JOURNAL
The Giving List
17 – 24 SEPT 2026 | VOL 32 ISS 38 www.montecitojournal.net
Voice of theV illage
Casa del Herrero, one of Montecito’s best kept secrets, page 33
SERVING MONTECITO AND SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA
Paddle Battle – The Danger Zone has moved to the kitchen as Kenny Loggins and friends return to the court for Unity Shoppe’s celebrity pickleball tournament, P.8
Pinot Pioneer – Richard Sanford planted pinot noir where few thought it belonged. Fifty-five years later, the Sta. Rita Hills wine icon has plenty to raise a glass to, P.18
Heart Work – Less beat-the-clock, more heart-toheart. Dr. Vishal Goyal slows the cardiology appointment down enough to hear the whole story, P.24
TWO MUCH FUN ONE805LIVE! BECOMES TWO805LIVE! AS TWO NIGHTS OF MUSIC BRING SIX DECADES OF HITS TO KEVIN COSTNER’S FIELD OF DREAMS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS (STORY ON P.5)
Creek Expectations
Will El Niño soak Montecito this winter? Nobody knows. Residents and local agencies are making sure the community is ready either way, page 11
sYR
New Kids on the Bach
After decades of music under Pam Herzog and Ron Zecher, MUS hands the baton to Liz Caruso and Sarah Gatehouse for the program’s next movement, page 12
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17 – 24 September 2026
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Robert’s Big Questions – From airlines and The Society Edit – Ralph Lauren’s latest 30 14 healthcare to technology, why do Americans collection, SantM’s Montecito collection, and INSIDE THIS ISSUE tolerate broken systems? new developments along Lillie Avenue
5 down with two nights of music, bringing The One805LIVE! – One805LIVE! doubles
Temptations, Pat Benatar, George Thorogood, Slightly Stoopid, and more to Summerland
On Entertainment – Folk Orchestra turns 10, 16 Cowboy Junkies hit the Lobero, Danish Days returns, and yacht rock takes to the water
An Independent Mind – California propositions and control of Congress are on the ballot as Jeffrey Harding considers what voters should watch heading into November
Sheriff ’s Blotter Santa Barbara by the Glass – Wine icon 32 18 Richard Sanford looks back on pioneering the Sta. Rita Hills, and building a legacy around The Giving List – Freshly restored gardens, and this other thing that has gone the way of the 33 pinot noir and place historic treasures, and expanded programming homemade utility belt. Jen Lilienstein is bringing
Constructive Conversation – Construction 6 requires nuts, bolts, an adjustable spanner… back the flesh and blood.
Your Westmont – Theater embraces life’s 20 unexpected turns in musical revue, public Montecito Moments – Pickleball enters the Danger
8 Zone, plants and members get some appreciation at Lotusland, plus wheels and wags fill CVR
stargazing event on Sept. 17, and student opens new aeronautics chapter
await at Casa del Herrero
Meeting at MA – Wildfire readiness, 36 winter storms, and a possible dog park lead Montecito’s latest community updates
Your Four-Chambered Concierge – Riviera Calendar of Events – One Ocean Film News Bytes – Montecito Trails preps for 24 40 10 winter Cardiology Concierge works with unhurried Festival at CAW, the Carpinteria Culinary and a BBQ, the MUS Board Candidates Forum, movies at the MCM, and more Tide Guide
conversation, not a stopwatch. Dr. Goyal wouldn’t have it any other way.
Crawl moves in, English guitarist Albert Lee jams SOhO, and other happenings
The Spoken Word – Joe Rohde shares lessons Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified 26 42 ads, from four decades at Disney Imagineering, 11 Niño developing, Montecito residents and local in which sellers offer everything from Flood Control Meeting – With a strong El
agencies gather to discuss creek conditions, flood protection, and winter preparedness
Scott Galloway on modern America, and Larry David and his daughter talk
Our Town – Liz Caruso and Sarah Gatehouse 27 once in Buckingham Palace, the Hermitage, 12 take the baton at Montecito Union School, and the Vatican now faces a very different Elizabeth’s Appraisals – A porcelain artist
succeeding longtime music educators Ron Zecher and Pam Herzog
4
Montecito JOURNAL
collecting market
“Serendipity is the faculty of finding things we did not know we were looking for.” – Glauco Ortolano
summer rentals to estate sales
Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles 43 Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer
17 – 24 September 2026
One805LIVE!
Two Nights to Rock Around the Cause
The upcoming One805LIVE! expands to two nights of musical mayhem spanning 60 years of hits (courtesy photo)
by Steven Libowitz
T
he annual One805LIVE! benefit concert coming up this month could adopt a version of the old Doublemint Gum jingle as its tagline: Double your pleasure, double your fun. That’s because instead of just a single big event, there are actually two concerts slated to take place at Kevin Costner’s oceanside “Field of Dreams” estate in Summerland on September 25 and 26. Each boasts a completely different lineup, with Friday’s slate headlined by the first joint appearance by Motown legends The Temptations and The Four Tops in the Santa Barbara area in more than 40 years (19 years if you count the Samala Showroom at the Chumash Casino Resort). Fans will be dancing after dark to many of the Tempts’ 24 Top 40 hits that include oldies staples “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me),” plus fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Four Tops, whose smash songs include “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Baby I Need Your Loving,” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch).” Also part of Friday’s fare is an act at the polar opposite of the smooth sensations of the Motown bands in blues-rock legend George Thorogood, whose gritty, guitar-driven hits include “Bad to the Bone,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Who Do You Love?” and “Move It on Over,” plus Alan Parsons, the longtime Santa Barbara-based producer-songwriter-keyboardist/Beatles tape operator who is a co-founder of One805 and the concert supervisor. Saturday’s slate is topped by ‘80s hitmakers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, whose astonishing 36 million records sold (not to mention four consecutive Grammy Awards) include “Love Is a Battlefield,” “Heartbreaker,” and “We Belong,” and will be heard locally for the 17 – 24 September 2026
first time since they played a 2013 date at the Santa Barbara Bowl. On the other hand, Slightly Stoopid, representing 1990s rock, blasted their blend of folk, rock, reggae, hip-hop, funk and punk at the Bowl just last summer. Rounding out Saturday’s lineup is Costner himself, not only hosting but fronting his country rock band Modern West for a third One805LIVE! show, representing the 2000s, and Irish folk group The High Kings, who came into prominence just last decade. English-born DJ superstar Samantha Ronson will play DJ sets both days between the acts, as rather than having most of the performers playing in front of a house band as in past years, each will be able to play full sets with their own bands, necessitating stage realignments. Taken together, it’s a remarkably wide scope of genres that also spans almost 60 years of popular music, which alone could justify extending the formerly single One805LIVE! show to a pair of performances. But that’s not the reason at all. It’s simply about getting more funds for the cause – supporting first responders – explained Richard Weston-Smith, co-founder and COO of the nonprofit that came into being in the wake of the Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris Flow. “We’re in the business of raising money, so selling more tickets means we get to support our first responders even more,” he said. All of the net proceeds are earmarked for the now nine-month-old $10 million campaign to fully fund the One805 Endowment Fund, which provides ongoing support for the mental health, wellness, and safety of local law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. In other words, supporting those who support all of us in times of crisis. That’s why One805 is able to attract the array of artists to come play for free so that more money can go to improving
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One805 Page 344 344 • Voice of theVillage •
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Montecito JOURNAL
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Constructive Conversation TradeTalk Reframes Contractor Culture by Jeff Wing
“T
he Built Environment” is broadly defined as the vast space containing our humanmade structures. Someday the term may include habitable starscrapers adrift in the vacuum between here and Jupiter, but for now it refers to everything we build here on the ground. Commercial properties, residential, mixed-use towers a half mile high (Burj Khalifa, Dubai’s monument to acrophobia); “The Built Environment” is a very inclusive, slightly grandiloquent term wielded by construction software brochures, civil engineers, and the occasional urban anthropologist. But grandiloquence has its place. The “least” of our buildings are miraculous. The necessary collaborative mojo, the seamless joinery that turns these juxtaposed layers of expertise into a synergistic whole with rooms and doors and climate control, water under calibrated pressure issuing from stylized spigots – we have definitely improved on the Cave. Jen? “This is a business where you look people in the eye and you shake their hands. This is a business where you’re on the job collaborating with people all the time. I mean, it’s a people business.” Yeah, there is that. The Built Environment doesn’t build itself. Jen Lilienstein is founder at TradeTalk. club, the putative subject of this essay
Jen Lilienstein will be your GC-Specialty Contractor matchmaker this afternoon (courtesy photo)
and big news for specialty contractors and those who hire them. Jen is also an exec at CCAV, and a member of SBCA, AIA, CCID, and SBAOR locally. As her alphabet soup status suggests, Jen has been in the building biz for some time. And she is a champion of the Trades. “The big message for me is that construction is a people business, and you need to get people back into the process and really start getting to know the people you’re bringing onto your jobs.”
Conversation Page 224 224
Relaxation Made Beautiful
High-flying specialty ironworker, Empire State Building (photo by Lewis Hine, Public domain)
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Montecito JOURNAL
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17 – 24 September 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
7
Montecito Moments
The Bunnin Family with Angela Miller Bevan (courtesy photo)
Courting Charity by Lisa Duncan
“F
our years ago, Kenny said to me, ‘I want to have a pickleball tournament.’ I was like, ‘Oh my! What is that?’” That was Unity Shoppe Executive Director Angela Miller Bevan’s introduction to pickleball, courtesy of longtime supporter Kenny Loggins, who promptly taught her how to play. Now in its second year, “Pickleball in the Danger Zone” returned Saturday afternoon to the municipal courts below Montecito Country Club, with Lisa Loggins also courtside supporting the cause. “It’s a labor of love for Santa Barbara,” said Angela, who grew up locally and knows firsthand what it means to need community support. “I was able to go to college and become who I am because of this community and nonprofits.” “It’s like building a city,” Angela laughed of producing the tournament – and Montecito helped furnish this particular one. Renaud’s Bakery provided an elegant spread for the VIP area, The Well supplied outdoor furnishings,
THE
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N
and ADA
EARL M
firepower to the five-team round robin. Kenny Loggins himself paired with pro Matt Manasse, proving the man behind “Danger Zone” was willing to enter one on court, too. For Angela, though, the winning point was simpler: community helping community. “It’s a labor of love.”
Kenny Loggins and pro player Matt Manasse score big for Unity Shoppe (courtesy photo)
while locally owned Solavida Sunscreen, Pickleball Pets, and The Neighborhood Grille contributed gifts for the players. “It’s a lot of teamwork,” Angela added, “a lot of people coming together.” Platinum Sponsors Leo and Melinda Bunnin of Bunnin Chevrolet made it a family affair, joined by Brian and Cathy Bunnin and sons Max and Bennett Bunnin, alongside Angela courtside. Celebrity paddles included Stephen
Garden Gratitude “Let the garden speak to you. Then write from your heart.” At Lotusland’s Members Appreciation Day, that invitation became the spirit of the afternoon as nearly 200 members, supporters, trustees and neighbors gathered across the Garden’s 37 acres. Presenting Sponsor Leslie S. Thomas
Stephen Baldwin and Lisa Loggins all in for charity (courtesy photo)
Baldwin, Jason Hervey, Shane McAnally, Craig Shoemaker, and NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz, while professional players and coaches brought plenty of
Moments Page 384 384
I N N I S p re s e n t
p i r T T ake An other Nir Kaba
re t t i , M u s i c
a n d A r t i s t i c D i re c t o r
7th
November 2026
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Montecito JOURNAL
17 – 24 September 2026
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17 – 24 September 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
9
News Bytes
Friday Night Movies at Montecito Country Mart September - October
Montecito Trails Prepare for Winter
Free, and in the center courtyard, starting at 6 pm. Food and beverages to go. 10/16 – Finding Nemo 10/23 – Finding Dory 10/30 – Coco
9/18 – Up 9/25 – Luca 10/2 – Lilo & Stitch 10/9 – Ratatouille
W
ith summer winding down and winter storms ahead, local trail organizations are turning their attention to maintenance, restoration and volunteer recruitment throughout the Montecito area. The Old Romero Road Trail, closed since 2023 following storm damage, received a month of work in August from the Los Padres National Forest Association Trail Crew, Montecito Trails Foundation and Santa Barbara Ranger District. Crews completed extensive brushing and cleared slides by hand as part of efforts to prepare the trail for reopening. More work is planned for National Public Lands Day on September 26, when volunteers can join the Los Padres National Forest team to clean and restore the Montecito Hot Springs Canyon Trail. The project is open to experienced volunteers as well as newcomers interested in learning trail maintenance. Before then, the Montecito Trails Foundation will hold its annual BBQ fundraiser on Saturday, September 19, at 5:30 pm at 100 Innovation Place in Summerland. Presented by Montecito Bank & Trust, the evening will honor longtime MTF board members Kevin and Sheila Snow, with dinner from Mylestone BBQ and music by Red Fish Band. An 8 am bike ride and hike from Cold Spring Trailhead will precede the festivities. The Snows have spent decades supporting Montecito’s trail system. Sheila joined the board in 1988 and helped establish the annual BBQ tradition in 1990, while Kevin has worked on trail maintenance funding, easements, and coordination with neighbors and government agencies.
MUS Board Candidates Forum The Montecito Union School Foundation will host a School Board Candidate Forum on Thursday, September 24, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Montecito Union School Auditorium, giving voters an opportunity to hear directly from the four candidates seeking three four-year seats on the district’s Board of Trustees. Candidates are incumbent Anthony “A.C.” Hernandez, Pierre LaBarge IV, Amy Miller, and Bradley Vickers. The evening will be a candidate forum rather than a debate, with attendees invited to hear the candidates’ views and learn more about issues facing the school community. Houghton Hyatt, executive director of the Montecito Association, will moderate. The forum is open to voters registered within the Montecito Union School District’s voting boundaries, which do not include all Montecito residents. Election Day is November 3, 2026.
Montecito Fire featured on ABC’s Hearts of Heroes Show Watch Montecito Fire Department on ABC’s Hearts of Heroes show regarding Emergency Response and local trails. 411: https://bit.ly/4xGQVQg
El Encanto’s Culinary Series Mexico City-based chef and author Estrella Jafif and the El Encanto resort’s Executive Chef Joel Viehland, are cooking a full dinner and dessert menu for attendees who register. On September 17, a reception followed by dinner starts at 6:30 pm. Wines served by Wero Cham of Vinos Boutique Mexicanos. Menu highlights include smoked baba ghanoush mousse with pomegranate molasses, salt-baked beetroot with labneh and pistachios, beef kibbeh nayeh, Mediterranean sea bass with chermoula, baharat-spiced prime ribeye and tahini-dark chocolate mousse.
411: www.elencanto.com
Santa Barbara County Farm Day Returns The 8th Annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day returns Saturday, September 19, from 10 am to 3 pm, offering a free, behind-the-scenes look at the region’s agricultural community. Organized by Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), the event features 18 farms, ranches, wineries and agricultural organizations stretching from Santa Maria to Summerland. Visitors can build their own itinerary and enjoy farm tours, tractor rides, produce tastings, giveaways and kid-friendly activities. Participating locations range from large agricultural operations to family-run organic farms, with stops including Rancho Olivos, Sweet Wheel Farms, Tutti Frutti Farms, Ballard Walnut Grove and Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm. Rancho Olivos will offer hourly olive orchard tours and tastings, while Bonipak Produce will host a Farm Day Street Fair with local businesses, food vendors, and free fresh produce. More newspaper than 5,000 visitors are expected counExecutive Editor/CEO | Gwyn Lurie ty-wide. The event is free and open to gwyn@montecitojournal.net all ages, though pets are not permitted. President/COO | Timothy Lennon Buckley JOURNAL
by MJ Staff
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 | Jessica Shafran VP, Sales & Marketing | Leanne Wood leanne@montecitojournal.net Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Joe DeMello, Thomas Mock
Coastal Cleanup Day Veronica Lee, Explore Ecology Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator, invites community to volunteer for Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, September 19, from 9 am to 12 pm. Sign Up online or show up ready to clean up the beaches and shorelines.
