Monte ito Miscellany by Richard Mineards
Richard covered the Royal Family for Britain’s Daily Mirror and Daily Mail, and was an editor on New York Magazine. He was also a national anchor on CBS, a commentator on ABC Network News, gossip on The Joan Rivers Show and Geraldo Rivera, host on E! TV, a correspondent on the syndicated show Extra, a commentator on the KTLA Morning News and Entertainment Tonight. He moved to Montecito 12 years ago.
Headed to Hollywood
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an Marcos High sophomore and Santa Barbara Teen Star Sofia Schuster really is a golden girl! The 16-year-old singer traveled down to Los Angeles to an audition for the latest series of the popular ABC TV series American Idol in front of local warbler Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, and received the golden ticket to Hollywood from the tony triumvirate. Sofia, daughter of ShelterBox USA president Kerri Murray, is a longtime performer in our Eden By the Beach, including Girls Rock and bubbly Janet Adderley’s Youth Ensemble Theater. The youngest performer of the current season, she sang her own original song, a controversial piece about women’s reproductive rights, with lyrics like: “My body, my choice. It’s not up to the boys.” Richie gave her an A-plus for songwriting, while Katy compared Sofia, who was born with paralyzed vocal cords and told by doctors she’d never talk, to a younger version of herself as she made it through the first round of Hollywood Week in the singer-songwriter category. “I am thrilled for Sofia,” enthuses Kerri. “She’s an inspiration for me, not just for her achievements, but for being someone who goes after her goals and doesn’t give up.” You go girl... Viral Vibrato
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Gene Tyburn a hit on YouTube
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MONTECITO JOURNAL
Montecito arborist and amateur opera composer Gene Tyburn is on a high note! A video of his opera Macbeth on YouTube has now achieved more than one million views. “It was all filmed in just one take by a friend,” says an elated Gene, owner of TLC Tree Services for more than 45 years, who was introduced to opera as
“The most wasted of days is one without laughter.” – E.E. Cummings
Sofia Schuster lands American Idol’s Golden Ticket
a youngster. “It has long been my dream to create opera works that would have popular appeal for Americans. Thus I have created works from Shakespeare’s plays that interested me the most, and that I felt had the best opportunity to be good opera material.” Gene has also written two new works, Iago and Hamlet. His website is www.tyburnoperas.com. It’s good to see him branching out into to new arias.... When it Rains, it Pours As if the coronavirus restrictions weren’t enough, Milt and Arlene Larsen, owners of the Magic Castle opposite the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, have had their computers hacked. “It really was an absolute mess,” says Arlene. “Whoever did it fixed it so we could not send out letters to let everyone know.” The dynamic duo have now invested in a new computer just for members for security. “With luck that should help. After we were compromised, we cleaned everything off the old computer. We are going to use this enforced down time to re-program the new equipment and fix up the club’s gift shop.” The couple say they are trying to keep the club’s staffers working as long as they can afford to keep paying them. “It is a little hard with no income,
MISCELLANY Page 184 26 March – 2 April 2020
