s so exciting I can feel my skin tingling just thinking about it.”

MORE from Moby

Santa Barbara-based MORE Theatre’s Moby Dick -inspired series continues with Ahab’s Tale , the latest original site-specific theater piece based on Herman Melville’s Moby Dick . Written by Catt Filippov and directed by Ford Sachsenmaier , Ahab’s Tale stars Stanley Hoffman as the infamous character during his last days with his nemesis, the white whale. MORE creates original plays based on literary works, myths, poetry and oral traditions, all while being influenced by local stories, history ... even particular buildings and environments. Now MORE presents the concluding work in its “Whalers’ Triptych” at Community Arts Workshop, the most traditional of the non-traditional performance spaces the company favors.

The staging and design draw on CAW’s history as a former recycling facility and will include an art installation by visual artist Moxie Bright Evan. Matinee performances in the middle two days of its August 12-15 run will include tea service. Visit www.moretheatersb.com.

Focus on Film: Great Scott!

SBIFF’s Cinema Society dips back into streaming sensations at the Riviera Theatre with a power-packed pair of evenings devoted to popular AppleTV+ series that have very different ways of showing how folks cope with the loss of a spouse. First up: Severance, the eerie, imaginative and provocative science fiction psychological thriller that has captivated audiences for two full seasons. While the wait for Season 3 continues, star Adam Scott – whose character leads a team of willing office workers whose memories and personae have been surgically bifurcated between their work and personal lives – shares about the show following a screening of the second season finale on Friday, August 8.

Saturday segues to a show that has also completed two seasons in Shrinking, the comedy about a grieving therapist who breaks rules by telling his clients exactly what he thinks, resulting in huge, tumultuous changes in people’s lives, including his own. Star Jason Segel dishes following a screening of the first two episodes from Season 2. In between, on Saturday morning, SBIFF Cinema Society returns to its usual fare, screening the feature Weapons followed by a conversation with star (and Montecito resident) Josh Brolin

We’ve also hit the mid-point in SBIFF’s annual two-week sale for the forthcoming 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February that lops a whopping 25% off the full purchase price on the full slate of passes through August 15. Info at (805) 963-0023 or www.sbiff.org.

WANT TO ADVERTISE, BUT DON’T HAVE AN AD?

CHECK OUT OUR CLASSIFIEDS SECTION ON PAGE 46 FOR MORE INFO.

Severance star Adam Scott speaks at SBIFF’s Cinema Society (courtesy photo)

Hot Topics Drift Smoke Triggers Wildfire Memories &

Prompts Preparation: Here’s How to Prepare

by Christina Atchison

Our blue skies and summer sunshine have been mired by smoky, ashy conditions caused by the Gifford Fire burning in northeastern Santa Barbara County.

While the fire is a considerable distance from Montecito, the smoky skies trigger visceral memories and even fear for many community members who have lived through wildfires here.

We are in the midst of peak fire season for the South Coast and across California.

Fire activity is increasing throughout California and fire officials anticipate it will only intensify into the dry, hot autumn months.

What can you do right now to prepare?

Sign Up for ReadySBC Alerts

It is essential that residents are signed up to receive local emergency alerts through the ReadySBC Alerts system.

In a matter of clicks, you can register to be notified of emergency incidents at up to five locations in Santa Barbara County. Your five locations might include your primary residence, your workplace, a spouse’s workplace, a child’s school and a relative’s residence.

You will be prompted to choose whether you want to be notified via text message, phone call, email or a combination of those communication methods.

If you are already signed up, please verify your information for spelling and accuracy. Abbreviations such as E. Mtn. Dr. for East Mountain Drive, may prevent the alert from reaching you.

Register for the first time or check your registration today at readysbc.org

Build Your Go-Bag

An evacuation “go-bag” contains basic essentials to sustain you through the initial period of being away from your home during a wildfire or storm event.

Talk through what your family’s unique needs might be if you were asked to evacuate or shelter in place for multiple days. We’ve provided an inventory list to help build your bag and urge you to customize it for you and your family.

The items within your kit should be protected from the elements in airtight, plastic bags. While it may be tempting to take as much as possible with you, try to limit your supply kit to one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.

Practice Your Plan

Highway 101 construction, local repaving projects, and other ancillary roadwork are all routine causes of congestion on Montecito’s characteristically narrow and curvy roads.

It’s crucial that you practice your evacuation routes and reassess them when projects pose delays or detours.

Whenever possible, opt to leave early and before an evacuation order is issued. This allows you to get to safety before the heaviest traffic occurs, alleviates stress, and creates better access for firefighters trying to protect your property.

Be Informed

In any disaster scenario, maintaining situational awareness is necessary for safety and survival. Montecito Fire Department offers multiple methods to stay informed:

- Listen to AM 1610 – Tune in through your car radio or stream live online at montecitofire.com. During an emergency, our AM radio station broadcasts incident updates and pertinent information.

- Follow @MontecitoFire on social media – We’re on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Nextdoor.

- Check for information boards & signs – During an incident, information boards and signage will be posted at high traffic areas in the community, including the Village Green.

Help amplify emergency messaging by being in touch with your loved ones, friends and neighbors.

Recent wildfire events have underscored the effectiveness of old-school neighborhood phone trees to spread information and move people to safety. We encourage our residents to share contact information with your neighbors and stay in touch.

Ask Yourself:

- Am I signed up for ReadySBC Alerts? Is my information correct?

- Is my go-bag packed and ready to go?

- What are my evacuation routes?

- Do I have my neighbors’ phone numbers? Do they have mine?

Montecito Fire Department is here to help you prepare. Questions? Email us at info@montecitofire.com

Evacuation Go-Bag Inventory List

- Shelf-stable food (i.e. protein bars)

- Medications

- Battery-powered or hand crank radio

- Flashlight

- First-aid kit

- Pet supplies (food, water, medications, bedding)

- Extra batteries

- Whistle

- N-95, surgical & or cloth masks

- Leather gloves

- Safety goggles

- Extra clothing & sturdy shoes

- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

- Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)

- Manual can opener (for food)

- Local maps

- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

- Important documents – make copies & secure them in a password-protected digital space

- Any other essential items your family may need while evacuated or sheltering in place for several days

Montecito Fire E391 splatted with pink retardant from an aircraft drop at the Gifford Fire (courtesy photo)

insight, with each session guided by the client’s intentions and including connection with spirit guides and messages. The Sacred Space also hosts its monthly donation-based Guided Meditation led by Guillermina Neal on August 15, and a special Sound Healing experience with Melissa Paulo on August 16. In other private session opportunities, Transformational Tarot Reader Kristine Marie uses her intuition and experience to offer a look at your past, present and future on August 24.

August’s twice-monthly Sound Baths with Brandon Kaysen (which are limited to 10 people) have already sold out, but September sessions are still available. Or you can schedule your own private, one-hour sound bath with Kaysen where The Sacred Space provides everything needed for up to 10 guests in a session. Visit www.thesacredspace.com/events

Super Sonic Yoga in the Funk Zone

Hotel Californian hosts a one-afternoon immersion into music-driven

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No.

25CV04119. To all interested

parties: Petitioner Jennifer

Anne Christina Richardson

filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name of their child from Alexander Frederick Alire to Alexander Frederick Richardson. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Filed July 17, 2025 by Jessica Vega. Hearing date: September 8, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 5, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2025

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV04119. To all interested parties: Petitioner Jennifer Anne Christina Richardson filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name of their child from Adrian Franklin Alire to Adrian Franklin Richardson

The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name

movement, deep intention and highvibe connection, all set against the iconic backdrop of the posh hotel just a block from Stearns Wharf. Yoga artist MC YOGI and sonic alchemist DJ Taz Rashid team up on August 23 to create an experience that’s part ritual, part concert and all heart.