Features | Jeff Wing Proofreading | Helen Buckley
411: https://tinyurl.com/CoastalCleanupMont-2026
Contributors | Scott Craig, Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Houghton Hyatt
Montecito Tide Guide Day
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Thurs, Sept 17 Fri, Sept 18 Sat, Sept 19 Sun, Sept 20 12:54 AM 0.7 Mon, Sept 21 1:34 AM 0.5 Tues, Sept 22 2:05 AM 0.3 Wed, Sept 23 2:31 AM 0.2 Thurs, Sept 24 2:56 AM 0.2 Fri, Sept 25 3:19 AM 0.4
01:50 PM 03:13 PM 8:27 AM 8:16 AM 8:25 AM 8:38 AM 8:53 AM 9:11 AM 9:32 AM
4.8 4.6 3.7 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.4 4.7 5.0
10:36 PM 11:59 PM 10:56 AM 12:23 PM 01:07 PM 01:43 PM 02:16 PM 02:51 PM 03:28 PM
10 Montecito JOURNAL
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Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz 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
Low Hgt
1.2 1.0 3.6 04:52 PM 4.6 3.3 06:04 PM 4.8 2.9 06:55 PM 5.1 2.4 07:36 PM 5.3 2.0 08:14 PM 5.4 1.5 08:52 PM 5.4 1.1 09:31 PM 5.3
“Chance favors the prepared mind.” – Louis Pasteur
Published by: Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108. How to reach us: (805) 565-1860; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; EMAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net
17 – 24 September 2026
Flood Control Meeting
References Available (lots of them!)
Montecito Prepares for Winter: Agencies and Residents Come Together by Houghton Hyatt
W
ith winter approaching and a strong El Niño developing, Montecito residents packed Montecito Union School on September 14th for a community-wide conversation about creek conditions, flood protection, and storm preparedness. The meeting, organized in coordination with First District Supervisor Roy Lee, the Montecito Association, and local agencies, grew out of concerns raised by residents about conditions along Montecito’s creeks. What began as a discussion focused largely on San Leandro Creek expanded into a broader community meeting, bringing together representatives from County Flood Control, Public Works, Montecito Fire, Santa Barbara County Fire, the Sheriff ’s Office, CHP, Caltrans, the Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service, along with representatives of local, state and federal elected officials.
Dan Encell
Call: (805) 565-4896 DanEncell@aol.com Visit: www.DanEncell.com DRE: 00976141
El Niño: Prepare, Don’t Panic Todd Hall of the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles/Oxnard office began by clarifying an important point: El Niño itself is not a storm, but a climate pattern that can influence winter weather. While a very strong El Niño is expected, Hall cautioned against assuming that means Montecito will experience a catastrophic or exceptionally wet winter. Historical data is limited, and past strong El Niño years in Santa Barbara have produced varying rainfall totals. His message to residents was simple: “Prepare, don’t panic.” Regardless of the forecast, residents should take the same precautions they would before any winter: clearing gutters and drainage paths, trimming trees, checking their properties for erosion or drainage problems and staying informed as storms approach.
Preparing Montecito’s Creeks County Flood Control representatives outlined the Annual Maintenance Program, which begins with inspections of channels, debris basins, culverts and other infrastructure each spring. Work is then prioritized, permitted, and generally completed before the rainy season. Officials emphasized that maintenance is intended to preserve the natural capacity of Montecito’s creeks, not enlarge or engineer them. Many of the community’s natural creeks remain undersized for extreme rainfall, meaning routine maintenance alone cannot eliminate flooding risk. That longer-term challenge is the focus of the Montecito Master Plan, which identified potential improvements that could ultimately reduce flood risk for approximately 850 parcels and improve 54 all-weather crossings. The estimated construction cost exceeds $1 billion, making funding a significant hurdle. Phase Two is now underway and will include additional surveys, hydraulic and sediment modeling, utility and property research, and development of preliminary designs. Completion is expected in June 2027.
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Flood Control also provided an update on the long-planned Buena Vista debris basin project. The project was approved for a phase Hazard Mitigation Grant Program grant. Phase 1 was completed in May 2024, and FEMA was requested to authorize Phase 2 construction funding. FEMA failed to act on the request and construction funding is now in jeopardy due to timing requirements. While uncertainty remains over federal funding, officials stressed that the project remains a priority and that other funding sources will be pursued if necessary.
Residents Raise Concerns During a lively Q&A, residents asked about creek clearing, debris basins, bridges, utility infrastructure, evacuation routes, interagency communication, and lessons learned from the 2018 Debris Flow.
17 – 24 September 2026
© 2025 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.
Flood Control Page 364 364 • Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
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ontecito Union School has a long history of a strong music department headed by top tier music faculty. When I started covering local news in 2002 for the Montecito Journal, I met the multitalented Pamela McClendon (MUS, 1971-2012). Under her expertise and enthusiasm, she started the MUS music education program, chorus, and artist-in-residency programs. Her initiatives, most of which carry on today, included African Drumming with renowned enthomusicologist, composer, and master drummer Sowah Mensah. She also taught UCSB Extension classes in music education, as well as Music for Children at Westmont College. Pam is married to Phillip McClendon, former choral conductor of the SB Master Chorale and former choral director of the SBHS Madrigal Singers and A Cappella choir. MUS’s orchestra leader and string instrument faculty was Ron Zecher (MUS, 1995-2025). Under his wing MUS launched the first of its kind violin studies as an academic requirement in the second and third grades. I was informed back when it was started that McClendon and Zecher supported the theory that music and math are cognitively complementary and mutually supporting, improving test scores and academic performance. Zecher expanded stringed instrument offerings to create an orchestra that performed at school concerts, events, and every graduation. McClendon was followed in the role by Pam Herzog (MUS, 2012-2026), who as a MUS elementary school student had been a student of McLendon’s. Herzog was music teacher at Cold Spring School (1990-2012) and came to MUS on McClendon’s retirement. Herzog brought MUS music programs to the community via holiday concerts and inter-school performances at both the Music Academy of the West, the Lobero Theatre, and outdoors on Coast Village Road for the holidays.
“In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind.” – Louis Pasteur
Montecito Union School’s new music teachers Liz Caruso and Sarah Gatehouse in the MUS music room (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
Zecher retired the summer of 2025, and Herzog retired summer 2026, leaving two large roles at MUS open -- no pressure for an elementary school whose school song “All Standing Together” was composed by Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins in the 1980s when two of his children attended MUS. To their credit, the shared due diligence of MUS Superintendent Anthony Ranii, MUS Principal Nick Bruski and their search teams, have seen to the successful placement of two new music teachers as follows: Inheriting Pam Herzog’s role is Sarah Gatehouse, and Ron Zecher’s successor is Elizabeth [Liz] Caruso. I asked MUS Superintendent Anthony Ranii for his comments on the occasion of these two new music teachers joining the MUS family. “We’re thrilled with our new music teachers, who continue the long tradition of truly exceptional music teaching at MUS. Liz Caruso is terrifically skilled in both strings and general music. Her skill is only surpassed by her heart; she is so committed to each student’s musical journey that she makes time for one-on-one work with some of our neurodiverse learners who need additional support. Sarah Gatehouse lights up any room she walks into. Her love of music is infectious, and her joyful way with students helps all students strive to meet her high expectations.” A proper meeting of the new teachers for this report was scheduled after Labor Day. We met in the MUS music room for introductions and a photo op. They assured me that we can look forward
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Montecito JOURNAL
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The Society Edit
A Light on Fashion, Furnishings, and Fancies by Joanne A Calitri
weekly classes on mahjong and crafting, check their Instagram: www.instagram. com/thelilliesummerland Still whining over the departure of Summerland Winery on Lillie Ave., which closed shop in April of this year? We hear you. It could be the start of a trend – wineries pulling out of the area due to the “Wine Business Improvement District (WBID) created by SB County in February 2025, and WBID’s requirement that wineries and tasting rooms pay a 1% assessment on gross retail wine sales. Flying Goat Cellars Lompoc has filed a federal lawsuit, “…challenging Santa Barbara County’s controversial Wine Business Improvement District, arguing the county cannot force wineries to fund and join a private trade organization against their will.” News of this is spanning the U.S. press, from local papers Santa Maria Times and Pacific Coast Business Times to the NY Post!
W
hat would fashion’s top society femmes do without Ralph Lauren’s twice annual runway shows? Timeless, elegant, pieces that stand the test of time, in coveted fabrics of velvets, silks, leathers, while his signature jewelry, belts, bags, and shoes complete any look. The latest Spring/Summer ‘27 show took off during the U.S. Tennis Open in NYC last week and was of course a breath of fresh air. As fashion is taking a much-needed revamp for 2027, my vote this November is to keep your UK and Paris Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, and Harper’s Bazaar print subscriptions going, or pick them up at the Montecito Country Mart’s newsstand! Speaking of the MCM, Emily Joubert Montecito is now expanding their fashion finds from costume jewelry into, well, you can’t guess… slippers! Min Santandrea – CEO and founder of Venetian slipper brand SantM, established in 2020 during lockdown – is making a visit to the store on October 21, 10 am – 6 pm. While Min does have boots and other footwear, she is featuring her slippers at Emily Joubert. Designs range from the basic Mary Jane flats to velvet unisex lounge slippers. Who knows, slippers may become a trend again during your holiday events and shopping local, even now that wearing both your pjs and slippers outside during lockdown is over. Time to celebrate a 30-year anniversary for Clare Swan Luxury Fashion & Travel Boutique, starting with their name change to Côte & Carry. Announced on their Instagram page September 1, the store deserves a strong bit of attention for its merging travel with fashion and continued business. Located at 1485 East Valley Road, Ste 12, Montecito, follow their Insta for updates: www.instagram. com/clareswan_montecito For a French country mix of the boutique home and fashion accessory goodies you are craving, head to The Lillie (2474 Lillie Avenue, Summerland). The shop owned by Lacey Peterson was originally located in Montecito and was formerly known as Village Needlepoint on East Valley Road. At The Lillie, everything is for sale, from furniture to needlepoint supplies. The shop supports the recent Gen Z and millennials’ obsession with mahjong. The game’s explosion is based on the craving for in-person contact in lieu of living on phones and tech. There is a monthly schedule for
“The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is ‘That’s funny…’” – Isaac Asimov
Meanwhile, the former Summerland Winery lot and building is still listed for sale, from Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Realty to local realtors. The mixed-use commercial/ residential space has a Lot Size of 11,731 square feet, the building itself at 5,932 square feet, starting at $5.3 million. Need a place for the little ones to do fun things and be supported while you shop and get that mani-pedi? A while back, the Montecito Journal covered the interior design store Home Crush at 2500 Lillie Avenue, Summerland. However, as you recall, there was a bit of a rough patch and the store left the area in 2025. Replacing the space is founder Sara Brennan’s Miss B’s Children’s Club. Brennan comes here from England, where she worked in London Nursery Schools (2014-2022), following her studies at Durham University, graduating in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education. Her early childhood learning, enrichment, and event center is open via membership, Monday through Saturday. Visit their Instagram at: www. instagram.com/sara.b.ee And that’s the weekly wrap! XxJAC
Joanne A Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com
17 – 24 September 2026
17 – 24 September 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
15
BY
JONATHAN TOLINS
DIRECTED BY
JAMIE TORCELLINI
STARRING
BRIAN McDONALD
OCTOBER 7-25
On Entertainment
Folk Orchestra: Ten Going on Sixties
&
The one-of-one Folk Orchestra turns 10 with The Sixties (courtesy photo)
C E L L A R “McDonald ... is MAGNETIC, CHARISMATIC and UPROARIOUSLY FUNNY.”
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THE WINSTON
F
olk Orchestra of Santa Barbara has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 2016 as a one-off jam session fashioned and hosted by Adam Phillips. Back then, the former Voice and Musical Theatre major was singing tenor with Quire of Voyces, the Santa Barbara Chorale Society, and Opera Santa Barbara, and was already seven-years deep into his current job as music director of Goleta’s Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. “It was just some fiddle players, harp and guitar, when I was just starting to learn bagpipes,” Phillips recalled last week. “I put together lead sheets for everyone’s favorite tunes and we were just making it up in a hybrid Irish jam as we went along.” When the night was over, he mused that it would be cool to turn the jam into an actual orchestra, with full arrangements and a more formal concert. “Everyone was like, “Oh, that would be awesome,” Phillips said. “If you do it, I’m in.” The first public gig of the official FOSB – which merges traditional and exotic folk instruments with orchestral strings, including violins, violas, cellos and double bass to very nearly create a new genre – focused on Celtic music and sold out the Presidio Chapel. When they repeated the show it sold out again. That’s when Phillips knew they were onto something. So actually, FOSB hasn’t actually come all that far in the interim, as the ensemble is still playing at least one of its home town gigs each concert weekend at the Presidio Chapel, although now there are repeats at such venues as the Lobero, Trinity Church in Santa Barbara, and St. Mark’s in Los Olivos. The season stretches to four concerts each year. Now FOSB is marking its 10th anniversary with a new series. It opens this weekend with the return of “The Sixties” program, the popular hybrid that lends Phillips’ folk-classical arrangements and orchestrations to rock and pop anthems of the era, played by more than 30 musicians who, collectively, have both classical chops and a kinship with pop music. Audiences are sure to recognize the repertoire, albeit in vastly different presentations. Some of them are more faithful to the original recordings, like “Both Sides Now,” Phillips said. But others, such as “Paint It Black?” “Yeah, it’s different,” Phillips said. “When you add in hurdy gurdy and other crazy instruments into the Rolling Stones, that’s going to happen.” The Doors’ “Rider’s on the Storm” gets a fresh approach, Phillips said, citing the iconic bass riff and “a floating, descending organ passage.” “It’s pretty fun because I have the flute starting it out and then it dovetails into the harp with a beautiful cascading sound before Bear Erickson, our one concession to electric instruments, takes a ripping guitar solo in the middle.” A similar treatment glowingly recapitulates Booker T. & the M.G.’s “Green Onions,” with its organ transcribed for fiddle and mandolin. Some of those parts are played by Phillips himself, a self-taught musician who said he barely played guitar when he first moved to town but now counts 20-something different instruments in his repertoire, including flutes, strings, a variety of pipes, and more in his instrument room. “Jack of all trades, master of none,” he said humbly. The rest of the season includes the annual Scottish/Celtic themed show on November 6-8, a second stab at Nordic music on January 29-31 – “the music, the tonalities, the moods, and the instruments are so cool, we had to go there again,” Phillips said – and the traditional Irish concert pre-dating St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 12-14.
Entertainment Page 354 354
16 Montecito JOURNAL
“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” – Albert Szent-Györgyi
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• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
17
Santa Barbara by the Glass
as an adult with a clean slate, with my own decisions about what to believe in and how I was going to be in the world.” A reverence for nature, buoyed by an immersion into eastern philosophies, led him to organic viticulture. He planted the region’s first pinot noir grapes, and founded Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, in 1971. He launched his namesake Sanford Winery 10 years later and grew it into one of the most celebrated wine brands in the state. Monetary stumbles forced him to sell it off in 2005, which allowed him to pivot back to another estate-driven endeavor, Alma Rosa. And although the Sanfords found themselves, once again, having to divest themselves from a very personal wine venture a decade later, the winery’s new owners committed to maintaining Sanford’s strict organic farming practices, as well as making him the label’s ambassador. The winemaking at Alma Rosa has been in the hands of Samra Morris since 2019, with a cavalcade of 90+ ratings in tow. That commitment to sustainable agronomy is palpable on this crisp August night, as we gather on a hilltop and break bread to salute Sanford. The vines that surround us, just days from being ready for harvest, are farmed with no herbicides or pesticides; cover crops planted
A Pioneering Spirit: In Conversation with Wine Icon Richard Sanford by Gabe Saglie
“I
’m really just overwhelmed by the whole thing,” Richard Sanford tells me, soon after a recent dinner honoring his life’s work. And I can tell he means it, which I find a bit surprising, actually. After all, the man widely known as the pioneer of the Santa Barbara wine industry is no stranger to accolades – inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame by the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in 2012, crowned Vintner of the Year and dubbed “Godfather of Central Coast Pinot Noir” by the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance in 2020, and recurringly bestowed with environmental stewardship honors for championing organic farming way before it started trending. But he insists: “It’s overwhelming to me that this continues, having thrown my heart into it all along, without any expectation. It is quite remarkable.”
