Horsing Around

The bridle crowd were out in force at Tecolote when Santa Barbara author Deborah Kalas launched her first book The Wild Herd: A Vanishing American Treasure.

The 146-page tome is packed with pictures of wild horses at play taken by Deborah, who splits her time between our Eden by the Beach and East Hampton.

She studied photography at Princeton University, eventually earning her Masters in Fine Arts, with her work appearing in Life, People, and New York Magazine.

After spending five years compiling her new work, she is now working on another book about horses.

Long may she rein….

Headed for Hollywood 

Courageous firefighters, who have been battling the recent California wildfires, were welcomed by Ellen DeGeneres on her popular TV show, including Adam Estabrook, Santa Barbara County battalion chief.

Ellen gave particular thanks to Eric Le Blanc from Riverside who helped keep her Montecito home safe from the Thomas Fire.

He revealed it added pep in his team’s step when they realized they were protecting her property.

Ellen then surprised them with a $250,000 donation to the California Fire Foundation, courtesy of Nature Valley.

Read all About It 

Santa Barbara High student Olivia Seltzer, 15, was getting unqualified publicity this week when a crew from NBC’s Today Show visited for an interview with the enterprising youngster.

Olivia writes The Cramm, a daily newsletter she founded and works on as editor-in-chief. She has also been featured on NPR and profiled in Teen Vogue.

The site breaks down daily national news and international happenings in a vernacular that appeals to Gen Z readers.

She says BBC News is her favorite source.

The Cramm currently has readers in 71 different countries. “We have hundreds of thousands of readers, at least half of them international,” says Olivia.

Ariana Huffington watch out…