Hands up: Jimenez is All Ears

City College student Timothy Jimenez is displaying all the signs of success!

The 20-year-old former Carpinteria High School student, who lives on the Mesa, has signed up for a four-year course to learn sign language, spurred on by his friendship with deaf football teammate Guillermo Tavira.

“I really wanted to communicate with him and really wanted to learn,” says Timmy, a staffer at the FisHouse, just a tiara’s toss from Stearns Wharf.

“All it takes is a lot of practice, but there are dozens of signs to learn. It takes time, but I know it will be worthwhile.”

Timmy, now halfway through his course, is combining it with his love of hip-hop dancing, and has had the word “Dance” in sign language tattooed on one arm.

“It took about an hour to apply, but for me it is a symbol of what I enjoy – learning sign language and my love of hip-hop. I want to incorporate it in my routines, and I hope people understand.

“I want it to have a more artistic view. Guillermo has supported me in being better.”

A most novel idea.

Guest Wishes

Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry, 33, has treated close friends and family members to a new $3.5-million guest home in Los Angeles, more than a year after putting her own Hollywood Hills Mediterranean-style mansion on the market for $8.95 million.

The 4-bedroom, 5-bathroom property in Beverly Hills, will reportedly be used communally by those close to the former Dos Pueblos High student.

Spread over 4,000 sq. ft., the lavish Spanish-style house has sweeping manicured lawns and a large outdoor pool in one exclusive gated community, with previous celebrity residents including TV host Ellen DeGeneres, actress Jennifer Lawrence, and tony twosome Ashton Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis, who now have a beach house in Carpinteria.

Georgia on Her Mind

TV talk-show titan Oprah Winfrey has made it absolutely clear she does not want to run for president, but she clearly has no problem helping others attain high office.

Montecito’s most famous resident has been campaigning in Georgia for gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, states: “I am not here testing any waters, I don’t wanna go into those waters.”

Abrams would be the first African-American woman governor in the nation.

Order in the Court

After my lead story on Montecito resident Jane Herron De Hart‘s massive 15-year project to write a 752-page book on Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, local car and art collector Michael Hammer lets me know his actor son Armie has just shot a biopic about her titled, On the Basis of Sex.

Actress Felicity Jones portrays the diminutive 85-year-old 107th justice in America’s highest court, with Armie as her husband, Marty, as they team up to bring the first landmark gender-discrimination case before the Washington judges.

The script is by David Stiepleman, Ginsburg’s nephew, with Mimi Leder as director.

The film is scheduled for release on Christmas Day to coincide with Ginsburg’s 25th anniversary as a Supreme Court justice.

Sightings: Rocker Peter Noone checking out the Honor Bar… Writer T.C. Boyle quaffing wine at Lucky’s… Actress Kate Bosworth noshing at Loquita

Readers with tips, sightings and amusing items for Richard’s column should email him at richardmineards@verizon.net or send invitations or other correspondence to the Journal.

To reach Priscilla, email her at priscilla@santabarbaraseen.com or call 969-3301.