The latest tribute to Richard Sanford came last month, during the 25th anniversary of Wine & Fire; the festival is held every August to celebrate the special cool-climate growing conditions of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area), known across the wine industry as one of the premier spots in the world for growing grapes like pinot noir, chardonnay, and syrah. Sanford was feted by an intimate group of vintners, winemakers, and grape growers during a dinner on the Alma Rosa estate, a property he and wife Thekla purchased and planted to grapes in 1982, and which they’ve called home ever since. And that’s despite the fact that the Sanfords sold off 100 acres of it in 2013 (it’s known as Peake Ranch now) and the remaining 628 acres the following year to Bob and Barbara Zorich, who hosted the dinner at their private home. Richard Sanford’s pioneer distinction is deserved, of course. It stems from his arrival at a then-isolated region between
Vintner Richard Sanford (right) and MJ wine writer Gabe Saglie, at last month’s tribute dinner honoring the 85-year-old icon (photo by Bottle Branding)
Lompoc and Buellton back in 1969 that hadn’t really struck anyone as a serious place to grow wine. Admittedly, he wasn’t looking to grow grapes here, either. This was entirely an attempt to steep himself in nature and escape the world. As he put it to me: “I gave up my culture and my religion and everything after I’d been sent off to this war,” referencing Vietnam. “I started over again
SB by the Glass Page 284 284
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17 – 24 September 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
19
Your Westmont
Pianist Neil Di Maggio (left) leads rehearsal (courtesy photo)
Theater’s ‘Momentum!’ Explores Life’s Pivotal Choices by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott
W
estmont Theatre Arts unleashes Momentum! A Musical Revue, an exhilarating showcase celebrating the courage to leap into the unknown, chase ambitious dreams and embrace life’s unexpected turns. Directed by Samantha Eve, Westmont instructor of theater arts and artistic director of Out of the Box Theatre Company, the show features dynamic performances that highlight the choices shaping human character. Performances run Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 pm, Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 pm; all in Porter Theatre. Tickets are available at westmont.edu/boxoffice for $20 general admission and $12 for students, seniors, and veterans. Through vibrant vocal arrangements, Westmont students bring to life classic “I want” songs from the musical theater canon – capturing characters as they yearn for more out of life and navigate wild new developments.
Eve conceived the project after connecting with Westmont theater students and recognizing their expansive artistic ambitions. “I’ve been deeply impressed by the incredible span of their artistic interests, from playwriting to arts administration to musical theater,” Eve says. “In most junior high and high schools, the primary exposure to theater centers on musical theater, but when students shift into college programs, finding musical theater opportunities becomes more challenging. When Professor Mitchell Thomas suggested bringing a musical theater project to the students, the prospect of offering this experience to anyone interested immediately excited me.” The theme itself emerged naturally from the shared college experience, where young adults constantly adapt, grow, and step into new responsibilities. “Once the base idea of Momentum! struck, it all rolled along and builtup momentum on its own,” Eve says. “College marks a total shift in life. It
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means moving somewhere new, living in a dorm for the first time and embracing sudden independence. Long after my own college years, momentum still pulls me toward new projects, friendships, and adventures. As human beings, we constantly evolve into new versions of ourselves. Theater reflects humanity at its best, making this a central theme in musical theater.” Producing the revue on a tight rehearsal timeline has demanded intense focus and dedication from the cast. “Scheduling requires careful coordination for every production, but these students race over from evening classes and dinner, juggling homework and part-time jobs,” Eve says. “Their dedication inspires me as these complex songs come together in such a short amount of time.” Rather than prescribing a single message for viewers, Eve values the distinct perspective each person brings into the theater. “One of the most magical things about theater rests in how every single audience member takes away something different from the experience,” Eve says. “I hope it offers everyone a touch of courage the next time we face big life changes – something to hold onto that helps us remain open-hearted and willing to adapt in order to grow.”
Poster artwork by senior Kieran Williams
Stargazing Event Unlocks Wonders of Night Sky Westmont invites the community to explore the cosmos during a free public stargazing event Friday, Sept. 18, starting at 7 pm and lasting several
Westmont Page 294 294
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Conversation (Continued from 6)
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County of Santa Barbara Montecito Planning Commission NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Ministerial Permitting and Streamlining Ordinance Amendments Workshop and Hearing
marketing is. What really matters on the job front is how well people click and whether or not their pet peeves and must-haves align, and all the qualitative data as opposed to what quantitatively comes through.” So how does it work? {I thank you for asking}
Ah, the Trades Per the human custom we have lavishly thrown tech at the construction space, and from Building Information Modeling to augmented reality, ConTech (as it’s known) has produced incredible innovations on the jobsite over the past couple decades. At its foundation, though, construction is still hand-powered by time-tested trade skills. You can’t digitize manual craftsmanship any more than you can code a physical mortise and tenon joint. Specialty contractors are artists. Jen has strong feelings about the Trades, where the word “digital” refers to your fingers, and the associated artisanal skill sets date to the early Roman Empire. The formalized Guild system itself, fostered to protect and nurture the master-apprentice model inherent in the Trades, has its roots in the European Middle Ages. A modern building is the intersection of ancient craftsmanship and cutting-edge tech. The Trades – carpenters, masons, glaziers, plasterers, plumbers – have in one form or another thrived in guilds and in finished public works for hundreds of years. Jen’s TradeTalk.club innovates a new construction teambuilding model that re-emphasizes the person-to-person interchange that was once the soul and spirit of the construction compact. “I’m really excited about it. I’m frustrated with GCs just picking people based on low bid or how good their
TradeTalk: How it Works (Four-Minute Magic) What Jen is talking about is a monthly lunch for the SB building community, one that is specifically structured to ease participants – licensed Tradespersons and their prospective employers – into easy conversation. Each luncheon is dedicated to a construction phase and those specialty contractors relevant to that stage of the project. October’s luncheon will center on Site & Foundation, November’s will be Framing & Exterior, January’s will be MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), and so on. By slightly gamifying the format and pre-introducing participants through distribution of their own submitted info sheets, the ice is broken before you enter the venue and launch your face at the burger and beverage that await your dignified entry. While you eat, a local brahmin of the Trade in question has the floor, talks about the work, and even fields her own prompts to get the chatty climate established. Each table features two Trades seated opposite two referrers – be they General Contractors, Architects, Interior designers, Estate managers, Property managers... “There are so many great Trades in town and so many great GCs and so many great architects and so many great designers,” Jen exults, “that I really wanted them to start meeting each other and really getting to know each other face to face; and seeing whether or not it’s a relationship that they want to pursue by just giving them a short four minute introduction to each other.” The rounds begin with a randomly drawn prompt card selected from a sealed deck and read out by emcee Jean Marie Driskel – a professional home organizer, longtime practitioner/advocate of chaos-banishing Montessori principles, and happy-vibe ringmaster – and a roomful of
On September 30, 2026, the County Planning & Development Department, Long Range Planning Division will conduct a public workshop with the Montecito Planning Commission regarding the upcoming Ministerial Permitting and Streamlining Ordinance Amendments to the Montecito Land Use and Development Code and Coastal Zoning Ordinance. The amendments include revisions to:
Expand the list of uses and development that are exempt from permits; Clean up the lists of allowed uses and reduce permit requirements where applicable; Reduce design review requirements for some residential and commercial development; and Create a ministerial permit pathway for single-family residential and limited commercial development.
The Montecito Planning Commission will hold a subsequent hearing on October 7, 2026, at which they will further discuss the amendments and make recommendations to the County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. For additional information, please view the project webpage https://www.countyofsb.org/3449/Zoning-Ordinance-Amendment-Project or contact Ben Singer at bsinger@countyofsb.org or (805) 568-2025. The Montecito Planning Commission Workshop will take place at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The subsequent Montecito Planning Commission hearing will take place at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The workshop and hearing will be held at: Planning Commission Hearing Room County Engineering Building 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 For current methods of public participation for the hearing please see https://www.countyofsb.org/1647/Montecito-Planning-Commission, or the posted agendas. The posted agenda will provide a more specific time for this item. However, the order of the agenda may be rearranged, or the item may be continued.
The TradeTalk Deck. Not to worry, the House is on your side (courtesy photo)
Staff reports and the posted agenda will be available on the Friday prior to the hearing at the Commission’s website above or contact the Planning Commission Recording Secretary at dvillalo@countyofsb.org or (805) 568-2058 for alternative options. Attendance and participation by the public is invited and encouraged. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, American Sign Language interpreters, sound enhancement equipment, and/or another request for disability accommodation may be arranged by contacting the Hearing Support Staff at (805) 568-2000. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the hearing will enable the Hearing Support Staff to make reasonable arrangements.
Conversation Page 314 314
WENDY GRAGG 805. 453. 3371
Luxury Real Estate Specialist for Over 20 Years
If you challenge the project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence to the Montecito Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.
22 Montecito JOURNAL
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Luxury Real Estate Specialist “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” – Albert Einstein
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17 – 24 September 2026
J O I N U S F O R A N I N AU G U R A L
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• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
23
Your Four-Chambered Concierge
“When a patient feels or senses that their doctor is rushed, they don’t volunteer any information. It becomes a legal interview. ‘I’ll answer your questions directly, yes or no.’ Then the patient leaves the room feeling, ‘Oh, I should have brought this up. Why didn’t I say this?”
The Doctor Will (Actually) See You Now by Sam Seton
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elationship-based cardiology. At a glance this looks like an unnecessarily bookish declaration of love. Hopeful suitor: “Darla, I have an avid interest in pursuing with you a period of relationship-based cardiology.”
Darla: “Um…what?” But to some, relationship-based cardiology begs a hopeful question: what if an appointment with your cardiologist were less a game of Beat-the-Clock than a languid, exploratory conversation – dare we say a relationship? “When you’re talking about care,” says Dr. Vishal Goyal of Riviera
Map of the human heart: Dr. Vishal Goyal (right) and a colleague in the Cath lab. Image over Dr. Goyal’s shoulder is an intravascular ultrasound – imaging from inside the artery. (courtesy photo)
Coastal Cleanup Day 2026 2026
Cardiology Concierge, “volume-based care just doesn’t allow enough time to develop a relationship.” You don’t say! Dr. Goyal’s charitable understatement packs a wallop. This volumizing approach to outpatient care is indeed baked into the health care system, and we civilians vaguely understand the lightning-round office visit as the necessary product of sheer patient numbers. Patient volume has always been the uneasy quantitative measure of physician productivity. When some years ago an insurer routinely informed Dr. Goyal they were reducing his per-visit reimbursement, they offered compensatory assurances meant to put his mind at ease. “They said ‘We’re going to pay you less per visit, but we’ll make your documentation easier so you can see more people.’” Volume as a default success metric may be better suited to the manufacture of rubber bands than to meaningful outpatient care. Dr. Goyal breaks down the standard model from the care provider’s side. “A patient comes in and you have a 15-minute slot. The first five to eight of those minutes are usually with a medical assistant to note your meds, do the vitals. Then the doctor comes in, and because they also have to spend a few minutes documenting you’ve got maybe 5 minutes. What can you possibly do in 5 minutes?” It’s strangely bracing to hear this spoken aloud by a doctor. I mean, they know? Dr. Goyal is taking that smallish pericardial window (so to speak), that interface between doctor and patient, and opening it wider, the better to bring calm and clarity to these critically important doctor-patient conversations. This is the essence of Concierge medicine.
A Heart in the Right Place “I did my residency at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento,” Dr. Goyal says. “Living in Sacramento I fell in love with the wine country. I figured I’d always want to live and work in Sonoma County, which is just the perfect blend of food and wine and biking and fun.’” From such bold flashes of certitude are later self-corrections born. “After finishing training residency and fellowship, I called every week until they gave me a job. It took about two months, and finally they said, ‘Okay, if you stop calling us, we’ll give
Concierge Page 314 314
Dr. Goyal indicates an electrocardiogram (courtesy photo)
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“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
17 – 24 September 2026
THE TRADES SHOWCASE A Premier Event Celebrating The Best In Santa Barbara County’s Building & Design Trades
Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM The Well Gardens Carpinteria, CA
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17 – 24 September 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
25
The Spoken Word
Imagine That: ‘Floating Mountains’ by Steven Libowitz
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everal years ago, Joe Rohde retired from Walt Disney Imagineering after four decades, eventually serving as executive designer and vice president of creative. He was the lead designer for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the zoological theme park near Orlando, Florida, and led the design team for Disney Resort & Spa’s beachside complex Aulani in Oahu. He was also deeply involved in the transformation of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride into Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout at California Adventure and served as creative director for Animal Kingdom’s Pandora – The World of Avatar. Now a Santa Barbara resident, Rohde has authored a memoir called Floating Mountains, published by Penguin earlier this month, in which the visionary artist explores creativity, collaboration, and his career. The book has been described as offering a master class in creativity through his world-spanning journey, a powerful exploration of imagination, innovation and life lessons for turning vision into reality. Rohde dives deep into the nature, nurture, and practice of collaboration. He explains how to keep ideas true to their origins while allowing for improvisation and accident to enhance, not derail, creative endeavors. In an event titled “Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible” on Friday, September 18, at the Community Arts Workshop (631 Garden Street in Santa Barbara), Rohde will offer rare insight into his own creative process and experiences. Admission includes a signed copy of the book and the wine and refreshment reception that kicks off the evening. A portion of proceeds benefit SBCAW. Visit www.sbcaw.org/upcoming
The L-Word: Arts & Lectures Has Lots to Lean Into and Learn Perhaps it’s telling that the full A&L season actually opens with a speaker, rather than a dance, performance, or concert; namely prolific New York Times bestselling author Scott Galloway at the Arlington on Friday, September 25. The NYU professor of marketing and serial entrepreneur has founded nine companies and is known to millions through his Prof G and Pivot podcasts, where he offers observations on the intersection of business, technology, economics, and modern society. Following brief opening remarks, Galloway will join acclaimed Talk Easy host Sam Fragoso for an in-depth conversation about masculinity, loneliness, and purpose in modern America. Looking ahead, the lectures portion of the upcoming season of UCSB Arts & Lectures was already impressive before the announcement of four more events slated for the nine-month season, further broadening the array of topics and leaders with whom to engage. The new events include Rana Foroohar, Financial Times associate editor, CNN global economic analyst, and author of the forthcoming book Sea Change: America’s New Great Game in the Arctic Circle. The book discusses how the race for control of the world’s oceans is reshaping the global economy and redefining national security (Nov. 19 at Campbell Hall). Also, another major figure from the world of sports (augmenting tennis star John McEnroe’s pending A&L appearance) is Alysa Liu, figure skating’s double gold medalist at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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Liu is taking a hiatus from the ice this season to publicly reflect on her initial break from competition five years ago. That decision to prioritize her mental health and well-being – her first career interlude – took place just three years after having won the U.S. National Championship at 13. Liu continues to redefine success on her own terms (Jan. 28; Arlington). Also new to the schedule are Dr. Mary Claire Haver, the board-certified OB-GYN and bestselling author who has transformed the conversation around menopause by bringing the latest scientific research to millions of women seeking reliable, evidence-based guidance (April 7; Granada), and MacArthur Fellow and Harvard professor Danielle Allen, author of Our Declaration and Justice by Means of Democracy who will address Academic Freedom for a Stronger Democracy – a talk made timely by universities and democratic societies being forced to confront questions of free speech, academic freedom, and civic trust (May 11; Campbell). Tickets at www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
Chaucer’s Choices: The Muse of Mozart, and an Atomic Attack The composer Mozart has sparked scholarly research and fictional ideas exploring the composer’s brilliant output and complicated place in history. The latest is David K. Israel’s novel The Lost Mozart, which imagines a college music student discovering an unearthed Mozart sketch of a string quartet and deciding to finish the piece and give its world premiere in the 1980s. The twists and turns come with interesting insights, humor and determination in the novel, which was published this summer and earned early praise. Which makes sense as author Israel’s first job out of college was working as an editor for Leonard Bernstein, producing and publishing definitive score editions of West Side Steve Hawk talks Nearshore at Chaucer’s on Sept. Story and On the Town. That was before 27 (photo by TBird Montara) Israel went on to compose extensively for dance, including commissions from Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and New York City Ballet. Israel discusses the novel at Chaucer’s on Thursday, September 24. Three days later, it’s Steve Hawk’s turn with a much darker work, Nearshore, a novel that dives into what happens after a “small” nuclear bomb detonates beside an Appalachian highway in history’s first act of nuclear terrorism, albeit one with a very low casualty list. Months later, a surfer and lifeguard at a treacherous stretch of wild California coast gets involved as he learns of a link between a Silicon Valley megacorporation, its sociopathic billionaire founder, and the nuke in West Virginia shortly before a second device is detonated. Nearshore has been called an immersive and disturbingly plausible story. Hawk, brother of skating legend Tony Hawk and a former editor of Surfer, Sierra, and Stanford Business magazines, talks about his debut novel with award-winning Santa Barbara surf filmmaker Chris Malloy on Sunday, September 27.