At 3 pm, the Chill Flow session invites participants to ease in, breathe deeper, let go and sink into a soulful, slow-flow session with ambient beats, gentle movement, and a grounded

talk that’ll meet you right where you are – and take you a little further in. All levels are welcome. After the session meet the artists, ask questions, and connect with two inspiring voices in the global yoga and conscious music scene at 4:30 pm, before the Signature Flow Yoga Concert begins at 6 pm. The two-hour Vinyasa experience is delivered through custom Bluetooth headphones in a yoga-festival-meets-underground-concert full of DJ beats, poetic guidance, and a fullbody, soul-forward practice that moves with and through you.

Visit https://hotelcalifornian.ticketsauce. com/e/yoga-sound-soul-with-super-sonicyoga/tickets for information and tickets

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

NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND PENDING ACTION BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO: (1) WAIVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON A COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT THAT MAY BE APPEALED TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION AND (2) APPROVE, CONDITIONALLY APPROVE, OR DENY THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT

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 Coastal Development Permit by the Planning and Development Department.

The development requested by this application is subject to appeal to the California Coastal Commission following final actio n by Santa Barbara County 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 California Coastal Act Section 30624.9, the Director has determined that this project qualifies as minor deve lopment and therefore 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 Kevin De Los Santos at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101-2058, by email at santosk@countyofsb.org, or by fax at (805) 568-2030. If a public hearing is requested, notice of such a hearing will be provided.

changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Filed July 17, 2025 by Jessica Vega. Hearing date: September 8, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 5, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2025

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 25CV04073. To all interested parties: Petitioner Angeles Natividad Avalos Borrayo and Rigoberto Sandoval Velazquez filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name of their child from Liam Matteo Avalos to Liam Matteo Sandoval Avalos. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed July 11, 2025 by Terri Chavez. Hearing date: September 10, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 3, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2025

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 Coastal Development Permit to the Montecito Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors and ultimately the California Coastal Commission.

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 Coastal Development Permit. 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 Coastal Development Permit is approved, and/or to view the application and plans, or to provide comments on the project, please contact Kevin De Los Santos at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101-2058, or by email at santosk@countyofsb.org, or by phone at (805) 884-8051.

PROPOSAL: ADAMS FOUNDATION REPAIR

PROJECT ADDRESS: 1546 MIRAMAR BEACH DR, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93108 1st SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT

THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE COASTAL ZONE

DATE OF NOTICE: 8/7/2025

REQUEST FOR HEARING EXPIRATION DATE: 8/28/2025

PERMIT NUMBER: 25CDH-00022

ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NO.: 009-345-039

ZONING: 7-R-1

PROJECT AREA: 0.02

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

• Applicant: Adams, Carolyn Cole 1996 Revocable Trust 10/13/08

APPLICATION FILED: 6/11/2025

• Proposed Project: The project is a request for a follow-up Coastal Development Permit with Hearing (CDH) to validate the emergency foundation repair of an existing single-family dwelling authorized under an Emergency Permit (Case No. 25EMP-00002). Repair of the foundation included underpinning the existing foundation with micropiles and installing new concrete jackets around existing concrete piers.

APPEALS:

The decision of the Director of the Planning and Development Department to approve, conditionally approve, or deny this Coast al Development Permit 25CDH-00022 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 Coastal Development Permit. 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.

This Coastal Development Permit may be appealed to the California Coastal Commission after an appellant has exhausted all local appeals, therefore a fee is not required to file an appeal.

For additional information regarding the appeal process, contact Kevin De Los Santos.

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 August 7, 2025

Montecito Journal

Cassandria Blackmore Relocates Montecito Gallery

Renowned glass artist Cassandria Blackmore is relocating her gallery from 1275 Coast Village Road to a private, appointment-only space. There’s no word yet on what will replace the prominent storefront. Blackmore, celebrated for her innovative reverse painting techniques, has works housed in major museums including the Crocker and Portland Art museums, as well as high-profile corporate collections. Her move reflects a shift toward more intimate, curated art experiences as she continues her national and international commissions, including a recent installation for the Waldorf Astoria.

Ojai’s Rôtie Restaurant is Coming to Carp

Village Properties’ Casey Turpin announced that she has secured Rôtie Ojai Restaurant Founder and Chef, Lorenzo Nicola, as the new tenant to join “restaurant row” in Carpinteria. This second location will be named Rôtie-Deux.

We heard you breathe a sigh of relief as the abandoned eyesore that was Giovanni’s pizza at that location is in process of renovations. The area was formerly rumored to be another Gene Montesano restaurant that would bookend with Little Dom’s. It is no wonder that Ojai would want into this upscaling cuisine game in the now even-more-hip Carpinteria.

Elite peeps are flocking daily to Carp from Malibu through Montecito – including celeb Lady Gaga with kiddos very early at Lucky Llama’s java. Nicola has stated in another interview he will have the same menu as the Ojai incarnation, but a larger kitchen and perhaps a room for private events. Rôtie-Deux is scheduled to open January 2026. Here’s to “Peace, Love and Baklava!” 411: www.ojairotie.com

Nugget Bar & Grill Opens 3rd Location

A massive and historic staple in Summerland, especially for those on motorcycles craving a beefy burger, The Nugget Bar & Grill now has a third location down from Carp beach on Linden Avenue, and it is packed! The tiny spot, already a favorite, is trying again to stay in Carpinteria after closing its Carp Ave location in 2017.

The Nugget is open Sundays-Thursdays, 11 am – 9 pm; and Fridays-Saturdays, 11 am – 9:30 pm.

Explore Ecology Maker Space August Workshops

Explore Ecology announces their August workshops for ages 13 through adult. Due to an increased attendance this summer, they are asking people to sign up online early to avoid missing out! Coming up are: Printmaking, August 7; Sewing and Mending, August 13; Yarn Buddies, August 19; Tote Bag Making, August 20; and Junk Journaling, August 27. For kids ages 5 to 10 there is Crafternoons on Maracas, Cardboard Castanets and Ojo de Dios. 411: https://exploreecology.org

Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital 40th Annual Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp

Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital celebrated its 40th annual Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp, July 21-25 at the UCSB Recreation Center. There were approximately 40 campers and more than 75 volunteers, all gathered to support and celebrate the power of inclusive recreation. Campers, volunteers, and staff reflected on the lasting impact of this one-of-a-kind program.

New VP & CIO for Cottage Health

Ganesh Persad, MSBI CHCIO (Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics and Certified Healthcare CIO), is to start in September as the new VP and CIO for Cottage Health. He brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare information management, with expertise in digital transformation, clinical systems, enterprise technology rollouts and initiatives aimed at improving patient and workforce experience. As CIO, he will serve as Cottage Health’s chief strategist and senior leader for all information systems and will participate in enterprise-wide strategic planning while overseeing IT strategy. He’ll lead Cottage Health’s development and execution of both strategic and tactical IT plans, while fostering a forward-thinking technology culture that champions innovation.

CRIME

Burglary Messages / Butterfly Lane

Sunday, July 20, at 07:57 hours

Homeowner returned home late on 7/19 to discover the residence had been broken into and ransacked. A possible latent fingerprint was discovered on the rim of the safe keypad. The keypad was disconnected and booked into evidence for further forensic examination.