Visit www.Chaucersbooks.com
Shout It Out Larry David co-created the near-legendary sitcom Seinfeld, then created and starred in HBO’s 12-season wonder Curb Your Enthusiasm and the new limited HBO re-imagined history series Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness. Now David is coming to the Arlington to talk about, what else, himself and his career. The caveat? The conversation will be moderated by his daughter, Cazzie Steven Libowitz has covered David, who wrote the bestselling essay a plethora of topics for the collection No One Asked for This and Journal since 1997, and now the follow-up Delusions. Cazzie also leads our extensive arts and co-created and starred in her own series entertainment coverage called Eighty-Sixed. Prediction markets are taking bets on how many minutes will pass in the September 24 event at the Arlington Theatre before the elder David raises his voice.
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J. R. R. Tolkien
17 – 24 September 2026
Elizabeth’s Appraisals Boehm’s Collection of Birds by Elizabeth Stewart
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recently sent me a photograph of a magnificent 17½-inch porcelain Blue Jay perched among raspberry branches; its brilliant plumage modeled in hard-paste porcelain and hand-painted with extraordinary precision. Created in the late 1960s by Edward Marshall “Ted” Boehm (1913–1969), the sculpture immediately transported me back to childhood. My mother, Elinor, longed to collect Boehm porcelain during the 1960s. My father admired the sculptures but thought they were extravagant purchases, so he often substituted less expensive copies produced by the Japanese firm Lefton China for special birthdays and anniversaries. The most American of all figurative art forms, porcelain miniatures were accessible to almost all budgets, but not my dad’s: here’s what they cost in the 1960s: Small animal pieces like the White Mouse Preening (issued 1957–1961) originally retailed for $15. Smaller animal/bird figurines like the Rabbit with Bow (issued 1957–1961) debuted around $7.50. (More intricately detailed bird sculptures retailed between $25 and $100.) I still remember Elly’s treasured large scale Boehm rabbit, which she bought from Marshall Field’s in downtown Chicago and sneaked it into the Deerfield house. Seeing this blue jay brought those memories flooding back. Yes, almost anyone could own a Boehm work of art: it was middle class “classy” in those days. It was also easily understood to BE something, it looked “real.” Once among America’s most coveted porcelain sculptures, many pieces now sell for a fraction of their original prestige. This particular blue jay, despite its remarkable craftsmanship, would likely bring no more than about $500 at auction. Ted was born in Baltimore in 1913; his father left the house when he was born; he lost his mother at the age of seven, whereupon his neighbors arranged a place for him – as a military school student trading work for studies at Maryland’s McDonogh School, originally established for orphaned and impoverished boys during the Civil War. There he learned farming, animal husbandry, horsemanship, and practical trades. Animals became his lifelong companions, and he began to study animal draftsmanship wandering the school’s 830 acre grounds. After studying animal husbandry and farm management at the University of Maryland, Boehm apprenticed with the American sculptor Herbert Haseltine, 17 – 24 September 2026
Boehm’s blue jay sculpture
who was a bronze sculptor of some renown. Boehm became fascinated with porcelain; unlike Haseltine, he modelled no human figures, and began with birds. Unlike many wildlife artists who worked from mounted birds (such as John James Audubon), Boehm studied living birds, establishing an aviary on the shores of the Maryland River. He observed bird movements and did not kill specimens; in fact, his aviaries were known for raising species that had never been raised in captivity, earning positive recognition from the Audubon Society. Every feather, posture, and tilt of the head in a Boehm sculpture reflects countless hours spent watching living birds. He died at his aviary at the age of 55. His wife, Helen, became his canny business partner, and personally presented First Lady Mamie Eisenhower with one of her husband’s sculptures in porcelain. After Mamie praised his work, Ted became an American success story! Helen found markets for Ted’s works of art in America and began to court European buyers, beginning at the top with gifts to England’s Royal Family.
International recognition came quickly. By the 1960s, his porcelain birds graced the china cabinets of many upper middle-class homes in America. Today his work resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Buckingham Palace, the Hermitage Museum, and the Vatican Museums. The Vatican named one of its museum wings after Edward Marshall Boehm – the first American ever to receive such recognition. Perhaps his finest achievements were his large-scale studies of North American birds. The blue jay before me captures not only brilliant color but also personality. My problem is that none of my children think it is worth keeping. I have always loved blue jays myself. My cabin at Lake Arrowhead sits near a little community of blue jays. Blue jays are remarkably intelligent members of the crow family. They cache acorns, helping spread oak forests across North America after the last Ice Age. They recognize one another by the distinctive black brindle markings around the face and throat, remain closely bonded to family groups and, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, may live well into their twenties. That knowledge somehow enriches Boehm’s sculpture. But not for my kids. Even harder to sell are the elegant (at the time) collector’s plates, finished in gold, with images of American birds. Boehm figurines are considered lowbrow today, not categorized as art but tchotchkes.
Elizabeth Stewart, PhD is a veteran appraiser of fine art, furniture, glass, and other collectibles, and a cert. member of the AAA and an accr. member of the ASA. Please send any objects to be appraised to Elizabethappraisals@ gmail.com
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SB by the Glass (Continued from 18 18))
The multi-course meal was catered by Chef Clark Staub of Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos (photo by Bottle Branding)
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Q. You were instrumental in gaining federal AVA recognition for the Sta. Rita Hills in 2001. Do you marvel at it for its grape-growing potential as you did 55 years ago? A. Before the AVA distinction, I’d become really offended, because the wine media kept touting the inland areas of the Santa Ynez Valley as a place for wine grapes, and even Santa Maria as a place for pinot noir, when in fact it’s too warm for pinot noir. And I’d already spent my career trying to make Burgundy-style wines in this much cooler region. So I think the Sta. Rita Hills is the first appellation done by growers, not by marketing people trying to gerrymander their positions into greatness. Guys like [Bryan] Babcock,
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Richard Sanford is celebrated for his pioneering achievements, including the planting of the first pinot noir vines in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA (photo by Bottle Branding)
[Steve] Pepe, and [Rick] Longoria and I drove around and looked at the area from peak to peak, and at the different soils, and came up with the boundaries for the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. And I predict it’ll eventually be divided into two new appellations, if not four! Because there’s so much distinction here. This is a wine district that can produce worldclass wines across a very great scale – nowhere else in the world can do that.
Find out more about Alma Rosa, and about Richard Sanford’s role as the brand’s ambassador, at almarosawinery.com
Q. You met Thekla 50 years ago and married her in 1978. How instrumental has she been in your achievements? A. Thekla is key, and she’s participated in every step of the way. She doesn’t really get the recognition. But she’s my biggest critic, and my confidant and my best friend altogether. So much of it has been us, collectively.
K LUC
Q. Do you share the concerns of many of your colleagues that, by many industry
estimations, U.S. wines sales are currently pacing at a 20-year low? A. I’m very at ease and very relaxed because I don’t own anything anymore!” he says with tongue-in-cheek, but then continues in earnest. “As I’ve mentioned to a number of young people that I’ve mentored along the way – I’ve always put my efforts and imagination into doing something with the expectation that it’ll be the best. So I say, focus on the quality. If the quality is there, it will be recognized. Of course, it’s complicated. You have to find the right place, the right soils, the right exposure, you spend five years growing grapes, three to five years making and aging wine – pretty soon, you’re 10 to 12 years into this without anything much to show. And if it’s not superior in the glass, it’s not going to work. So even when I’ve seen this type of thing in the past, I’ve focused and imagined that everything I do is the highest quality. And I haven’t looked back since.
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between the vines promote soil health; pruning done by hand helps protect the vines’ vascular flow; and the integration of beneficial predatory insects prevents the use of synthetic toxins. In the middle of delivering heartfelt remarks, the man of the hour asks that we all sit in a silence for a few minutes, and we oblige. And the stillness, and the breeze that wafts through, and the wildlife sounds, make the whole experience quite moving. It was a few days later that I followed up for a leisurely conversation with Sanford, who’s 85 now. His long-term memory is remarkable, and his perspective, on a wine region with a history as long as his own viticultural journey, is unparalleled. Here are three insights that really resonated with me.
Without her, I would not be in the same place. Thekla was the one who, at Sanford & Benedict, told me, ‘We should just farm organic.’ When our venture began to get big, you do things traditionally, and the traditional way of farming was looking at nature as a threat. And the idea was you had to use material to protect yourself from her. But Thekla helped me realize that nature was supportive of what we were doing, not a threat – and that I had to be with nature, not against nature. It coalesced with the spiritual philosophy I was adopting at the time, too – respect for one another, and respect for nature. So, in two years, I’d weaned myself of chemical pesticides, and 400 acres of our legacy vineyards were farmed and certified organic. That’s a big deal. And I have Thekla to thank for that! And by the way, young people today get it. Purity in what we produce – that’s respected by a very large audience of young people. It resonates. We may well be headed for a full-scale reset, and it’s the youth that’ll be our salvation. It’s all about a holistic approach, and a philosophy of respect.
Gabe Saglie has been covering the Santa Barbara wine and food scene for more than 20 years through TV, radio and print. He’s founder of Traveling Pants Media, a travel content production company, and is a leading expert on consumer lifestyle trends.
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“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
17 – 24 September 2026
Westmont (Continued from 20 20)) field/soccer complex. Visitors must enter campus using the main entrance off La Paz Road, as the lower entrance on Cold Spring Road closes to visitors at 7 pm. In case of cloudy skies, visitors should check the observatory website or call the Telescope Viewing Hotline at (805) 565-6272 to confirm whether the event remains on schedule.
Sophomore Builds Runway for Aerospace Engineers The Westmont Observatory opens to the public Sept. 17
hours. Held in conjunction with NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night, the evening unleashes the power of Westmont’s Keck Telescope alongside high-powered instruments from the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit to bring deep space into sharp focus. The event opens early to capture dramatic views of Earth’s orbiting companion before twilight deepens into night. “Alongside the moon, visitors can observe the Summer Triangle, the Owl Cluster and potentially Saturn toward the end of the night,” says Jennifer Gee, assistant professor of physics and observatory director. The college hosts free public stargazing events on the third Friday of every month with help from local astronomers who set up additional telescopes surrounding the observatory, offering attendees multiple viewing angles and expert insights into various celestial objects. Free parking is available near the Westmont Observatory, located between the baseball field and the track and
When Ethan Ish (‘29) arrived at Westmont as a first-year student, he saw a wealth of possibilities in the engineering department, but he wanted a direct, immediate way to engage with his passion for aerospace. Guided by a desire to build professional connections, he turned to the internet to find opportunities. “Networking is important for any industry, and I wanted to get started early,” Ish says. “I started hunting for opportunities online and found AIAA through their Instagram posts.” He learned that the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) operated through college branches and that Westmont’s engineering program could launch its own student chapter. “My mind started racing with ideas of what we could do with this at Westmont: more networking opportunities, guest speakers, internship opportunities and scholarships,” he says. “I saw a lot of potential and an opportunity, so I went for it.” Now a sophomore, Ish has seen that vision expand through the creation of the Dey-Ish Westmont Excellence in Aerospace Engineering Fund. Established by Ish’s parents, Shilpi Dey and Kenneth Ish, the endowment honors a family
legacy rooted in military and commercial aviation. The five-year gift supports the new AIAA chapter, faculty mentorship, student attendance at national conferences and pathways to regional aerospace internships on California’s Central Coast. For Ish, the family’s gift reflects a shared vision to blend rigorous technical training with a Christ-centered liberal arts education. “Both sides of my family have been involved in the aerospace industry and believe in the opportunities it offers,” he says. “They hope the endowment will help students with God on the heart and planes on the brain find even more opportunities to invest the talents God has given them while at Westmont.” The investment has started bearing fruit. Ish recently represented Westmont at a major AIAA national conference, immersing himself in intensive, multiday technical courses on propeller aerodynamics and electrified-propulsion aircraft led by top industry specialists. Between long days studying high-efficiency airfoils, thermal management in battery systems, and noise reduction, Ish gained insight into the future of flight. He envisions a future where electric aircraft handle regional transit – like short flights between San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Beyond the technical mechanics, the trip offered something even more
foundational: a clear look into the professional aerospace ecosystem. Looking ahead, Ish hopes the combination of Westmont’s AIAA chapter and the new endowment will pave a smooth runway for future students who feel called to the skies. “I dream that the Westmont branch of AIAA helps the college be known even more than it is today as a place where students have the resources for their God-given gifts to follow their God-given callings, especially regarding aerospace engineering,” he says.
Sophomore Ethan Ish
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17 – 24 September 2026
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Montecito JOURNAL
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Robert’s Big Questions
An Independent Mind
by Robert Bernstein
by Jeffrey Harding
Why Do People Put Up with This?
W
e are back from two weeks travel back East. Mostly wonderful. But the return involved air travel. On a flight that was clearly canceled, but American Airlines refused to say it was canceled. FlightAware showed the plane had arrived at 7 pm the night before. But it was “delayed” for unspecified reasons. There were no humans at any of the gates. Calling the airline offered no information and no good options. We were eventually rescued by an airline employee who said she could book us on another airline, but only if we pretended that my wife was disabled. I agreed and we thereby made it home. The original flight actually did leave. Tweny-three hours and 28 minutes later. I have no idea how anyone else managed or who was still around for that flight. When I was a child, airlines were regulated. Prices were slightly higher. But every city was served and no one was ever stranded this way. Compensation was offered for unavoidable problems. Europe still operates this way. United recently tried to strand us returning from Europe while lying about it. But European law eventually forced them to compensate us. This is just one small example of a category: Why do people put up with this? Many examples involve transportation. People sit in traffic jams alone in their cars, wasting hundreds of millions of hours every day. While civilized countries offer high speed rail and fast local transit. Some examples are matters of life and death. Notably, our utterly broken healthcare system. The system deliberately limits how many well-qualified people can become doctors, keeping costs high. We spend twice as much as any other country, yet outcomes are the worst among major countries. Tens of millions have no healthcare access at all. We are told that socialized medicine causes long waits. In February I had a “minor” stroke. Often a precursor to a major stroke. I was offered appointments six to 12 months in the future. We have the worst of long waits, poor coverage, and high costs. HIPAA rules make it almost impossible for different providers to share medical data. There is no way to sign a blanket order allowing your data to be shared as needed.
30 Montecito JOURNAL
Other examples are just annoying. Computers are obsoleted every few years. Yet it requires weeks of labor to set everything up on a new computer. How about time-wasting “security” systems? A six-digit code that expires in 15 minutes? And then still requires phone verification? And phone trees that block speaking to a human? This wouldn’t be so bad if you were talking to a real AI. But these systems use 20-year-old technology. How about being charged a steep “convenience fee” for tickets, where there is no other option? Biden tried to end this, but Trump restored the fees. Software updates that are for their benefit, not yours? Subscription fees replacing actual ownership of software? Subscriptions that are impossible to cancel? Products that cannot be repaired? Fashion changes that no one wants? You finally find a pair of hiking boots that fit and you can never buy them again. The new ones are not better, just a different fit. “Fast fashion” styles become obsolete in months, wasting vast resources. And speaking of resources, we have known for a century that we have to get off of fossil fuels. Yet U.S. industry and elected officials fight the changes that are inevitably needed. By the time the changes happen, entire states may be underwater. Why do people put up with all of this? Because each person suffers alone. Rather than joining together to demand collective change. Americans have joined together in the past demanding change. They elected Teddy Roosevelt who broke up monopoly power. Then Franklin Roosevelt who gave us Social Security and the New Deal. Then Johnson gave us Medicare, which was supposed to become universal healthcare. Now we have MAGA who just wants to see the other side suffer. And too many Democrats who have created an explosion of tiny, aggrieved groups. The solution? Electing people who will work for the benefit of all. 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
Wait Until November 4
something about California’s poor job in public education. The first thing they ought to do is prove they are capable of educating our children by bringing up scores to at least the national average. What could be more important than that? Mississippi proved that we don’t need more money to do that. By reforming their system, starting in the 4th grade, Mississippi’s 4th grade reading scores went from the bottom to the top 10 nationally. They left California behind (37th). Nationally, the midterm elections are important. They will be a referendum on President Trump. Can MAGA sympathizers carry the Republicans to keep control of the House and Senate? Trump has had amazing power over many races with an overwhelming majority of his chosen candidates winning Republican primaries. But that may not be enough. Both Gallup and Reuters found voters’ top two issues were dissatisfaction with government/political leadership and affordability/economy/inflation. Democrats appear to have spurned centrist policies in favor of far-left Progressive programs. If there ever was a time to challenge Trump and the GOP it would be now. And since 45% of voters say they are independents, a surge to the far left would be a losing strategy. There is a serious lack of leadership in the Democratic party. It’s theirs to lose. Things may be worse for Republicans. Trump, our outspoken president, has done his best to lose the House and maybe the Senate. He discounts almost everything people are concerned with and he lies bigly about it. He mocks “affordability,” he discounts inflation, his ICE troops appear thuggish, he says we are winning the war against Iran which we have lost, he ridicules our sailors, he starts a tariff war with our neighbor Canada, he semi-abandons Ukraine and praises the leader of slavestate North Korea, and he changes his opinion almost daily. It’s one misstep after another. The trouble with Trump is Trump. You have to wonder what’s happening with our political leadership. The centrists in both parties seem to have given up. The midterms will be significant. Our politicians seem incapable of working together to come up with effective solutions. With a potential Democratic Congress and a Trumpian White House, expect more political warfare over the next two years. Don’t expect problems to be solved.
W
e are closing in on the November 3 midterm elections, and you know what that means. Welcome to the circus! Endless political ads. Useless debates. Polls that will be mostly wrong. Talking heads. Shock. Dismay. Claims of a mandate. Blah, blah. You might want to ignore it until the day after, November 4, to see what happened. I’m not looking forward to this. The embarrassing twists and turns candidates put themselves through to win are uncomfortable to watch. Not a lot of sincerity and honesty there. Recent polls have been notoriously inaccurate. It turns out that voters are cagey and fickle. Prospective voters may say one thing earlier, but things change in the last days, and when it comes to marking their ballots, they may do a 180 (if they even voted). Best to take poll results with a grain of salt. While you might tune out the election circus you should tune in to the issues, starting with the 14 propositions on the California ballot. The money they are asking for is huge: $44.65 billion in new bonds. Most of them are for special interests. There is one (Prop 4) that allows public financing of election candidates! Prop 39 imposes costly voter ID requirements. My usual take on spending initiatives is to vote against them. There is a never-ending “need” for more money. Many of them sound reasonable but they aren’t. They mostly benefit special interests. We don’t need more public debt which we taxpayers will ultimately have to pay. Think of them as tax increases. Then there is the Billionaire Wealth Tax (Prop 40), also known as the “Asset Seizure” law. It seizes assets, not income or profits (which are already heavily taxed in California). There are about 250 billionaires in California and lately, due to the AI/tech boom, their numbers have grown. Some high-profile billionaires have already left California. Countermeasure Props 41 and 42 would cancel the billionaire tax if they receive more votes than Prop 40. I’ve written about the billionaire wealth tax before and explained why it is a bad idea. Nine of 13 countries that had a wealth tax abandoned them because of negative outcomes: flight of capital and wealthy residents, high compliance costs, much lower yield, entrepreneurial disincentive, etc. Before we give our politicians more money I would like to see them do
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
17 – 24 September 2026
Conversation (Continued from 22 22))
Concierge (Continued from 24 24)) you a job!’” He joined a Sacramento area cardiology group and some two years later realized it wasn’t the best fit. Next steps suggested themselves. Dr. Goyal set his sights on the cardiologically active burg of Santa Barbara, a town whose trail-laced front country, active outdoor lifestyle, and reputation as a highly regarded medical community have long attracted heart rate enthusiasts of every stripe. In these instances the telephone can be as critical a cardiological instrument as the sternal saw or septal occluder. Dr. Goyal got to work. Ultimately, he joined the Santa Barbara Cardiovascular Medical Group and moved to town with his family. “This was an independent, four-to-five physician group, all cardiologists,” he says. “It has existed since 1974 – one of the original founders of cardiology in Santa Barbara.” In the meantime, a trend was afoot. “The expense to provide medical care was only going up,” Dr. Goyal says. “The reimbursements were only going down, and private practices across the country were being bought up because there was no other way to survive.” The Santa Barbara Cardiovascular Medical Group was not immune to the era’s vicissitudes. “We’d entertained the idea of going concierge at that time, saying ‘Well, what if we become a boutique practice?’” Ultimately, Santa Barbara Cardiovascular Medical Group ended up selling the practice to Cottage Hospital. “We found it to be an excellent partnership to work for the local hospital, and indeed it was.” Dr. Goyal worked as medical director for the cardiology clinic and would ultimately hold a board-level position with respect to cardiac services at the hospital. He had also had a large structural role in helping Cottage under-
stand how an outpatient practice could work for cardiology, “They had only run surgical subspecialties and pediatrics at that time,” he says. “You can see now they’re very interested in expanding their ambulatory practice. I like to think our group were possibly the tip of the spear on Cottage’s explosion into the outpatient world.” But over time, Dr. Goyal found it difficult to juggle inpatient and outpatient care. Thanks to the Earth’s fixed rotation and strictures on the number of hours in a day, this was a zero-sum struggle. He was doing a lot of procedures in the hospital, the immediacy and acuteness of those cases taking a toll on the outpatient work; and on Dr. Goyal’s longstanding and increasing desire to have more substantive patient interactions through his outpatient practice.
Concierge Page 324 324
Dr. Vishal Goyal and Riviera Cardiology Concierge: “…The doctor will hear you now.” (courtesy photo)
Coastal Quilters Guild of Santa Barbara & Goleta Harvest of Colors Quilt Show
licensed professionals start jawboning. At four minutes the Trades rotate to another table where two stationary referrers receive them anew, blithe spirit and moderator Jean Marie reads out the new prompt, and a new conversation is launched. Jen has built a networking event that breaks the stilted and nerve-wracking meet-and-greet in favor of something whose in-built energies can’t help but get the ball rolling. “So, yes,” she confesses with a chuckle. “It’s like a speed dating format.” With none of that format’s terrifying cold opens. “Before the round starts, everybody gets a chance to do a 15 to 30 second elevator pitch. You hear from everybody in the room, and everyone’s filled out a hot sheet in the days prior to the luncheon, which has the standard stuff like CSLB license and workers’ comp coverage and where they’re located and all that stuff.” Before you open your mouth (to either speak with calm deliberation or to quaff your lunch), your prospective employers and fellow specialty contractors know what you’re about. Jen has it dialed in and believes TradeTalk.club will begin a new tradition in the construction space; a tradition that leans into local contractors. “Construction companies always need to have a deep bench in all of these different trade categories,” she
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD FROM YOUR ADVISER?
Facilitator/MC Jean Marie Driskel is up to the task of keeping things both calm and lively, that tough balancing act achievable by a gifted few (courtesy photo)
says. “Particularly in Santa Barbara. We have all sorts of people coming in from L.A. and Fresno and Bakersfield, and the local trades are getting overlooked a lot of times. So this is also a way to boost the visibility of the local trades with the people that hire them.”
Details at tradetalk.club
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• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
31
Concierge (Continued from 31 31))
Access. Convenience. Responsiveness. Expertise. Communication. “Wow. You answer the phone!” Dr. Goyal hears this exclamation a lot from Riviera Cardiology Concierge’s newly initiated. This conversational reputation precedes his establishment of the Concierge practice. “In a large system, messages necessarily pass through teams and protocols,” he says. “In
my practice, patients can communicate directly with their cardiologist. I actually placed second or third among some 50 doctors at Cottage exchanging the most patient correspondence in a month.” That is, prior to his concierge practice, Dr. Goyal reflexively opened the Pandora’s box of just drop me a line if you have a question, so naturally inclined was he to address the patient as directly and as immediately as possible. “The care is just infinitely better if the patients know you’re going to respond.” The son of a small-town doctor known to everyone who lived there, “medicine” has always been synonymous with conversation to Dr. Goyal. “It was fun to see my father relate to people outside the office. I’m a doctor who actually enjoys running into my patients at Costco, at the grocery store, at local events.” As an insatiably curious kid, Vishal Goyal disassembled the family radio, sated his curiosity with a studied look at the innards, and couldn’t put the thing back together. His mother was delighted and encouraged by these one-way exploratory surgeries and the inquisitive life they foretold. As Vishal grew into a stereo-loving teen he declined an opportunity to give his prized receiver the treatment. The preincarnate surgeon knew his limits. That was then. Today, this cardiologist’s dedication to relationship-based care knows no limits. Prior to Riviera, a patient would occasionally appear at his office in a state of compliant confusion. “‘My doctor told me to come in at this time,’” Dr. Goyal says in the patient role. And you say, ‘Well, do you know why you’re here?’ ‘…No, actually.’” His warm grin is sympathetic. “In the concierge world, everybody knows why they’re here. They walk in the door, they’ve already made a meaningful commitment to be here, so you know it’s important to them. They’re interested in their health. For me, that’s what makes medicine fun again.” Riviera Cardiology Concierge 8 West Victoria St., Santa Barbara 805-500-4556 https://rivieracardiology.com/
ss Never Mi An Issue!
JOURNAL
“My attempts to provide anything like relationship-based care were constantly being compromised. So I started pulling back from the hospital, started focusing more on the clinic.” His decision to move to the Concierge model was possibly foreordained, given Dr. Goyal’s determination to decelerate and deepen the cardiologist/patient dialog. How prepared are medical students for the volume-based rigors of outpatient care that await them? “It’s a good question. What did I expect when I came out to practice? I mean, we all had an idea what outpatient practice was like, though we didn’t know what we were capable of. Over the course of time and experience there’s a risk that medicine becomes algorithmic when constrained by limited time. Chest pain equals stress test, or palpitations equals monitor. That’s how you get through five minutes. You’re not really using your brain after a while. You’re just saying, ‘Oh, I already know what to do.’ “But in this [concierge] setting, I can’t say enough about how comfortable it is, how rewarding it is. I’m spending time just researching the patient’s record. And then they come in, and it’s that feeling of, you know, trust but verify. It’s amazing how often the chart is not quite accurate, because of course it’s people just rushing through documentation. So I ask. This is what I read about you. Is that accurate? Did you say that? You begin to flesh out the real story because you have time to ask. ‘Tell me what really happened, let me hear it in your words.’”
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32 Montecito JOURNAL
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M SHERIFF’S BLOTTER Mail Theft / 1900 block East Valley Road Monday, August 31, at 18:51 hours The Reporting Party’s (RP) son was riding his bike around the above location when he noticed multiple mail items scattered on the side of the road. Officer responded to the RP’s residence and collected mail addressed to residents of Carpinteria and the Montecito area. Report taken, follow up to be handled by patrol. Loud Music / 500 block El Bosque Road Monday, August 31, at 22:25 hours The RP reported his peace was being disturbed by the resident of the address above who was playing amplified music. The resident was warned about the complaint and told to turn the music off. They turned the music back on and were ultimately issued a citation on behalf of the RP who signed a citizen’s arrest form for the above violation. Minors Alcohol/Vaping / 1200 block Channel Drive Tuesday, September 01, at 0314 hours Deputies spotted a vehicle parked in a no-parking zone from 02:00 hours to 05:00 hours. During investigation, deputies noticed an open container in the vehicle. Deputies contacted the owner of the vehicle, who was standing on the beach stairs. Vehicle owner spoke to the deputies and admitted to drinking with a female friend. Deputies verified age and found them both to be underage. A probable cause of vehicle search was conducted, and marijuana vape pens and more open containers were found. They were both cited and released. Investigation Property Management / 800 block Park Lane Tuesday, September 01, at 13:19 hours RP and employee of an LLC property management reported that a male subject had been contracted by the LLC owner to order and install two automatic transfer switches, and one 50kW Perkins diesel generator. The owner paid the amount of $27,014.30 but the subject did not deliver or install the equipment. Subject stopped communicating with the LLC and has not returned the money he was paid, in violation of 484(b) PC (Wrongful Diversion of Construction Funds). The LLC requested prosecution. The investigation is ongoing. Neighbor Dispute / 700 block El Rancho Road Wednesday, September 02, at 14:44 hours Deputies responded to the report of a trespasser. Deputies spoke to the RP who claimed his neighbor had trespassed on his property and damaged a fence on his side of the property line. RP’s neighbor was contacted, and while it was determined no trespassing had occurred, the neighbor did damage the RP’s fence, which was estimated to cost $2,000-3,000 to repair. When deputies spoke to the neighbor via telephone, he admitted to having his landscapers cut the RP’s fence. Deputies determined the neighbor was in violation of 594(b)(1) PC (Malicious Mischief). Case forwarded to District Attorney’s Office for review. Assault and Battery / Ortega Hill Thursday, September 03, at 20:17 hours Deputies were dispatched to a report of a female who reported a person was being set on fire. As deputies arrived and spoke to the victim, it was determined the victim was at an encampment near Highway 101 SB/ and Sheffield onramp. While at the encampment, her boyfriend of 22 years swung a large wooden tree support stake at her head as he threatened her. The victim attempted to flee and called 911. Subject followed her and told her he would kill her prior to law enforcement arriving. Subject proceeded to throw Tiki torch lighter fluid on her, causing the victim to be in fear for her life. After the investigation, it was determined that subject was in violation of 244 PC (Assault with Caustic Chemicals), 245(a)(1) PC (Assault with Deadly Weapon, Non-firearm), 422(a) PC (Criminal Threats), and 136.1(a) PC (Threatening Witness). South county deputies, K9, CHP, and drone operators from SBSO and State Parks responded to assist. Despite an extended search with a K9 and UAV support along the steep and rugged terrain on the edge of Ortega Hill, subject was not located. At about 0305 hours, deputies, and K9 returned to the original camp and located the subject. Subject surrendered and was arrested without incident. Subject was booked into SBJ and served with an EPO (Emergency Protective Order).