Meth / Hermosillo Road

Monday, July 21, at 03:28 hours

Deputies conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle for displaying false registration tabs. It was confirmed that the registration tab was false, and the vehicle’s registration had in fact been expired since 10/2023. A meth pipe was found on the driver’s person, along with a quantity of methamphetamine, which was also found inside the vehicle. Subject was cited for violations of VC 4462.5, VC 4000(a)(1), HS 11377(a), and HS 11364(a) and the vehicle was towed.

Burglary / 5888 Via Real

Monday, July 21, at 09:43 hours

Over the weekend, one person evidently acting alone cut through the fencing from the adjacent avocado orchard onto a neighboring cannabis farm property. Once on the property, suspect stole items including a generator and DeWalt tools, then entered a greenhouse and stole the trichomes – the potent, topmost flowering structures – from a number of marijuana plants. Surveillance and a detailed list of stolen items are forthcoming from Reporting Party (RP).

Meth / Banner Ave and Valencia Road

Monday, July 21, at 00:47 hours

Deputies were dispatched in response to reports of a disruptive male subject who was yelling and evidently Under the Influence. The subject had a warrant out for his arrest. Two used meth pipes with residue were found in his pocket during a search. Subject was arrested and booked at SBJ.

Heroin/Meth / East Valley and Sheffield

Tuesday, July 22, at 12:49 hours

Subject was contacted in his parked utility truck on the side of East Valley Road. The truck displayed a temporary license plate for another vehicle. 2.3 grams of heroin, a useable amount of meth, and drug paraphernalia were located. Subject had two prior drug convictions and was charged with felony HS 11395 in addition to other drug related charges.

Card Scam / Calle Dia

Tuesday, July 22, at 17:00 hours

RP reported she was the victim of a gift card scam with a total loss of over $12,000.00.

Transient Breaking/Entering / 4900 block El Carro Lane

Wednesday, July 23, at 12:34 hours

Victim’s was home with his 12-year-old son when a transient entered the residence. Subject refused to identify herself and refused to walk out of the residence. Deputies removed the subject from the residence, and subject later had to be bodily carried into the jail.

During this appointment, Dr. Krauss explains what you can do, based on your individual biology, to optimize your health, and collaborates with patients on a completely personalized Wellness Plan, including lifestyle and nutritional adjustments outside of Next Health, alongside services that take health to the next level.

Nev Miss An Issue!

MJ. Do your treatments have proven longevity markers?

ZS. All services at Next Health are backed by credible studies showing benefits in humans. The results of services at Next Health can be seen in biomarker testing results, TrueAge tests that showcase a reversing biological clock, and in the testimonials our patients share.

Certain advanced services, like Therapeutic Plasma Exchange, come with a complimentary Total Baseline Test and Total Tox Burden Test (a $2K+ value) to measure the impact of the exchange on your unique body. Darshan Shah, MD, founder & CEO of Next Health, spoke about the powerful longevity results of this specific service on the Dr. Mark Hyman Show, to which I encourage everyone to listen: https://tinyurl.com/HymanShaw

Another “proven” longevity marker could be found in the experiences patients have with the Next Health Executive Physical. One story that comes to mind is that of a father and husband in his late 30s, whose full-body MRI that comes with the Executive Physical uncovered a stage 1 brain tumor that would have been deadly if he’d had to wait until symptoms arose.

MJ. Within what general time frame might your clients reasonably expect to see results?

Dr. Nicole Strauss [NS]. We have a lot of successful intelligent people

living in Montecito who are aware of wellness. When it comes to how soon one can feel better with our treatments, it comes down to baseline markers. For someone with nutritional deficiencies we can correct that in 12 weeks typically with a focus on micronutrients. For women going through menopause and are symptomatic, that can be a two-tothree-month journey to get the rogue hormones back in balance and to get the body back into homeostasis. Things like vaginal dryness can be fixed in a week –it’s pretty amazing. Cognitive issues and chronic fatigue syndrome have many factors like chronic viral infection or inflammation, and correction will vary based on your starting point. It’s doable!

ZS. Most clients are surprised when they see simple changes and treatments lead to meaningful differences in their health. Optimized health is an ongoing process, and it takes maintenance. One can feel better in a just few months of consistent IV therapy if they are dealing with low or moderate inflammation. If a person’s health issues are more complex, such as needing to clean up gut bacteria, detox from mold and toxicity, etc., consistent maintenance over time is needed to get back on track to optimal health. Advanced protocols designed to help you start feeling better right away are Cryotherapy, which can provide an immediate endorphin experience, or NAD+ therapy, which can have fairly immediate effects on energy.

MJ. Let’s talk about dementia, and its relation to gut health.

NS. With Alzheimer’s and dementia there are so many proactive approaches to mitigate development, such as bioidentical estrogen which can help protect against

Dr. Kraus and Aspen Brito RN with

(photo by Joanne A Calitri)

it. However, at age 50 or for anyone concerned, the baseline biomarker test is a great starting point. I recommend adding on our advanced GI testing for microbiome analysis. What happens in the gut tells us what happens in the brain. You have to do that deep dive to uncover what’s really happening in your gut. Especially for women, our biome can be off due to lifestyle stress. There’s a lot of great science around the gut-brain connection. We know that inflammation is a main driving force of dementia and Alzheimer’s. If we help the gut and resolve inflammation, we potentially slow the progress or prevent neurodegenerative disease.

MJ. And detoxing protocols?

NS. Detoxing is such a hot trigger word, and it’s important to talk about. Most people are unknowingly doing something at home that may not be good for their health. That is why the baseline biomarker test is important to see your pesticide exposure, heavy metal burden, microplastics, and parasites. I don’t think that colon cleanses and enemas (which are popular) are a great fit for everyone. It is surprising to learn that you can effectively sweat out certain toxins rather than have an enema. It is important to learn how these toxins excrete from the body. We are bombarded by toxins these days, and you need to know what your levels are, which can surprise you. I ask clients, “Are you living near a golf course, do you have mold in your home?” At the end of day, I recommend doing a full toxin panel (which includes blood, urine, and stool), and target your treatment based on your specific needs.

Two proven modalities for reducing are plasma exchange and EBOO ozone therapy. At next health we test for heavy metals and other toxins before and after treatments to see the positive effects.

MJ. What should women know about hormone meds?

NS. Many menopausal women are on a commonly prescribed oral progesterone called Prometrium prescribed by most gynecologists. Though Prometrium is technically a bio-identical hormone (which is a win for me!), it contains red dye 40 and yellow dye 10 which is not disclosed to the consumer. This is similar to the lack of informed consent we often see with women being prescribed contraceptive medications. Providing full transparency and clear information to the consumer is imperative to make an informed decision on usage. Bottom line: any topical hormones should not have any dyes in them.

MJ. Are supplements included for your clients?

NS. What differentiates Next Health is that I approach all my clients as a partnership; we are on their continuous wellness journey together. My goal is to really fix

the root issue(s) my clients face, and that requires frequent follow ups. For example, for those with a nutrition or weight control focus, I provide lots of dietary and lifestyle tools like specific nutraceuticals to help them achieve their goals in a way that does not feel overwhelming. For patients on hormone therapy, I have monthly check ups and quarterly labs to closely track their progress. For clients with a focus on hormones, peptides, or stem cells, I typically don’t over-supplement. Rather, I focus on two to three supplements therapeutically to help correct imbalances and then maintain optimal levels. For each patient, I personally select and add the supplements they need to their shopping cart in an online store we use. The supplements I prescribe are third-party tested and brands I trust, and I provide all needed dosage and time frame information.

MJ. Do treatments provide a temporary fix or resolve the underlying issue?

ZS. At Next Health, our focus is on resolving the underlying issue, not offering a quick or temporary fix. We work to address root causes through data-driven diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, and consistent monitoring. That said, longevity and optimized health require ongoing maintenance. If neglected, certain issues can resurface. Health optimization is a journey, not a onetime treatment, and we partner with our clients long-term to help them sustain their results.

MJ. Can you talk about treatment downtime and side effects?

ZS. The majority of our therapies are non-invasive and have little to no associated downtime. Clients can typically return to their regular activities immediately after treatment. Certain

all protocols align with safe, compliant standards. IV therapy is FDA approved, plasma exchange as well.

MJ. Do people need approval from their primary care physician before receiving any treatment at Next Health?

ZS. In most cases, no referral or approval from a primary care provider is necessary. However, we do require medical clearance from a primary care physician for individuals aged 69 or older before beginning certain treatments. Additionally, we do not treat individuals under the age of 18. That said, every prospective client undergoes a detailed medical history screening during onboarding to ensure safety and suitability for any service.

MJ. Can you please discuss pricing and packages?

ZS. We have flexible options to meet different health goals. Our two primary memberships are:

therapies may produce short-term side effects. For example, during NAD+ IV therapy, some patients may experience nausea, lightheadedness, or a feeling of tightness in the chest, which can be managed by adjusting the infusion rate. Advanced treatments like Therapeutic Plasma Exchange involve more intensive protocols and may require rest after the procedure, but most of our services are well-tolerated.

MJ. Are your treatments and services third-party vetted?

ZS. Yes. At Next Health, we prioritize clinical integrity. All our protocols and treatment plans are developed under the guidance of licensed medical professionals, and many of our services, like Therapeutic Plasma Exchange and peptide therapies, are based on published research and clinically validated approaches. The supplements we recommend are third-party tested for purity and potency, and we consistently review emerging studies to ensure we’re offering the most evidence-backed services available in longevity medicine.

MJ. Are Next Health’s technology, devices, and practices all FDA/medically approved?

ZS. We exclusively use FDA-cleared devices where applicable. For instance, our body composition analysis, fullbody MRI scans, and certain IV therapy equipment are all FDA-cleared. However, some regenerative therapies, like certain peptides or exosome treatments, fall into areas where the FDA categorizes them as investigational or not yet approved for disease treatment, though they can be used off-label in optimization protocols under medical supervision. Our medical team stays current on regulatory guidelines, ensuring

Optimize Membership: $199/ month, which includes 10 Optims (our in-house currency for access to our technology-based therapies) and 2 vitamin shots per month. Members also receive a complimentary annual Baseline Blood Test, InBody Scan, Visia Skin Analysis, and up to 20% off additional services – including offerings from Next Health Aesthetics. Premier Membership: $299/month, which includes 10 Optims (our in-house currency for access to our technology-based therapies), two IV Drips, and two vitamin shots per month, along with the same annual complimentary testing and member discounts. This membership is ideal for those wanting regular IV therapy as part of their routine. And clients can access exclusive savings on advanced service bundles, including Therapeutic Plasma Exchange, IV therapy, and more. For those preferring more flexibility, all treatments and services are available a la carte.

411: https://www.next-health.com/location/ montecito

Chad Gordon, RN, and Ava Clemens, medical assistant – working in the IV Therapy area of Next Health (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

“The Music Academy is one of the best places for amateur singers to become professional,” he said. “It’s been amazing.”

It Takes Two to Piano

As in the professional world, collaborative pianists get something of the short shrift in the keyboard work, generally working in the shadow of instrumental soloists, singers, and of course spotlight-grabbing solo pianists. Until quite recently at MAW, the collaborative pianists played for master classes and competitions but didn’t really have a concert of their own. Now this weekend there are two. In addition to the full night of piano and other instrumental pairings at Hahn Hall on Thursday as mentioned above, the two piano winners of the Duo Competition also get to shine at the Lobero on Friday, in sets surrounding the Horne winners.

Oboist Jamie Yoojin Lee and pianist Lydia Ai-ling Yu kick things off

performing Marina Dranishnikova’s “Poem for Oboe and Piano” and Antal Doráti’s “Duo Concertante for Oboe and Piano,” while the evening closes with cellist Mia Kim Bernard and pianist Amber Ginmi Scherer playing their winning set of Bloch’s “Prayer” from From Jewish Life and Brahms’ “Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 99.”

Ginmi Scherer was both a solo pianist and psychology student at Oberlin –perhaps a perfect combo for a collaborative pianist – before the pandemic hit and she considered quitting music.

“I had an existential crisis and decided to apply for an AmeriCorps program in New York City, almost on a whim,” she recalled. “I ended up having an amazing year at the school I was assigned to in Queens, where I taught music and piano. It was eye-opening seeing how artistically gifted these kids were who’d had very different upbringings than me. I realized I missed performing, particularly in small group settings or duos. It’s what feels most natural for me as a person and as a musician.”

Winning the Duo Competition was something of a surprise for Ginmi Scherer, too; mostly because she came down with COVID not long before the finals.

“I had to pull it together for my partner’s sake. I didn’t want her to have to forfeit because I got sick,” she said. “I just wanted to muster the physical strength to survive and get through it beginning to end. There was no thought of winning.”

Now, the pianist is happy to have another chance to perform the pieces for a larger audience at the Lobero.

“The Bloch is just beautiful, and the Brahms is a very profound and multilayered piece, one of his great masterpieces,” she said. “Both Mia and I felt it very passionately and personally.”

Giving List (Continued from 16)

Weaver said that earlier transition was not only huge in her decision to come to Direct Relief but also in how she has approached her position since arriving in May.

“It gave me the confidence to know I could switch to a new role and a new focus and that it is possible to learn that and to excel doing that,” she said. “[I realized that to accomplish that], the first thing to do here was listen. I am dedicating the first several months not to making sweeping changes, not to laying out a new strategy, not to critiquing anything, but really to spending the time listening to the team who has been here, hearing what’s on our board’s mind and the executive team, the employees’ mind and our partners. As I told the employees on the first day, I didn’t come in to strip things down or to make huge changes. I came to build on what [we] already have.”

To that end, Weaver has not only visited local organizations, including Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, to meet with frontline healthcare workers and see firsthand the impact of Direct Relief’s support in the community it calls home – she has done the same internationally. Weaver traveled to Ghana and Uganda, visiting with healthcare providers and patients, seeing for herself exactly how Direct Relief’s work – expanding access to medicines and strengthening health systems – translates into saving lives.

Notwithstanding Direct Relief’s position as the fifth largest nonprofit in the entire country, the new CEO is also drawn to the organization’s ongoing connection to the community where it was founded.

“It’s hard to think of another major nonprofit that has such deep, deep links to the community,” she said. “Direct Relief is truly a Santa Barbara County nonprofit. That’s where the leadership tends to come from, the employees, our largest donors. I love that sense of history. There is a sign in the airport that says ‘From Santa Barbara to the World,’ and I love that Direct Relief really is Santa Barbara’s gift to the world. But when

we talk about providing aid to Gaza and Ukraine and Uganda, we also want to continue providing aid right here in the community. It’s really important that we always start with that.”

It’s a particularly challenging time in history for nonprofits like Direct Relief, given the current political climate which has seen drastic cutbacks in funding for health and humanitarian efforts both at home and abroad. While Direct Relief doesn’t take any government funding and so hasn’t suffered a direct decrease in its finances, the general need only increases as other programs decline in the sea change of how America supports the world.