“We shall not cease from exploration.” – T. S. Eliot
17 – 24 September 2026
The Giving List Casa del Herrero by Steven Libowitz
A
century after Casa del Herrero was established as the private estate of industrialist George Fox Steedman, and more than three decades after it was turned into a historic house museum and garden stewarded by a nonprofit organization, the House of the Blacksmith remains one of Montecito’s best-kept secrets. The secrecy is not on purpose, and certainly something 18-month tenured Casa del Herrero Foundation Executive Director and Head of Curation Natalie Sanderson would like to change. She is fully aware of the nonprofit’s dedication to both Casa del Herrero’s preservation and its availability to the visiting public. “We’re very much a hidden gem, and that’s not by design,” she said. “We want more people to visit and I’m doing a lot to open up opportunities for the community to come.” Part of the issue is that the Casa has a restrictive county use permit, largely due to parking limitations and its location deep within a residential area on East Valley Road. “However, we do have docent-led tours (by reservation) twice a day now on Fridays and Saturdays, three times during the summer, and I just began a weekly
specialty garden tour that starts in the workshop honoring Carrie Steedman’s legacy,” Sanderson said, referencing the original owner’s wife, who remained in the house after he passed in 1940 until her own death in 1962. “You can see all of her awards for flower arrangements and more that she achieved in horticulture and at garden shows. Then you go into the garden itself where you can see up close the recent preservation work that we’ve completed.” That is a large part of the significant change at the Casa in recent months, largely due to the organization being the only one in California to receive a Save America’s Treasures grant from the National Parks Service, Sanderson said. “We started this amazing preservation opportunity last year, and we’re just wrapping it up, having restored horticultural spaces, our gardener’s tool shed, our glass house, and the Douglas Fir-painted wood lathe. We restored 10 fountains on the property and worked toward conserving historic tiles some of which are hundreds of years old. It’s a beautiful garden space that has been all very lovingly restored. The goal is to give our guests more opportunities to see things still looking their age, but also at their best.” That includes inside the home, which was originally built as a vacation home
Under Sanderson’s direction, 10 fountains have been restored on the property, as have other historic and horticultural spaces and details (courtesy photo)
and later became the family’s full-time residence, Sanderson said. “He was very much involved in the design process of Casa del Herrero. We have in our archives hundreds of letters between the client and the architect George Washington Smith (who also designed the Lobero and many other structures in town) about what the family desired. Even in the working blueprints that we have, they’re very detailed and show things like the artworks and objects that were important to the family. He’d detailed where pieces came from, and where they wanted them to be displayed.” Steedman was an industrialist by trade but also a practicing blacksmith during
Casa del Herrero now has docent-led tours twice a day on Fridays and Saturdays, three times on those days during the summer (courtesy photo)
17 – 24 September 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
his retirement in Montecito. “We have a fully intact workshop where he enjoyed and endeavored in multiple hobbies, including blacksmithing, silversmithing, woodworking,” Sanderson said. “He did photography, and he also made wine.” In addition to the regular weekly tours, there are a number of special events at Casa del Herrero that also welcome guests, including the educational salon series launched earlier this year that feature talks on local architecture, art or design guests, as well as a gallery walkthrough to view the Steedman Family Collection of 15th and 16th century fine and decorative arts from Spain. There’s also a revolving exhibition schedule showcasing metalsmithing and woodworking equipment, antique books, craftsman’s sketchbooks, architectural drawings, and horticulture records. Other Casa opportunities include wellness-oriented one-offs such as a sound bath and tai chi class. Meanwhile, the annual Holiday Open House is less than three months away, slated this year for December 12. At that event, Casa del Herrero will also be honoring Albert P. Hinckley, Jr., Carrie and George Steedman’s grandson, an architect who is also on the nonprofit’s board of directors. “He has a wealth of stories and great memories to share,” Sanderson said. More ways to open up to visitors are also in the works now that Casa del Herrero has found firmer footing after a number of years with an ever-changing staff and direction. Also welcome? The increase in memberships that help support the foundation and, of course, donations and other planned ways of giving. It is all of a piece, as Sanderson deftly summarizes. “I am happy to share that we are a more stable organization both financially and in our programming and commit ment to the community.” Visit www.casadelherrero.com
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One805 (Continued from 5)
Our Town (Continued from 12 12))
Bands and celebrities are always eager to support the First Responders (courtesy photo)
mental health care for first responders, with everyone coming together to make music for a shared purpose. “Everybody on that stage is there because they are connected to why we’re doing this,” Weston-Smith said. “That’s why the artists waive their fees and they’re doing it because for them mental wellness or firefighters and first responders are a hot button, whether or not they spend a lot of time in Santa Barbara. So many musicians have a first responder in their families or friend group and they understand the issues… Providing extensive mental health care is not only good for them, but for all of us, because the more adjusted they are and the more things are good at home, they’re much more able to do their jobs well.” That’s certainly the motivation for Benatar and Giraldo, who have been through so many fires approaching their Malibu digs that firefighters often use their property as a place to crash for the night. “We’re close to our firefighters,” Benatar said in an interview in May. “They’re like earth angels. Those guys work so hard and they have a special place in our hearts for keeping everybody safe.” Giraldo, who has been a mental health advocate and activist for years, said agreeing to perform at the One805 event was a no-brainer when he heard about the cause. “Firefighters and police have a tough time and go through so much. You want them to get the help they need, to stay grounded, and not have to turn to drugs and alcohol.” That’s also why, over the years, the benefit events have drawn a glittering array of Montecito-based celebrities, whether in the musical realms such as Maroon 5 or Kenny Loggins, or Hollywood heroes including Zoe Saldaña, Cameron Diaz, and even Harry and Meghan, who, Weston-Smith said, have promised they’ll be involved down the road despite having recently relocated back to Britain. “He said he’s still going to wholeheartedly support us regardless of the distance,” he said.
34 Montecito JOURNAL
It’s paramount to the purpose that the way things are set up with One805, first responders can get the help they need in complete privacy, able to completely avoid going through their employers and access services. “It’s completely anonymous,” Weston-Smith said. “Just in the last two weeks, we’ve had two first responders contact us and say, ‘I was in my darkest hour thinking of committing suicide, and I was pulled up by somebody who told me to call the number to get help. What you offer literally saved my life and saved my family.’ It’s utterly heartwarming to realize that there are actually lives we’ve saved out there that we never know about unless they come forward to thank us.” The One805 shows are an opportunity for attendees to return the favor, beyond financially, by expressing gratitude to actual first responders, some 300-400 of whom will be in the audience each night. Each one is given a glow stick on a lanyard when they arrive. “We ask them to break it when it gets dark so everybody can recognize who they are,” Weston-Smith said. Meanwhile, the smaller number of guests at each concert will make for a more intimate experience and should ease congestion on the way in or out. Although Weston-Smith said the logistical issues that plagued the first two years of the concert have been fully resolved. “The parking at the polo fields is literally just a three-minute ride straight across the freeway, and we’ve got masses of buses,” he said. “People will not have to wait long. Last year, everybody was out of there within 45 minutes, and it will probably be quicker this year. It stills takes you an hour and a half to get out of Dodger Stadium and they’ve been doing it for 70 years.” Saturday’s general admission tickets are sold out but all other categories on both days were still available at press time. Visit https://tickets.one805.org
both to their upholding MUS music programming traditions, and beginning rich new ones. Let’s get to know them through our interview:
SG. I have been teaching for 14 years and have had the opportunity to direct ensembles ranging from band and orchestra to general music and choir.
Joanne A Calitri [JAC]. How did you discover the position opening at MUS? Liz Caruso [LC]. I knew Ron Zecher from his years teaching in Santa Barbara Unified and heard that he was retiring from MUS in 2025. Around that same time, a colleague encouraged me to apply, and thankfully, I listened. Sarah Gatehouse [SG]. Liz and I previously worked together in Santa Barbara Unified. When Pam announced she was retiring, Liz reached out to me and encouraged me to apply. While we taught at different sites in SBUSD, we co-taught our Bravo after school band programs and always thoroughly enjoyed working together. Now we get to live the dream of working together every day!
JAC. What inspired you to teach music? LC. As a child, I was incredibly shy, so the thought of becoming a teacher would have seemed completely implausible to anyone who knew me – including me. I loved music, but I was much more comfortable playing an instrument than standing in front of a group. That all changed during my junior year of high school when my director asked me to become the drum major for the marching band. That experience drew me out of my shell and completely changed the trajectory of my life. More importantly, it taught me that one thoughtful teacher can fundamentally impact a child forever. SG. My music teachers played an integral role in my life growing up. Music ensembles have a unique ability to become deep, family-like communities for students, and my music teachers often felt like second parents to me. In high school, the opportunities I experienced through music opened my world and shaped the person I was becoming. Attending college would not have been possible for me without the music scholarships that my high school band directors encouraged me to pursue and helped me apply for. When it came time to choose my path of study, I knew I wanted to enter the same profession that had made such a profound impact on my own life.
JAC. Tell us about your music background. LC. I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t know how to read or play music. I was drawn to it from a very young age and, fortunately, had parents who encouraged that fascination rather than questioning it. I earned my Bachelor of Music Education and later my Master of Education from Pepperdine University, and I’ve spent my career doing work that feels joyful – sharing my passion for music with young people. SG. Growing up, I participated in every musical activity I possibly could and was constantly learning to play new instruments. My parents were incredibly supportive of my passion for music and encouraged me every step of the way. I earned my Bachelor of Music Education from the University of the Pacific and later completed my master’s in education administration.
JAC. Do you perform, either solo or in a group? LC. I do! I perform throughout the Santa Barbara area as a singer-songwriter and with a cover band called Paper Moon. Continuing to write and perform music reminds me what it feels like to be a student – to take risks, hit walls, and stay curious. SG. Yes! I think it is so important to keep up my love of playing music in addition to teaching it. I currently play in the band Paper Moon with Liz. Throughout the years I’ve played and sung in a variety of professional choirs, jazz bands, and orchestras in Santa Barbara and the Bay Area.
JAC. And teaching music? LC. Before coming to MUS, I taught music at Monroe Elementary School on the Mesa, where I had the opportunity to build a comprehensive music program from the ground up. It was an exciting challenge that stretched me as an educator and ultimately led to being named Santa Barbara County Performing Arts Teacher of the Year. Over my 14 years there, the program expanded to include guitar and ukulele instruction, jazz band, an adaptive music class for students with special needs, and a digital recording studio and program. My goal was never simply to add more classes – it was to create as many entry points into music as possible, so that every student could find a place where they felt inspired and excited to participate.
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” – Zora Neale Hurston
JAC. What disciplines[s] are you teaching in MUS’s music program? Is that defined for you, or do you shape it? LC. During the school day, I teach lower elementary general music as well as the second and third grade strings program. Outside the school day, I direct the fourth-grade Chorus and conduct the MUS Orchestra, which includes instrumentalists in fourth through sixth grade.
Our Town Page 374 374 17 – 24 September 2026
Entertainment (Continued from 16 16))
‘Radiance’ Reaches Miraflores
A version of FOSB will also be supporting The Tribe “Orchestrated Tribute to The Beatles” at the Arlington Theatre on October 17.
Korean-born San Diego-based classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim is bringing her solo concert experience to Hahn Hall for a Monday evening show on September 28. Radiance opens with works in a variety of styles from Handel, Chopin, Schubert, Gershwin and Piazzolla in the first half before Kim takes on Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Played here in its original format as a 10-movement suite for solo piano that was inspired by a memorial exhibition of works by the composer’s close friend, artist, and architect Viktor Hartmann, the performance will be accompanied by contemporary artworks paired with each movement and projected onto a screen behind the pianist.
Visit www.folkorchestrasb.com
Sounds on the Sea: Yacht Rock on a… Yacht? Santa Barbara folk-rock singer-songwriter David Segall has one final performance of the season – in this case summer, which is not technically over for another day – on Sunday, September 20, aboard the Condor Express, the vessel that is technically not a yacht at all -- but a 75-foot high-speed commercial passenger catamaran used primarily for whale-watching and other tourist-y adventures. But it’s a great venue and a good excuse for Segall and his band Deja Vida to play some of their favorite songs from the ‘70s and ‘80s (Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Bill Withers, Hall & Oates) to bop along to on the Condor’s dance floor while enjoying the swells. Segall’s regular reggae-infused stuff will also be a part of the set, including originals and Bob Marley tunes.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/Kim-Hahn-Radiance-2026
Solvang Danish Days The 2026 Solvang Danish Days takes place Sept. 18-20 (courtesy photo)
Visit www.condorexpress.com/reggaeandrockcruise
Meanwhile, Segall is also ready to launch a new season of Sail and a Song, his video and podcast series about how music, songs and stories on the ocean enrich our lives and inspire future generations to continue creating, sharing their gifts and being mindful of the ocean.
Subscribe and see earlier videos at www.youtube.com/@sailandasong.
Sold Out Show of the Week: Addicted to Ambisonic Canada’s alt.country/folk-rock band Cowboy Junkies have got to be one of the greatest sibling musical acts in pop history. Songwriter-guitarist Michael Timmins, vocalist Margo Timmins, and drummer Peter Timmins formed the band in 1985 with bassist Alan Anton, and “burst” on the scene three years later with their album The Trinity Session. Recorded in Toronto’s Church of the Holy Trinity with a single ambisonic microphone, the moody but quiet record cut through the era’s bombast and big hair to sell more than a million copies. Somehow still together over trials, tribulations, and triumphs over the years, the Cowboy Junkies are out on a 40th anniversary tour – including a September 20 date at the Lobero – performing a career-spanning show from their cover of “Sweet Jane” to material from their most recent album, Such Ferocious Beauty.
Visit www.lobero.org
Classical Corner Santa Barbara Symphony’s annual Season Kickoff Celebration returns to the Lobero Theatre, located just a few blocks from its home at the Granada, where the esteemed ensemble will launch its seven-concert series next month. The afternoon program on Thursday, September 24, begins at 4:30 pm on the promenade with a no-host reception, where patrons can mix and mingle, play musical instruments from the Music Van program, and speak with staff about donor and volunteer opportunities. Then Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti takes the stage inside at 5 pm to share his vision and inspiration for the 2026-27 season, with details on each concert including behind-the-scenes perspectives on the repertoire and guest artists and fascinating musical highlights. Brief live performances are also part of the attraction. The Season Kickoff Celebration also marks the launch of the new online Symphony Swag Store, offering branded apparel and gear to wear the music proudly and spread the word about the ensemble’s ever-increasing excellence. Attendees can get a first look at select items in person on September 24, with limited merchandise available for purchase.
Visit www.thesymphony.org.
Santa Barbara Symphony’s annual Season Kickoff Celebration returns to the Lobero Theatre on Sept. 24 (courtesy photo)
17 – 24 September 2026
Æbleskivers abound, parades push through town and axes are aimed to avoid the ground, all a part of California’s premier Danish heritage festival that turns the tiny village into a cultural affair festival this weekend. The 2026 Solvang Danish Days theme of Solen over dalen, which translates as “The Sun over the Valley,” is an accurate angle on the three-day celebration, which honors the 1911 establishment of Solvang by Danish Americans and features a total Danish immersion experience even beyond the typical time in town. Events include Hans Christian Andersen Storytimes, Æbleskiver Breakfasts and Eating Contests, an Old World Artisans Marketplace, Axe Throwing contests, Rune Readings, an Art Gallery Exhibit, Comedy Industries performances, free concerts, Solvang Ghost Tours, and two different parades. Friday night’s Torchlight Parade provides the candles for participants while Saturday afternoon’s Danish Days Parade boasts the Solvang Village Band atop a Carlsberg Beer Wagon, floats, equestrians, Village Dancers and more. Those wanting to dive deeper into Danish Days can buy a “Dane for a Day” VIP ticket bundle which includes a pair of tickets to just about every event plus more food and drink and even two Viking Helmets and more schwag.