Indeed, USAID was defunded between the time Weaver accepted the new position and started the job.

“It was kind of a tsunami going through the development world, which actually makes it the most meaningful time to be jumping in because it’s an entirely new game now and an entirely new set of opportunities,” she said. “It’s still early in trying to figure out exactly what the impacts are going to be where we might help, because if you’re in a position like we are to do more, you really have an obligation to do so. Given the massive shift of resources and priorities at the government level, what is now being left behind may be a place where Direct Relief can step up, whether it’s medical supplies, or providing power. We want people on the ground to know that we can set up to try to fill in the gaps. But it’s always about making sure that wherever we’re going, we’re going in a way that is making the greatest possible impact.

“The need is growing exponentially, not just the last few months but for years, due to conflicts in the world and environmental changes that are clearly causing global health issues. Direct Relief is in a unique position to be able to step up and do even more. This is really the moment. It’s the moment for donors, it’s the moment for nonprofits. It’s the moment for everyone to really step up.”

Visit www.directrelief.org for more information

“Direct Relief really is Santa Barbara’s gift to the world…” – Amy Weaver

Jack Burrows (courtesy photo)

Lydia Ai-ling Yu (courtesy photo)

Amber Ginmi Scherer (courtesy photo)

excoriates the Christians of Corinth (a town in southern Greece and the seat of that province’s Roman gov’t) for taking too much pleasure in titles and other worldly crap; for being swaggering fake Christians still “of the World.” His letter to the Corinthians is a delicious example of remonstrative New Testament sarcasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson had his own wry metric for spotting phonies. “The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.”

Lionized

Once upon a time the Christian was the scariest freak in the room; a hunted radical and a magnet for state torture. In those days, following Jesus was not something one did to make friends. The Christians scared Rome badly. This was not the joyous Rome of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn happily astride a Vespa. The imaginative Roman torments visited upon captured Christians included burning, drowning, being thrown to wild animals, and so on.

Simply renouncing Christ would get you off the hook with the Romans. Interestingly, plenty of Christians would see their compatriots savagely torn to pieces by starved jackals and would still refuse to renounce Jesus. That would seem to suggest something. And it’s not mere “courage.”

Today there are comparatively few Christians who would submit to being eaten alive by lions – a punitive measure that reportedly really, really hurts. Can’t we serve Christ without being eaten? Yes, we can! Or we can anyway profess Christ. In a supreme twist of irony that might’ve upset St. Peter (who was crucified upside down for his faith), Christianity today actually confers bragging rights, most spectacularly in the sphere of public service. A phrase you wouldn’t have dared utter in 32 AD is, in 2025 AD, a ringing song of public self-celebration. “Heck yeah, I’m a Christian!”

A Statistically Anomalous Agglomeration of the Faithful

Not to complain, but we may be adrift in a period of startling ethical torpor. This opinion won’t surprise anyone. The element of surprise is, in fact, yesterday’s news. At this historical moment, looking the other way is so normalized the neck brace threatens to surpass crypto currency as Wall Street’s preferred dashboard figurine. We’re fortunate, then, to have Christians in positions of power in this Christian nation.

At this writing, about 88% of Congress’ members self-identify as Christian, which is more than 20% higher than the 63% of U.S. adults who identify as Christian. That is, our lawmaking body in Washington, D.C. is a statistically anomalous agglomeration of the faithful. Congress’ collective fealty to Jesus Christ has informed the legislation produced by this Christcentered legislative body. The Lord

Dear Ellen:

Items from the Montecito Ledger, August 6, 1958

My boyfriend tris to tell me what color clothes he wants me to wear and what styles he likes. I really like him. It makes me mad, though, when he tries to tell me what to wear. Shouldn’t I tell him off? Write something about this in your column, please.

-Martha W., 16

Dear Martha:

Isn’t it funny? These men claim to know nothing about women’s fashions, yet they have pretty definite ideas about what they like their women to wear. You do what you want to do, Martha. It is your prerogative. However, if it were me, I’d dress to please my man. For goodness sake, don’t throw away your new yellow sheath just because he prefers pink. But if he hates the sack, don’t wear your sack on a date with him. Save it for a night out with the girls. I still dress to please my husband. After all, who do we want to please more than our men?

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famously said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). Fortunately, there is lots of wiggle room in that likely mistranslation.

Love, Factually

And then – “Love.” The word sags under the weight of all the saccharine baggage it has to haul. Sages, wise men, and ascetic weirdos down through the millennia – both the well-known and the obscure – have jawboned exhaustively on the subject. St. Augustine, Pythagoras, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Empedocles, Islam, Christianity. Love Love Love! The nagging persistence of the “Love message” suggests this eternal directive transcends the sentimental. The Jesuit scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin even described love as an actual feature of cosmology, and he’s not alone. If only Love had a more scientifically obtuse name, like The Higgs Field or

the Exclusion Principle, we might be more inclined to consider its possible role as both the quantized “stuff” that gifts the universe its physical coherence, and the unsung periodic element that infuses the living with fundamental meaning and purpose.

In any case, our curious, collective fate is now in the hands of the 119th Congress, 88% of whose membership holds Love to be a guiding principle. Plain sailing.

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

The Exhortation to the Apostles by James Tissot (courtesy of Brooklyn Museum)

Jesuit scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

(photo by Phillippe Halsman, courtesy of archives des jésuites de France)

From Theater Stages to Tower Classes

While many Pilates instructors find their way into the discipline after discovering its physical benefits, Jessica’s journey feels choreographed by life itself. A lifelong dancer, she was raised in Montecito and began assisting her mentor dance teacher by age 11. After earning a BFA in choreography from UC Irvine, she was introduced to Pilates as a dance elective.

“I loved how particular it was,” Jessica says. “The way it isolated muscles, made you feel longer and stronger – it just clicked for me as a dancer.”

After college, life took her back to Santa Barbara, where she earned her California teaching credential in physical education and worked tirelessly to create dance programs in public schools. But as happens to many creatives who step into bureaucratic ecosystems, the constraints wore her down.

“I realized even if I could get the funding, I wouldn’t have the freedom to teach the way I knew I needed to,” she says.

Then came motherhood. As Jessica describes it, her post-baby body felt unfamiliar, uncooperative. It was Pilates, she says, that pulled her out of that difficult time.

“I didn’t think I would ever dance again,” she admits. “But Pilates gave me back not just my strength, but my identity.”

The Birth of Groove

As fate would have it, a friend connected Jessica with the owner of Simpatico Pilates who – as it happened – was mulling retirement. Jessica stepped into the studio and felt an instant connection.

“I knew right away: this is a special place,” she says.

She completed her Pilates certification, purchased the business, rebranded it as Groove Pilates, and redesigned the interior to reflect her choreographic sensibility –emphasizing comfort, flow, and creative freedom.

And it worked. “We’ve created something so warm, so welcoming, that people want to stick around even after their classes are over.”

Staff Room Magic and the Summer Challenge

One of Jessica’s most impactful changes wasn’t in a class structure or branding – it was the simple decision to convert a rented massage room into a dedicated staff space.

“Now it’s where we all hang out, unwind, brainstorm,” she says. “It changed everything.”

That room has become a hub of camaraderie. Trainers, some in their 30s, others in their 50s and 60s, linger after sessions to test new moves, cheer each other on, and participate in their “Summer Challenge” – a spontaneous workout series that blends fun with functional fitness.

“My trainers say all the time that this is the happiest job they’ve ever had,” Jessica beams. “They love each other, they support each other, and our clients feel that.”

Pilates for Every Body and Everybody

Groove offers a robust slate of services, from private sessions and duets to small group classes. Their studio – once three separate units – now seamlessly accommodates simultaneous private training and group instruction. Classes are capped at five participants to keep the experience personal and focused.

Offerings range from “gentle” to “power,” with clients encouraged to experiment and find the right fit. The tower classes, featuring unique spring-loaded units, often look intimidating – the looming contraption of springs, pullies, and benches looking more like a device for extracting confessions than a mobility enhancer – but as I tried one myself, the machine guided me with ease and an ergonomic support, gently driven by Jessica’s encouraging voice.

Jessica’s approach, shaped by both her PE credential and years of working with youth, means Groove is equally equipped to support teenagers and seniors. She regularly volunteers at local high schools and brings teens into the studio to teach them body awareness during critical growth phases.

“Understanding your body during hormonal changes is so important,” she says. “We teach them how to move with intention and protect themselves.”

Stories from the Studio

There’s Simon, of course – once barely mobile, now mastering advanced Pilates moves in his 80s.

Then there’s the client with aphasia, a form of dementia. For her, Pilates is more than physical training – it’s cognitive therapy. “She used to struggle to complete even one exercise,” Jessica recalls. “Now, after just two months, she can finish full sequences. We all cheer her on.”

And who could forget the towering bride-to-be – once riddled with pain from an intense athletic background, now confidently joining intermediate classes, pain-free and smiling.

“These stories are why I do what I do,” Jessica says.

The Groove Philosophy

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Ask Jessica what she wants people to feel when they leave her studio, and her answer is immediate: “Taller. Longer. More connected to themselves.”

But more than that, she wants them to feel welcome. Pilates, she believes, is for every stage of life. “It’s not about perfection – it’s about progress and joy.”

The love between clients and trainers is mutual. Gifts are exchanged. Tickets to concerts are shared. Clients bring treats for Jessica’s kids because they feel like part of her extended family. That trust, that care – it’s palpable.

“I think that’s why people keep coming back,” Jessica says. “They feel seen, they feel safe, and they feel good in their bodies.”

Groove On

Groove Pilates isn’t a trend. It’s not a fitness craze. It’s a heartbeat – a joyful rhythm in Montecito that pulses with community, compassion, and movement.

As Jessica puts it: “We meet people where they are. And then we help them find their groove.”

Visit www.groovepilates.com for more information and to start getting into your own groove

This is not the torture wall from a horror movie… it’s the bright, cheery scene of improved fitness and flexibility (photo by Nolan Montgomery)

Hats Off to the Winners

A positive profusion of creative and colorful tony tête toppers packed the stands and cabanas at the crowded Santa Barbara Polo Club as it celebrated its 18th annual Ladies Day.

As usual I had the onerous task of judging the mélange of magnificent millinery, including the largest and most creative, and the day couldn’t have been more perfect with the sun blazing, low humidity, and a glorious Pacific Ocean breeze.

Kathryn Martin, chief executive of the Santa Barbara Symphony, wore an impressive, self-created hat, while Jenna Reichental had the most creative hotdog millinery, definitely causing paws for thought.

And Lucy Abie won for the most polo-inspired creation.

Winners received bottles of Lalo tequila, together with mini-polo mallets and, of course, hats.

Lawyers’ Fees Begin

Maroon 5 star Adam Levine, a longtime resident of our rarefied enclave, is facing a federal lawsuit over a post he shared in 2019 raising support for Hurricane Dorian victims.

According to court documents, the Billboard frontman, 46, allegedly used copyrighted video footage of storm damage in the Bahamas without permission from the owner.

The suit, brought by Global Weather Productions LLC, claims Levine used

footage taken from the Abacos Islands, one of the locations hit by the hurricane, without a proper license.

The video footage was originally published on Sept. 3, 2019, highlighting the catastrophe created by Dorian in the Bahamas and Carolinas.

Levine also used the footage to urge followers to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

But Global Weather Productions says it is a clear case of copyright infringement and is seeking damages of $150,000 under federal copyright law.

Stay tuned...

Olé Presidentes

La Recepción del Presidente, which officially launched Fiesta, attracted quite the crowd with current Presidente Fritz Olenberger with the Spirit of Fiesta Natalia Treviño and Junior Spirit Victoria Plascencia.

The oldest Presidente present was Mike Danley (1997) with photographer Fritz being the most recent.

Flamenco, Fiesta, and Fun

Financial dynamo George Leis and his wife Laurie threw a Fiesta bash for 80 guests are their Santa Barbara home, including CalPrivate President and CEO Rick Sowers, Santa Barbara Zoo President and CEO Charles Hopper and wife Aisha, Dacia and Riley Harwood, Dave and Jackie Carrera, former mayor Helene Schneider. Old Spanish Days El Presidente Fritz Olenberger and wife Gretchen also joined in the fun.

Flamenco guitarist Alex Jordan entertained.

Date Night?

Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry, newly split from British actor Orlando Bloom, was spotted having dinner à deux with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, also recently separated, at a Montreal restaurant.

The singer, 40, and Trudeau, 53, spent the evening at Le Violon and Trudeau attended her concert a couple of days later.

Watch this space...

Family Dispute

Prince Harry, who is claimed to have given his uncle, Prince Andrew, a “bloody nose” based on an argument a decade ago, has denied the anecdote –which appears in a new book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie

The Duke of York allegedly called wife Meghan Markle “an opportunist” leading to the fisticuffs.

But a rep for the Riven Rock resident tells the New York Post: “I can confirm Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have never been in a physical fight, and never made the comment he is alleged to have made about the Duchess of Sussex to Prince Harry.”

Ex Reflections

Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert has revealed all about her six-year relationship with Rob Lowe, who was becoming a success with the films St. Elmo’s Fire and Class. She described it as “very tumultuous.”

The twosome, both 61, went out from 1981 to 1987 and Melissa says it was “difficult to deal with.”

Speaking on a podcast, she added: “I was such a baby when Rob and I were together. I was 17, and the last time we broke up we were 23 and it was very tumultuous. I felt like a bit of an old sage in the business at that point because I’d been doing it for a long time on Little House on the Prairie when we met, and he was just starting out.

“He’d done a little bit of television, and I was able to sit back and watch his meteoric rise happen. But I wasn’t prepared for the fandom and, frankly,

the girls. It was like I didn’t exist. They just pushed right past me and stuck their phone numbers in his pockets and stuff. It was hard and horrible.”

Remembering John Saladino

On a personal note, I remember international interior designer John Saladino, who died at his Birnam Wood home aged 86.

He was a man of exquisite taste, and I enjoyed many dinner parties at his Villa de Lemma cooked by his personal chef. At one time his eponymous Manhattan design firm had more than 40 employees. A graduate of the Yale School of Art and Architecture, he founded the prestigious New York firm in 1969.

An enormous talent…

Sightings

Actor Larry David at Bar Lou on CVR… Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watching son Archie learn to surf at Santa Claus Beach in Carpinteria… Former TV newswoman Maria Shriver at Pierre Lafond.