Visit www.solvangdanishdays.org
Farewell to Favorites? Live Oak Music Festival (LOMF) was (is) the KCBX weekend concert and community gathering that brought Strawberry Music Festival-caliber performers, workshops, and opportunities for local groups to play to large audiences. LOMF spent nearly 30 years at Live Oak Camp near Lake Cachuma on HWY 154 before relocating to San Luis Obispo in 2019. Last week, word came that the last LOMF in June might actually be the last ever, as KCBX has announced the cancellation of the 2027 festival. They’re evaluating options for a different iteration of LOMF in the future. KCBX is soliciting audience advice; get in touch, especially if you favor a return to the Live Oak Santa Barbara site. Visit www.liveoakfest.org Closer to town, the rumor I heard two weeks ago about Restaurant Roy possibly closing because owner Roy Gandy was considering moving to Texas to be closer to family sadly proves to be true. The Buffalo-born proprietor, chef, backgammon king (we’ll leave that part private), and die-hard Bills fan (I shared his pain prior to the Red Sox World Series win in 2004) made his eatery/bar into an exquisitely intimate downtown music club that has hosted far outsized acts over its 35 years. Jack Johnson and Glenn Phillips played there, Cafe R&B had an ongoing residency, every local singer-songwriter worth mentioning hit the stage that faced inward from the street, and more recently Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric shared a gig as part of the inaugural Santa Barbara Literary Festival. For the last few years, Zach Madden has hosted a weekly gig/open mic, which attracts newcomers and long-timers trying out new stuff. (Not to mention that Roy in the pre-streaming days of the 1990s boasted a 400-CD player behind the bar that on random play provided a lot of tunes I’d never heard before, including memorably “Smoke ‘Em” by Fun Lovin’ Criminals.) The planned swan song comes at year’s end, unless someone steps up to take over the joint in one way or another. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
• Voice of theVillage •
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Meeting at MA
Wildfire Readiness, Public Safety, and Community Initiatives by Houghton Hyatt
W
ildfire prevention, winter storm preparedness, and public safety led the discussion at the Montecito Association’s September Board meeting, alongside updates on local schools, community projects, and MA initiatives. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff ’s Department reviewed several incidents reported during August, including vehicle theft, burglary, DUI arrests, and continuing mailbox theft. Residents were encouraged to install locking mailboxes or retrieve their mail promptly each day. Wildfire preparedness received particular attention as the Montecito Fire Protection District delivered a comprehensive presentation on home hardening, defensible space, and emergency planning. Wildland Specialist Maeve Juarez reminded residents that wildfire safety is a community-wide responsibility because fire does not respect property lines. She encouraged homeowners to “look up, look down, and look around” their properties – clearing roofs and gutters, removing leaves and combustible mulch near structures, relocating flammable doormats and patio furniture, and addressing wooden fences that connect directly to homes. The Fire District continues its vegetation-management efforts through neighborhood chipping, roadside clearance, and targeted grazing. Two auxiliary staffing locations – one on East Valley Road and another northwest of East Mountain – are expected to be operational by the end of September. These locations will help the district deploy as many as 17 firefighters during Red Flag Warnings and other high-risk conditions. Residents were also reminded that the Fire District carries the equipment necessary to draw water from swimming pools during an emergency, eliminating the need for homeowners to purchase private pump systems. Gated properties must have Knox key access so emergency responders can enter without delay. Up to 50 emergency “go bags,” containing masks, gloves and other preparedness supplies, will be available to Montecito residents in October through the Fire District’s website and community events. The Board also discussed California’s forthcoming Zone Zero regulations, which focus on reducing combustible materials within the first five feet sur-
36 Montecito JOURNAL
rounding a structure. New construction will be required to comply once the regulations are finalized, while existing homes are expected to have a five-year transition period. The MA will continue monitoring implementation and its potential effects on Montecito properties. Winter storm preparedness was another key topic. The Board highlighted the September 14 community meeting at Montecito Union School, which will bring together County Flood Control, Caltrans, California Fish and Wildlife, Public Works, the Sheriff ’s Department, Montecito Fire and emergency-management representatives. The meeting will address local creek conditions, flood-control maintenance, El Niño forecasts, interagency coordination, and community preparedness resources. Although El Niño conditions are currently present, Fire District representatives emphasized that warm ocean temperatures do not guarantee a wet winter and that residents should remain prepared for both wildfire and flooding. This meeting will be recorded, and a link will be sent out afterwards. Montecito’s schools also reported successful starts to the academic year. Montecito Union School welcomed approximately 358 students, while Cold Spring School opened with 198 students and completed a new transitional kindergarten play area. MUS will host a candidate forum on September 24, its annual Pancake Breakfast on September 26 and its Carnival on October 9. On October 1, the Montecito Association will host a welcome picnic at Cold Spring School for new students and families from schools throughout Montecito. The Board voted to support the concept of establishing a dog park in Montecito following a presentation to the Community and Government Relations Committee. Although County Parks representatives did not identify an immediately available location within Manning Park, other possibilities, including land managed by Flood Control, the Water District or the Sanitary District, may be considered. Supporters will continue evaluating potential sites, feasibility, and funding. In other MA news, the first two episodes of the new Montecito Matters podcast have been recorded, featuring MA President Bill Macfadyen and Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon. The episodes will soon be shared through the MA’s website.
Flood Control (Continued from 11 11)) Caltrans representative, Joe Erwin, discussed recent work beneath Highway 101 bridges, including removal of accumulated rock and debris and reestablishment of low-flow channels at San Ysidro and Oak creeks. Residents also pressed agencies on how responsibilities are divided among local, county, state and private entities, particularly when infrastructure crosses multiple jurisdictions. Officials repeatedly encouraged residents who see blocked culverts, downed trees, or other potential problems to report them through County Public Works’ service-request system, noting that those living near the creeks often see changing conditions before agencies do.
Service Request Form: Visit https://tinyurl.com/SBC-FloodControl-Survey-2026 or email at fccontact@countyofsb.org, call at (805) 568-3440
Get Ready Now Perhaps the most important message of the evening was one of personal preparedness. Residents were strongly encouraged to register for ReadySBC alerts (visit ReadySBC.org), know at least two ways out of their neighborhoods, prepare emergency supplies, monitor weather forecasts, and check on neighbors who may need additional assistance. Montecito Fire also reminded residents to preset AM 1610 in their vehicles. The station provides preparedness information year-round and can broadcast emergency information when other communication systems are disrupted. The evening concluded with residents having an opportunity to speak directly with agency representatives about specific creeks, properties and neighborhood concerns. For the Montecito Association, the meeting demonstrated exactly why these community conversations matter: residents know their neighborhoods, agencies bring expertise and resources, and bringing everyone together before an emergency helps build a more informed and prepared Montecito. Winter may be unpredictable. Preparation doesn’t have to be. To receive our weekly newsletters with timely public safety information, community updates, upcoming events and the latest on issues affecting Montecito, we invite you to join the Montecito Association and stay connected to your community.
Visit www.MontecitoAssociation.org
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) Montecito Water District (District) is inviting bids for the construction of the Reservoir Seismic Retrofit and Replacement Project for Bella Vista Reservoir located within the Montecito Water District in Santa Barbara County, California. The District hereby invites sealed Bids for retrofitting the reservoir in accordance with the District’s Contract Documents for Project No. P134. The engineers estimate for the project is $3,160,000. Per the instructions in the Contract, all Bids shall be submitted electronically via email to David Wong at
dwong@montecitowater.com at or before 12:00 PM on October 22, 2026. The complete RFP with supporting documents is available on our web site: www.montecitowater.com and at the District Office located at 583 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108.
Published September 17, 2026//Montecito Journal
age future dumping and encampments. Finally, the Board approved a Nominating Committee to interview prospective candidates and prepare a slate for the annual Board election. Community members interested in serving may contact the MA at info@ montecitoassociation.org
The Board also celebrated the successful Sea Meadow cleanup. Funded by community donations, the project allowed Earthcomb to remove nearly 2,000 pounds of debris, including batteries, electronic waste, cigarette butts, and aerosol canisters. Trail cameras will be installed to monitor the area and discour
17 – 24 September 2026
Our Town (Continued from 34 34)) SG. I am teaching grades 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th in general music, in addition to our school chorus. I will also be directing our 6th grade musical in the spring. JAC. Did you interface/transition into the position with the guidance of Pam Herzog and Ron Zecher? LC. Absolutely. I met with Ron several times before the school year began, and he generously shared not only the nuts and bolts of the program but also its history and traditions. He gave me both the practical knowledge and the broader perspective that helped me appreciate the program I was inheriting. I also had the extraordinary privilege of working alongside Pam during her final year before retirement. Watching an experienced educator teach is a bit like watching an accomplished conductor – you notice that so much of what makes them exceptional is almost invisible. She understood children so deeply, and it was invaluable to experience the thoughtful progression of the program as she routed student learning from August to June. Pam and Ron continue to be wonderful mentors, friends, and the kind of people who are always willing to brainstorm, answer questions, or simply provide encouragement. SG. Most definitely! Pam took the time to meet with me multiple times in the spring to walk me through the program, its history, the classroom and curriculum, and the school logistics. Not only is she an immensely talented musician and educator, but she is also incredibly organized. I had the good fortune of inheriting a beautiful space, along with carefully curated documentation of the repertoire the students have performed over the years. Pam has become an invaluable resource for both Liz and me, and we are incredibly grateful that she and Ron are always there to support us and answer any questions we may have. JAC. What are your top priorities for the music program at MUS? LC. MUS has a remarkable legacy of artistic excellence, and I feel both honored and excited to be part of carrying that tradition forward. At the same time, we know that children change, communities change, and good teaching, therefore, has to change with them. I hope the heart of the program always remains the same, while the ways we engage students continue to evolve. One of the luxuries of music education is that there are so many meaningful ways for children to experience success. Some students find their voice through singing, others through an instrument, movement, or composition. My priority is creating those opportunities and 17 – 24 September 2026
paying close attention to the students in front of me, because they have a remarkable way of telling us what they need if we’re listening. SG. Liz and I are very aligned in our vision for this program. We strive to uphold the legacy of artistic excellence that this school has cultivated over the past century while keeping our students at the heart of everything we do. Our top priority is to provide them with a music education that nurtures their artistic interests, encourages their creativity, and supports their individual goals. One of the most rewarding aspects of being an educator is that you are also a lifelong learner. My music programs are constantly evolving in response to the needs, interests, and growth of my students. I am excited to see how we can continue to learn, grow, and build together in the years to come. JAC. Where does music fit into a student’s academic life, e.g., benefits, time spent learning/performing… LC. To me, music is an essential part of educating the whole child. Certainly, the academic benefits are well documented, and anyone who has learned an instrument understands the focus, discipline, and persistence that music demands. Those are wonderful outcomes, but they’re not what keeps me passionate about teaching. What has always resonated most with me is the way music shapes children as people. It asks them to listen carefully, collaborate generously, persevere through frustration, and contribute something meaningful to a group. In a world that often celebrates individual achievement, there’s something refreshingly human about making music together. If my students leave my classroom with stronger musicianship, that’s wonderful. If they also leave with more empathy, curiosity, and joy, then I think we’ve done something truly worthwhile. SG. There is no shortage of research demonstrating music’s positive impact on learning and academic achievement. But what I love most about teaching music is witnessing the joy it brings to students every day. There is something incredibly special about watching a group of students come together to create something that none of them could create alone. They learn to listen to one another, support one another, celebrate each other’s successes, and work through challenges together. Over time, an ensemble becomes more than just a class – it becomes a community. Students find their people, develop a sense of belonging, and build friendships and memories that can stay with them long after they leave the classroom.
JAC. Your favorite teaching motto or quote about music? LC. One quote has stayed with me throughout my career: “In years to come, a child may forget what you taught them, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” It serves as a wonderful reminder that relationships supersede repertoire. And then there’s my favorite quote about music itself: “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” It’s a humorous reminder that music can only be truly experienced in process.” SG. “Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.” – Sergei Rachmaninoff. Just a reminder that the joy and purpose music can give you will never run out. JAC. Any other statements you wish to provide about your new career at MUS? LC. MUS is a remarkable school community, and it genuinely feels like an ecosystem in the best sense of the word. From my first days here, it was obvious that teachers, administrators, staff, and parents all share a common purpose: helping children grow into thoughtful, kind, capable people who will contribute positively to the world. Schools often talk about educating the whole child. At MUS, that philosophy
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THE ALLEN LAW FIRM, 649 VERDE MAR VISTA, UNIT C, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103. C.D. ALLEN WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC, 649 VERDE MAR VISTA UNIT C, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 10, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0002281. Published September 17, 24, and Oct. 1, 8, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: THUIS ORGANIC DESIGNS, 3908 Foothill RD, Carpinteria, CA 93013. MAXIMUM NURSERY, INC, 3908 Foothill Road, Carpinteria, CA, 93013. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on August 26, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland,
• Voice of theVillage •
isn’t simply spoken – it is lived every day. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of a community that values both excellence and humanity so deeply, and I can’t imagine more meaningful work than contributing to the musical slice of this educational community. SG. I want to share my immense gratitude for the opportunity to teach at MUS. From the moment I stepped into my interview, I could tell that this was a school community that truly values and supports its students, families, faculty, and staff. It is such a blessing to work in an environment where I have both a teammate and the resources needed to provide my students with the best music education possible. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this community, and I am so excited to see where the future takes us!
Joanne A Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com
County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0002167. Published September 10, 17, 24, and Oct. 1, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ROSE CAFE SALSA OF SANTA BARBARA, 834 W Sola Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. MANUEL V BAJARAS & DEBORAH D BAJARAS, 315 Meigs Rd STE A263, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 30, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0001968. Published September 10, 17, 24, and Oct. 1, 2026 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EXTREME GROUT CLEAN; GROUT WIZARD SANTA BARBARA, 834 W Sola Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. MANUEL V BAJARAS & DEBORAH D BAJARAS, 315 Meigs Rd STE A263, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 30, 2026. This statement expires five years
from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2026-0001969. Published September 10, 17, 24, and Oct. 1, 2026 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 26CV03921 To all interested parties: Petitioner Le’Von RaeAnne Martin filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to RaeAnne Martin. 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 August 13, 2026 by Narzralli Baksh. Hearing date: October 9, 2026 at 10 am in Dept. 4, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published August 27, September 3, 10, 17, 2026
Montecito JOURNAL
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Moments (Continued from 8)
A Garden Gathering with Glendessary Jam (courtesy photo)
Allison Nimmons having a plant-astic time with friends at Lotusland (courtesy photo)
Collection and Nursery manager, Anna Bower – supplied old-time music. Omni Events served grilled wild salmon, pesto chicken, seasonal vegetables and peach cobbler à la mode, with wine from Casita de Bravo. Among the familiar faces were Lynn Cunningham Brown and Chris Brown, David M. Jones, Pat Caird, Kia McInerny, Mitchell Lipowski and Rachael Douglas. One poignant family story belonged to Liz and Violet Worgan and Joseph Burtness, who spent time at Lotusland while remembering George Burtness, a longtime Japanese Garden volunteer and devoted master gardener who died in June. His family gathered at a place he had loved and supported. The appreciation runs both ways: public admission provides only about 15% of Lotusland’s annual operating expenses, making members, and philanthropy essential to its care. With 29 species of waterlilies represented in the ponds, perhaps the love-letter station said it best: “Your words become part of the garden’s heartbeat – a living letter in bloom.”
Coast Village Cruising Mother-daughter team planting happiness at Members Appreciation Day (courtesy photo)
was also celebrating her birthday. A cake appeared, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday,” and the Great Lawn took on the easy charm of what one Lotusland staffer called “very much like a neighborhood barbecue” – even a “block party.” That was precisely the point. “It’s really meant to nurture our community,” the staffer said, describing an afternoon to “eat and drink and be merry,” while enjoying games, plants, and one another. Members did exactly that. Cornhole, badminton, cricket and bubbles dotted the lawn; guests potted succulents and wrote “Love Letters to Lotusland,” hanging them from twine beneath the oak tree like botanical valentines. Glendessary Jam – whose fiddler is the associate curator of the Living
38 Montecito JOURNAL
Saturday went to the dogs; Sunday belonged to the cars. Coast Village Road turned an ordinary September weekend into a two-day neighborhood promenade during Coast Village Week, pairing four-legged charm with four-wheeled glamour. Saturday’s Dog Days Photo Booth brought families, children and camera-ready canines to the village. Dogs posed with nautical props, oversized sunglasses and inflatable flamingos for a chance at the Montecito Journal’s “Top Dog” prize, while Rosewood Miramar treated visitors to complimentary ice cream. Bougie BARKery SB added dog treats and plenty of curbside charm. Sunday shifted gears, when vintage and exotic automobiles lined Coast Village Road. Collectors brought everything from tiny European classics to serious supercars, including a BMW Isetta 300, brightly colored Fiats, a sleek McLaren and a Ferrari Lusso.