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

Jenna Reichental, Kathryn Martin, and Lucy Abie in their winning hats (photo by Priscilla)

Presidentes turn out in force to launch Fiesta (photo by Alejandro Navarro)

George and Laurie Leis hosted an Old Spanish Days soirée (photo by Priscilla)

Even the pup was in a Fiesta mood (photo by Priscilla)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Calendar of Events

by Steven Libowitz

ONGOING

Songs at the Stow House – Summer evenings sound sweeter at the Music at the Ranch series at Rancho La Patera & Stow House, smack in the heart of Goleta’s goodland. An ad hoc community of picnic-and-music enthusiasts are invited to gather every Tuesday evening (till the kids head back to school) to enjoy the acoustics, the tunes, and the grassy sprawl amid shade trees and melodious uplift. This week (August 5): Doublewide Kings! This sextet of sixtysomethings (or thereabouts) is able to play rousingly to almost any audience, as evidenced by their genre-busting gig at de la Guerra Plaza on Fiesta’s opening night, and their pending third go-round with the Santa Barbara Symphony. Here, though, you get to enjoy them while the sun is out, the grass fragrant, and the vibes delightful and neighborly. Blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics are encouraged, (tasteful and well-mannered) enjoyment of alcohol allowed.

WHEN: 5:30-7:30 pm

WHERE: Stow House, 304 N. Los Carneros Road, Goleta COST: free

INFO: (805) 681-7216 or www.goletahistory.org/music-at-the-ranch

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

MoneLuv at Elings – The expansive and picturesque private park on the Mesa has so many nooks and crannies, you could easily not realize that in addition to ballfields, a mogul-filled bike racecourse, an amphitheater, spectacular hiking trails, and lots of places to lose yourself, there’s also a lush little grass-blessed, slightly sloping area adjacent to the Singleton Pavilion. This verdant little plot has been the monthly site of free family-friendly concerts for several summers, the cozy gatherings known as Mesa Music Nites. A series now produced by Kiwanis of Santa Barbara, the events also sport delicious BBQ foodstuffs, refreshing drinks, exciting raffles, local vendors of a variety of stripes, and plenty of space for dancing (or rolling down the hills if that’s your thing.) The 2025 series comes to a close

Digital ‘Dog Days of Summer’ – UCSB Arts & Lectures’ annual series of free summer film screenings, presented in association with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, take place outdoors under the stars at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens. The series has gone completely to the dogs, as this year’s slate features seven canine-centric movies screenings. On tap for August 8: My Dog Skip, the humorous and touching tale of a talented terrier named Skip who helps his young owner turn bullies into friends, tangle with hapless moonshiners, and even win the affections of the prettiest girl in school. The heartfelt coming-of-age story is based on award-winning author Willie Morris’ bestselling memoir of his boyhood. As always for one of the more spectacular venues in the heart of downtown where picnicking is almost a must, please respect the lawn and your fellow filmgoers by bringing only blankets that are permeable (no plastic/nylon/ tarps), and chairs that are low-backed and low to the ground. Come early for pre-screening specials that include a musical playlist curated by DJ Darla Bea, raffles, and info booths dedicated to dogs.

WHEN: 8:30 pm

WHERE: Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens, 1100 Anacapa St.

COST: free

INFO: www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

Fiesta 1st Thursday – Art & Soul (1323 State) gets into the ¡Viva La Fiesta! spirit, celebrating Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days – albeit four days later – with Pedro De La Cruz ’s solo exhibition of works that are alive with swirling skirts, mariachis and laughter… Santa Barbara Historical Museum (136 E. De La Guerra) winds up its last month of Project Fiesta: Santa Barbara News-Press Edition – a twist on its annual exhibition celebrating the preservation of the now-shuttered newspaper’s archive. The exhibit features thousands of images captured by those photojournalists who’ve documented the beloved pageantry of Old Spanish Days Fiesta for generations. After-hours wine and music are included… Casa de la Guerra (15 E. De la Guerra St.), site of much of last weekend’s festivities, hosts an open house featuring its exhibition Telling Stories of Mexican California: Real Life & Myth Making , and points people to the adjacent The SPACE for art workshops, Indigenous culture and history, and conversations on protecting our environment… Adhering to another summertime pastime, Santa Barbara Fine Art (1321 State) boasts an exhibition called Santa Barbara Beaches , with pieces by John Comer , Richard Schloss , Kelly Hine , Arturo Tello , Michael Drury , John Wullbrandt , and Rob Robinson , and others… At Benchmark Eatery (1201 State), David J. Diamant will be showing his “Unsalted” series where each wooden panel provides a spray-and-acrylic painted snapshot of the same lake during late summer over different times of day and weather conditions… In the “1st Thursday Firsts” department, the French art gallery Seimandi & Leprieur, (33 W. Anapamu) opens its doors with Fertilum by Ricardo Ozier-Lafontaine , a powerful and immersive solo show boasting large-scale black-and-white paintings (up to 12 feet long) that explore ancestral memory through abstraction. The works draw on pre-Columbian visual forms and Caribbean cultural histories to create a visual language that is both rooted and strikingly contemporary… At the other end of the temporal spectrum, it’s Lucky 13 a few doors down at Sullivan Goss (11 E. Anapamu), which hosts beloved painter Robin Gowen ’s 13th solo exhibition at the longtime local gallery. Also on view: The Fateful Eight: A Blockbuster Summer Exhibition and a salon of all women artists… Two other cherished spaces for local art exhibitions that otherwise serve different public functions –located catty corner from one another – also have new shows opening for 1st Thursday: Channing Peake Gallery (105 E. Anapamu) hosts Form and Frame: Abstraction, Community, and the Language of Art featuring selections from the County’s public art collection that explore how core elements such as line, form and color serve as tools for storytelling, community expression and emotional resonance. At Faulkner Gallery (40 E. Anapamu), photographs by members of the Channel City Camera Club, which has been active locally since 1939 and stands 220 members strong, take over the main gallery with original works on paper, canvas, and metal displaying the skill and diversity of club members.

WHEN: 5-8 pm

WHERE: Lower State Street and side streets

COST: free

INFO: (805) 962-2098 or www.downtownsb.org/events/1st-thursday

tonight with music from MoneLuv, a classic rock cover band with retro original vibes, a cool synth-bass style, and a healthy offering of original compositions. Admission is free, but every dollar raised from donations and purchases goes toward supporting local kids and the Kiwanis nonprofit partners.

WHEN: 5:30-7:30 pm

WHERE: Elings Park, 1298 Las Positas Road

COST: free

INFO: (805) 569-5611/http://elingspark.org or www.kiwanissb.org/page/kiwanis-music-nites

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8

Graceland at SOhO – Last we heard from Tina Schlieske on a large local stage, the Minneapolis-bred rock singer-songwriter was holding forth at the Lobero, that prime-time concert capping off her Great American Songbook project, which saw the rock-and-roll rager take on chestnuts from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Nina Simone. Tonight, the now-Montecito resident Schlieske reconnects with her rock band The Graceland Exiles for a rollicking run-through of hard-charging originals and rock classics. As always, joining her onstage will be her sister, Laura. Post-punk lockdown-generated Santa Barbara band The Mends opens.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street

COST: $20 in advance, $25 day of show

INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10

Summer Jazz Jam Party – Jeff Elliot, who for years led a weekly jam at SOhO before he moved to San Luis Obispo County, hustles down the 101 to return to the club for a special Sunday afternoon session with the Santa Barbara Jazz Society. Trumpeter/keyboardist Elliot will be joined by local jazz legends – pianist Debbie Denke, bassist Brendan Statom, and percussionist Dick Weller – in both hosting the jam and backing up the roster of vocalists and instrumental musicians as they strut their stuff on stage. Expect standards as well as the unexpected in the annual event.

WHEN: 1-4 pm

WHERE: SOhO, 1221 State Street, upstairs in Victoria Court COST: $10-$15 (Participating professional jazz musicians and singers free) INFO: (805) 962-7776/www.sohosb.com or (805) 687-7123/www.sbjazz.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8-SATURDAY, AUGUST 9

CAW-ing for Resistance – If art is meant to be both responsive and reflective of culture and our times, you can’t get much more up to date than this weekend at Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop, where the exhibition Creative Resistance: The Artists Perspective on Our Changing World brings together 40-plus artists, each presenting a single work that reflects their perception, reaction, and vision for resistance in our current era. The unbridled span of media include painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media and installation, the exhibition aiming to provide a powerful platform for creative expression, while engaging the community in a dialogue about the role of art in times of upheaval.

Among the participating artists are former Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture executive director Ginny Brush, Adrienne De Guevara, Nina Dunbar, Andi Garcia, Inga Guzyte (whose innovative skateboard pieces hang at Sullivan Goss), Rod Lathim, Dan LeVin, Peggy Oki, longtime local photographer Rod Rolle, former Santa Barbara mayor Helene Schneider and Dug Uyesaka. The event also features live performances by local musicians, a protest postcard-writing project, a brief keynote from a local activist, space for conversations over available food and drink, and a post-event catalog.

WHEN: Opening reception 5-8 pm on August 8, exhibit continues 12:30-4 pm on August 9

WHERE: SB Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden Street COST: free

INFO: www.sbcaw.org/upcoming

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING (805) 565-1860

Your Trusted Choice for Estate Sales, Liquidation & Downsizing

Moving Miss Daisy’s providing comprehensive services through Moving Miss Daisy since 2015. Expert packing, unpacking, relocating to ensure your new home is beautifully set up and ready to enjoy. Miss Daisy’s is the largest consignment store in the Tri-Counties - nearly 20K sq.ft.- always offering an unmatched selection of items. We also host online Auctions.

Glenn Novack, Owner 805-770-7715 www.missdaisy.org info@movingmissdaisy.com

TRESOR

We Buy, Sell and Broker Important Estate Jewelry. Located in the upper village of Montecito. Graduate Gemologists with 30 years of experience. We do free evaluations and private consultation. 1470 East Valley Rd Suite V. 805-969-0888

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

CARPET CLEANING

Carpet Cleaning Since 1978 (805) 963-5304

Rafael Mendez Cell: 689-8397 or 963-3117

PIANO LESSONS

Openings now available for Children & Adults. Piano Lessons in our Studio or your Home. Call or Text Kary Kramer (805) 453-3481

PAINTINGS

Paintings by Kasandra Martell for sale. Images emailed to interested parties. Call Allen (805) 745-5533

PHYSICAL TRAINING & THERAPY

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

Casa L. M.

Landscape hedges installed. Ficus to flowering. Disease resistant. Great privacy. Certified rootstock assorted fruit trees. Licensed & insured. Call (805) 963-6909

WATERLILIES and LOTUS since 1992

WATERGARDEN CARE

SBWGC

Vintage and Antique finds, Home Decor, Outdoor Furniture and Books of Every Interest. Saturday August 9th, 2025 (ONE DAY ONLY)

Time: 9:00AM - 3:00PM

Location: 1180 Mesa Rd (rear yard) Between Middle Rd. and Butterfly Ln. Payment: Cash Preferred/No Credit Cards. Note: All items are sold “As Is” No early birds please.

CONSTRUCTION

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

Montecito Electric Repairs and Inspections Licensed C10485353 805-969-1575

Local tile setter of 35 years is now doing small jobs only.

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

AVAILABLE TO WORK FOR THE ELDERLY

Available to work for the elderly Erik Miciano (805) 403-7712 34 Years of Homecare experience with excellent employment references

TUTOR AVAILABLEIN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM

Tutor available for students in grades K-7th. Experienced in teaching math, language arts, social studies and history. I also have experience working with special needs students.

I am a longtime local resident. I have a Master’s degree in Education and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I have 20+ years of experience tutoring. My rate is $50/per hour.

Salini@cox.net

CLASSIC CAR FOR SALE

1930 Model A Ford I’ve lived in Montecito for a long time and I want to stay here! $18K (562) 233-7710

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)

General Building Design & Construction Contractor

William J. Dalziel Lic. B311003 – 1 (805) 698-4318 billjdalziel@gmail.com

Join us for our Second in a Series of Summer Pop-Up Events. Shop tons of new furniture and decor merchandise including Phenomenal Art—Originals, Lithographs, and Vintage Posters including Picasso, Pissarro, Warhol, Lichtenstein, and more. Also, shop a large inventory of new mark-downs.

A Week Long Sale!

Open Everyday August 9 - 17 10am - 4pm 3828 Santa Claus Lane, Unit B, Carpinteria, 93013

COLLECTIONS FOR SALE

Santa’s Elves; Giraffes and Elephants in Brass, Wood, Onyx, and Ceramic; and Opera Fans. Call Allen (805) 745-5533

DONATIONS NEEDED

Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary Menagerie 2430 Lillie Avenue Summerland, CA 93067 (805) 969-1944

Donate to the Parrot Pantry! At SB Bird Sanctuary, backyard farmer’s bounty is our birds’ best bowl of food! The flock goes bananas for your apples, oranges & other homegrown fruits & veggies.

Volunteers

Do you have a special talent or skill? Do you need community service hours? The flock at SB Bird Sanctuary could always use some extra love and socialization. Call us and let’s talk about how you can help. (805) 969-1944

LANDSCAPE

ByPeteMuller&FrankLongo

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6 Scrubbedplans

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Across 1 Whatashortpersonina storemighthavetouse,for short 4 Itmaygetwipedaftera closecall 6 WhitewineofnorthernItaly 7 Donizetti sladyof Lammermoor 8 Bankroller? Down 1 "___DamnTime"(2022#1 hitforLizzo) 2 Potentiallyproselytizing pamphlet 3 What"Wicked"becamein 2024 5 Valuationconsideration 6 ___-moreplay

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4 Reliefbrandwiththeslogan "Whodoyoutakeitfor?"

6 Neithersanknorswam?

7 Ewoks homein"Returnof theJedi"

8 Likeapieceofcake?

LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Down 1 "___Gabler"(HenrikIbsen play)

2 Chevroletdebutsof2004

3 Hanguponthelineagain, perhaps

4 "Therearenowords" feeling

5 Poolorcarpoolassignment

reservations

join us for brunch saturday and sunday 9AM-2:30PM and for lunch fridays 11AM-2:30PM

(4pcs)

arugula, radicchio, belgian endive and sauteéd on

Sliced Steak Salad, 6 ,�oz

arugula, radicchio, shrimp, prosciutto, cannellini beans,

romaine, shrimp, bacon, green beans, peppers, avocado, roquefort

shrimp, 2 oz. crab, avocado, egg, romaine, tomato, cucumber Charred Rare Tuna

reggiano parmesan, balsamic vinaigrette

Arugula, Radicchio &

Mixed Vegetable

tortillas, melted cheese, avocado and warm

Huevos Rancheros, two eggs any

Corned Beef Hash & two

Petit Filet 7 oz Steak, & two

Smoked

with spinach, tomato,

California

with julienne ham and

Classic

choice of hash browns, fries,

• Eggs and

toasted bialy or bagel, cream cheese, olives,

Cambridge House Rope

Waffle with fresh berries,

Fried Calamari with

Lucky Chili with

Burrata Mozzarella,

Grilled

Giant Shrimp