Don Collier and granddaughter Jessica Collier with a bright BMW Bubble Car (courtesy photo)
The contrast was half the fun: one day, owners coaxed dogs toward the camera; the next, visitors peered under hoods, compared chrome, and traded car stories. Throughout Coast Village Week, boutiques, restaurants, galleries, wellness businesses and jewelers also joined in with promotions, specials, exclusive merchandise and happy hours. For locals, it felt less like a formal festival than a very Montecito block party – with one lingering question: which was more irresistible, the bubble car classics or the camera-ready canines?
Principal Brady in The Musical, a dark comedy in which his character’s romance with Gillian Jacobs’ Abigail sparks a very personal revenge plot by her ex – the school drama teacher. Don’t miss the opening on September 18.
Sightings Robert Zemeckis is working on an upcoming Crosby, Stills & Nash documentary expected in spring 2027. Joel Bernstein collaborated with Graham Nash and says the film looks back across the group’s history, with a companion release featuring 35 previously unheard tracks spanning 1969 to 1997… Rob Lowe hits the big screen this week as
Gigi and Cupid glamming it up at Ca’Dario with owners Jane Patton and Sandra Stingle (courtesy photo)
Old school charm meets modern muscle: McLaren at Coast Village Week (courtesy photo)
17 – 24 September 2026
17 – 24 September 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
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FALL | 2026
ALSO: THE LAMBORGHINI URUS: EXPENSIVE FOR A CAR, BUT NOT BAD IF YOU ALSO LIVE IN IT. MORE: BRUTALIST SANDCASTLES! | FARM-TO-TABLE? MEET FARM ON TABLE!
Now THAT’S a reflecting pool!
DESIGN | ARCHITECTURE | WIT
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Calendar of Events
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
by Steven Libowitz ENDING THIS WEEK Closing the Book – The annual Planned Parenthood Book Sale began a full week ago, when the first batch of 150,000 gently-used books, plus thousands of CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, puzzles, games and more were up for grabs at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, all offered at a small percentage of their list price. But all is not lost! The tables, which are chock full of merchandise and sorted into more than 50 genres and categories, are continuously restocked throughout the sale, meaning there’s still plenty of treasure for the taking over the event’s last four days. And don’t forget super Sunday when the books, etc., which are already priced at $2-$5, with other media generally going for less, are sold for an additional half off. Proceeds stay local, helping provide women and families throughout our community with, affordable health care services, wellness exams, cancer screenings, reproductive care, testing, and education. WHEN: Through September 20 WHERE: Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real COST: Free INFO: (805) 722-7870 or www.booksale.ppcentralcoast.org FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 EDC tgif! – The Environmental Defense Center’s once-a-month Friday feature has been deservedly called one of the best happy hours in town for its combination of cause, community, and camaraderie, not to mention the live music and two free cups of fine beer on tap. Attendees hobnob with regional nonprofit and environmental organizations, elected officials, and other like-minded people from throughout the area who care about keeping the region as environmentally sound as possible. Each tgif! features several of its partners, meaning THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Anchors Away – Set sail for the Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop this evening for highlights of the One Ocean Film Festival, presented by Bight. The series of short films highlight stories about conservation and exploration of the ocean with the aim of inspiring future ocean goers to both treasure the sea and pursue incredible feats in the water. Titles for this year’s nine-strong screening include Corals’ Last Stand, Koholā, Out of the Office, and Where the Wind Takes You. This event will also bring together nonprofits and other organizations within the community. Trailer, movie posters, and more information on the website. All donations will go directly to building the ocean community and supporting future events to educate about conservation and exploration of the ocean. WHEN: 5-9 pm WHERE: SB Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden St. COST: $15 INFO: www.sbcaw.org/upcoming or my805tix.com/e/bight-sbcaw
40 Montecito JOURNAL
Carpinteria Culinary Crawl – Sip, savor, and stroll to your heart’s – and belly’s – content in the downtown area of the seaside city in the annual foodie event from Carpinteria Community Association. Spend an evening exploring participating restaurants, cafés, breweries, and eateries one delicious stop at a time. Admission includes tastings at more than a dozen different locations, including food samples and desserts and refreshments. Plus, everyone gets a commemorative Culinary Crawl apron for when you head home to perhaps prepare your own savory special. Check-in takes place on the patio near Chase Bank at the Casitas Plaza Shopping Center, where the provided map serves as a guide for your choice of where to head next to sample both exceptional flavors and local hospitality at Casa Don Roge, Coyote’s Market, Dang Burger, Giovanni’s Pizza, Mollie’s Kitchen, Pacific Health Foods, Sushi Teri, Tacos Don Roge, The Nugget, Third Window Brewing Co., Uncle Chen Restaurant, Yummy Yogurt, and Zookers Restaurant. Then it’s over to the Carpinteria Arts Center for desserts and refreshments served up by Albertsons, Carp Café Moon, Island Brewing Company, Jack’s Bistro, and Reynaldo’s European & Mexican Bakery. To keep the fun going, visit Arnie’s Rooftop Bar for more Carpinteria hometown vibes. Tickets support the Junior Carpinterian of the Year Scholarship Fund. WHEN: 4:30-9 pm WHERE: 5400 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria COST: $60 INFO: www.carpinteriacommunityassociation.org/culinary-crawl-2026 organizations the EDC has fought for in court or other legal venues – this month including 805Undocufund, SLO Mothers for Peace, and Old Town Neighborhood Creek Justice Project – who speak briefly from the stage about their current work, then it’s back to the more freeform part of the early evening event at the delightfully charming courtyard which doubles as EDC’s headquarters. Salty Strings provide the music with beverages by Leashless Brewing, Vintus, and Ojai Vineyard. WHEN: 5:30-7:30 pm WHERE: EDC, 906 Garden Street COST: $15 includes 2 drink tickets, free for kids under 10 INFO: (805) 963-1622 or www.environmentaldefensecenter.org/tgif Chelsea, Lately – Chelsea Handler seems to have her hand in just about every type of media, including, of course, her popular Chelsea Lately comedy series that ran for more than 1,000 episodes. Never mind the reality TV, talk shows, stand-up comedy, award show-hosting, dramedy and comedy development, Grammy-nominated comedy albums, and (last but not least in this configuration) authoring seven New York Times bestselling books. Handler has been on the road for more than six months with her latest venture, “The High and Mighty Tour,” which rather than skewering politicians and celebrities as the title might suggest, instead focuses on a different meaning for “High” as she shares unfiltered stories from her life adventures, including a psychedelic conference in
“Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” – Drake
17 – 24 September 2026
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Solstice Theme Party – Sure, the 2026 Summer Solstice Parade sauntered up Santa Barbara Street less than three months ago. But apparently it’s already time to start thinking about the theme for next year’s celebration. This year’s autumn equinox party to solicit ideas and input from the community invites guests to dress as the Solstice theme you want to see and take the runway as part of the fashion show. Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Solstice Theme Costume, for the evening’s most outrageous getup, and for the “most last minute” Solstice fashion – drawing influence from those who seem to decide to join in the annual parade the night before. Chris Benedict, aka DJ of Abilities, provides the soundtrack for the evening, which also features the first chance to vote for a theme, engage with the Solstice community, and enjoy a lively evening of creativity and fun. Viva! (Oops, wrong local holiday). WHEN: 5-8 pm WHERE: Son Y Sabor, 409 State St. COST: free INFO: www.solsticeparade.com/
For the Love of Pete – Montecito resident Pete Muller is the multibillionaire founder of Process Driven Trading (PDT Partners), the highly successful quantitiative hedge fund based in New York. But the truth is he’s generally happier spending time as a singer-songwriter/ recording artist, and even more so playing live on a stage. When he’s not surfing, that is. Muller, a trained musician from his days as a youth, has put a lot of attention on his music career over the last decade or so, recording and releasing well-received albums almost every year, including the most recent release, One Last Dance, that came out last November. The record may be the singer-songwriter-pianist’s most personal effort yet, reaching deep to explore human emotions that arise in a middle-aged man searching for balance between his family, his work, and his musical ambitions – all shaped into songs that aim for universal appeal. (A more recent and as yet unreleased album, Make Your Own Rules, was just recorded over the summer in Giske, Norway.) Muller, who also creates special crossword puzzles that run in the MJ, meanders back down the Montecito mountain for another show at SOhO with the Kindred Souls, this time kicking off an autumn tour with the veteran folk-rock band Alternate Routes. Expect a warm and winning mix of music. WHEN: 7 pm WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street COST: $30 INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Antarctica and micro-dosing LSD and MDMA with 80-year-olds in Mallorca, all in advocacy of unconventional lifestyles and championing self-reliance and the freedom to live life on one’s own terms. WHEN: 8 pm WHERE: Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. COST: $50-$254 INFO: (805) 963-9589 or www.arlingtontheatresb.com/upcoming-events SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Albert’s Hall – English guitarist Albert Lee has been known as “Mr. Telecaster” almost since the instrument was invented, as the 82-year-old musician, who is equally adept at rock and roll, rockabilly, and country, has been praised by big name musicians he’s worked with from Eric Clapton to Emmylou Harris and even British pub rocker Dave Edmunds. The Grammy-winner also toured with Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, was a member of The Crickets in the post-Buddy Holly era, and has enjoyed a strong solo career along the way. Celebrated by fans and musicians the world over for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique, Lee is a multiple recipient of Guitar Player magazine’s “Best Country Guitarist” while his song “Country Boy” helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players and became a No. 1 hit for multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs. We get to hear him at SOhO on a fairly regular basis because he lives just down the road in Malibu. WHEN: 7 pm WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street COST: $35 in advance, $42 at the door INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
Young Uke Sensation – Teenage Taiwanese ukulele phenomenon Feng E first came to the world’s attention at the tender age of 10 when his breathtaking performance of Tommy Emmanuel’s version of (Mason Williams’) “Classical Gas” went viral. Almost overnight, the prodigy found himself on TV talk shows and in musical competitions on two continents. Since then, Feng E has offered his dazzling performances on stages across Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, China, and Hawaii, and first toured the West Coast in 2024. Still not yet 20, the strumming-and-picking sensation, who recalls an early Jake Shimabukuro, although it remains to be seen if he’ll exhibit the breadth, scope, and artistry to carve his own path. WHEN: 6:30 pm WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street COST: $22-$25 in advance, $30 at the door INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
NOTE TO READERS This entertainment calendar is a subjective sampling of arts and entertainment events taking place in the Santa Barbara area for the next seven days or so. It is by no means comprehensive. Please also see my feature stories elsewhere in this issue for more events. In order to be considered for inclusion in this calendar, please submit information – including hi-res photos – by 12 noon Wednesday eight days prior to publication date. Email: slibowitz@yahoo.com. 17 – 24 September 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
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42 Montecito JOURNAL
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“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” – Arthur C. Clarke
17 – 24 September 2026
Last Week’s Solution:
By Pete Muller & Frank Longo For each of the first five mini crosswords, one of the entries also serves as part of a five-word meta clue. The answer to the meta is a word or phrase (six letters or longer) hidden within the sixth mini crossword. The hidden meta answer starts in one of the squares and snakes through the grid vertically and horizontally from there (no diagonals!) without revisiting any squares. PUZZLE #1 1
2
3
R U G G O R E L I M B S G R E A T A L O N E
G E T R U S H W H I T E H E L E N O A T S
W A S H A T H B O S S A O U T E R B R E A K
S I T A R I D A H O G E MM A N A M E D S L Y
F A L S E A N I T A D O R A G S N A R L S T E
S H A G M O U R N O L D I E C L I N T K A T
URBAN
RUSH
HOUR
ROAD
SNARL
GRIDLOCK
PUZZLE #3
PUZZLE #2
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
6
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4
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7
7
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Across 1 Goes on *way* longer than it should 6 Edit for an even younger audience, perhaps 7 String out? 8 Rock that's glittery inside 9 Tomato, e.g.
9
Down 1 Empire-building commodity on Netflix's "Narcos" or "Griselda" 2 Auberjonois of "Boston Legal" 3 2-Down was one 4 Seeing Eye dog, e.g. 5 Silver that gets mounted, e.g.
2
Down 1 Cell structure 2 Gag reactions 3 Athletic gear company behind the "One mile can change everything" campaign 4 Opposite of versus, in a way 5 Dir. from Death Valley to Joshua Tree
1
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1 6
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Across 1 Uncertain 5 Uncertain 7 Alternative to slim-fit, as a dress 8 See 2-Down 9 Fishing option with a net gain?
Down 1 What many people do intermittently 2 Prokofiev's "Betrothal in a Monastery," e.g. 3 Kind of bird that Matthew is on Netflix's "The Sandman" 5 With 1-Across, audition to get, as a role 6 Stuff to level with
META PUZZLE
7
Down 1 Overnights, say 2 "Maneater" co-writer John 3 With 4-Across, largest animal known to have ever existed 4 Yahoo! alternative? 5 Records such as "The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection," in brief
5
4
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Across 1 [Poor, pitiful me!] 4 See 3-Down 6 Try to get some bread out of 7 Their point guards prevent injury 8 Gets closer?
3
Across 1 See 5-Down 4 How some couples grow 7 Number of completed 2-Downs that Prokofiev composed 8 One of two end-of-October options 9 It may be just as unacceptable as an "if" or a "but"
PUZZLE #5
3
2
9
Across 1 Gets out of the freezer, perhaps 6 Not-so-hot spot of a sort 7 Like noise that many people sleep through 8 Every partner? 9 Web feed format inits.
PUZZLE #4 1
Down 1 Turn into a film, as "Project Hail Mary" in 2026 2 With 8-Across, source of green juice? 3 Minnesota city where "Fargo" was partly filmed 4 Nixon administration resignee 6 Make a long-distance call?
2
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Across 1 Fitting name for an ichthyologist? 4 People on the left? 6 Director and co-star of "Still Smokin" 7 A lost one is hopeless 8 Its prices surged sharply in March and April of 2026
Down 1 Body snatcher 2 Orbitz options 3 Special seating section 4 Shoe company with an Offroad line of sandals 5 Like Lisa of K-pop's Blackpink (despite the "K" of the genre)
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17 – 24 September 2026
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• Voice of theVillage •
Montecito JOURNAL
43
A&L’s 2026-2027 Season Kicks Off September 25 Scott Galloway Notes on Being a Man In Conversation with Sam Fragoso Fri, Sep 25 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
José González
See Akram Khan Company in its Final International Tour
Akram Khan Company
Against the Dying of the Light Tour
Thikra: Night of Remembering By Akram Khan and Manal AlDowayan
Sat, Sep 26 / 7:30 PM Campbell Hall
Tue, Oct 6 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
Punch Brothers Wed, Oct 7 / 7:30 PM Campbell Hall “No band has expanded the reach of American roots and bluegrass quite like Punch Brothers have.” Songlines
Lang Lang, piano
Visit our website to view the full 2026-2027 lineup
Bernadette Peters
Fri, Oct 9 / 7 PM Granada Theatre
Thu, Oct 15 / 7:30 PM Granada Theatre
Program includes Mozart, Beethoven, Albéniz, Granados and Liszt
“Peters is more than talented: As an actress, singer, comedienne and all-around warming presence, she has no peer in the musical theater.” The New York Times
(805) 893-3535 | www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu Granada event tickets can also be purchased at: (805) 899-2222 | www.GranadaSB.org Arlington event tickets can also be purchased from