25 Feb 2025
Intuitive da Vinci 5 Comes to Foothill Surgery Center
A surgeon enters the operating room and sits on a stool in the corner. They lean in and rest their forehead on a cushioned viewfinder before placing their fingers in the appropriate loops. The surgeon begins the operation while the patient is just feet away. They’re using the Intuitive da Vinci 5, an advanced robotic […]
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Updates from the MA
The MA sent out a reminder that with the recent rainfall – Montecito had between 2.66-3.22” of rain – that sprinklers can be turned off for a while in an effort to save water. Also, Montecito Fire’s Neighborhood Chipping Program begins next week and will run through June 23. There is now an Interactive Neighborhood […]
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Rest Easy
In our society, the word “Rest,” and most of its connotations, have a generally positive resonance. Even when it comes to the matter of being dead, it has a somewhat soothing aura. But watch your Latin grammar and spelling here. The expression “Requiescat in Pace” means “may he – or she – rest in peace.” […]
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Crime in Montecito and Insurance Rates post-L.A. Fires
The Montecito Association February 2025 meeting was held in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom, Tuesday, February 11. Leslie Lundgren, 1st VP MA, called the meeting to order and moderated the presentations. Present were MA Executive Director Houghton Hyatt and the full MA board. The top agenda item was the crime […]
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Interview with Eric Seale, the New SB Cottage Hospital Board Chair
This week I sat down with Eric Seale, the 2025 appointed Board Chair of SB Cottage Hospital (SBCH), to talk about his role, SBCH’s strategic plan, directives, and a new President & CEO to arrive in the spring following the retirement of Ron Werft. (My interview with Werft here) We met at the SBCH Library […]
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Black History Month: A Healing Poem by Leonie
For Week Three of Black History Month we are blessed with a healing poem by Dr. Leonie H Mattison, EdD, MBA, President and CEO of Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria. I asked her how and when her poem came about. She said she wrote it this year, and shared, “This season has been very thick with […]
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Santa Barbara’s Poverty Problem
A recent conference on poverty in Santa Barbara County sponsored by CommUnify revealed that we have the second highest poverty rate in California. The goal of the Upward Mobility Summit was to create work groups to come up with anti-poverty solutions using the Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework. The Public Policy Institute of California puts […]
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Santa Barbara: A Luxury Lifestyle of Wine & Real Estate
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is a true slice of paradise. With its Mediterranean climate, stunning coastal views, and world-class wine country, it’s no wonder this gem on the California coast is one of the most desirable places to live. From historic Spanish-style estates to contemporary architectural masterpieces, […]
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Three Unequal Branches of Government?
“It Ain’t What You Don’t Know that Gets You into Trouble. It’s What You Know for Sure that Just Ain’t So.” Do you remember “learning” that the U.S. has three equal branches of government? Well, you may “know” that, but it is wrong. Under the collective alias “Publius,” Father of the Constitution James Madison – […]
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The Love of Land: A Valentine for Carpinteria. (It’s a Bluff.)
Carpinteria celebrated a very special Valentine’s Day last Friday. Instead of dozens of red roses, she was gifted the final 2.48 acres of bluff property to connect all segments of the Carpinteria bluff lands and trail system. Dubbed “Rincon Gateway,” the acquisition of the former King Ranch was brokered by the Land Trust for Santa […]
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Teen Math Whizzes Solve their Way to Victory
The mathletes of Dos Pueblos High School claimed top honors, beating seven other regional high schools at Westmont’s 36th annual Mathematics Field Day on February 8. They won the 9-10th grade College Bowl and the 11-12th grade Chalk Talk to claim overall victories in both grade levels. Oaks Christian claimed the 9-10th grade Written Team […]
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College Offers Worship Leadership Major
Westmont has launched a new major in worship leadership designed for students pursuing careers as pastoral musicians with an emphasis on the contemporary worship styles more prevalent today. The National Association of Schools of Music Commission on Accreditation, an organization of more than 600 colleges and universities that establishes national standards for degrees and credentials, […]
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McIntyre Earns National Honor
Adrian McIntyre became the first athlete in Westmont basketball history to be named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Player of the Week following his historic performance February 8 – when he scored 51 points in a 99-89 overtime win against Point Loma. The 51-point outburst, which broke Westmont’s single-game record, was […]
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Real or Fake Van Gogh?
Gloria, who wishes she were as lucky as the picker who found a so-called Van Gogh, sent me a Wall Street Journal article about a small 18×16” painting at the center of a $15 million dollar battle. Is it a real Van Gogh? The world of scientific art analysis says it is a Van Gogh […]
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Sober By Choice: The New Sobriety
“Not for me, thanks,” our friend told the waiter who was about to pour his favorite red wine into his glass. “I don’t drink anymore,” he shared with a somewhat smug look on his face. This wasn’t the “I’m an alcoholic” moment of old. Neither, “I am trying to cut down,” nor “I don’t drink […]
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Separated — And the Power of Documentary
There are few filmmakers who can claim their work has had true and tangible social impact. Without a doubt, Errol Morris is one of them. Oscar-winner Errol Morris’s newest documentary Separated – winner of The Social Justice Award sponsored by the Fund for Santa Barbara and screened at this year’s SBIFF – takes a hard […]
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Oil and Water
Nearly 10 years ago – on May 19, 2015 – a corroded pipeline near Refugio beach burst, and at least 142,800 gallons of crude oil flowed down a culvert and into the ocean, contaminating one of the most biologically diverse areas of the West Coast. Over 300 dolphins, seals, sea lions, pelicans and other animals […]
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Roy Lee Gambles on his Promise to “Fix” Cannabis
The Cannabis Ordinance is legally complex and so, as a long recovering attorney, I felt the need to clarify the overly rosy “things are about to change” reporting that I have read. Second District Supervisor Laura Capps and Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson are thoughtfully leading the way on Cannabis reform with a proposal that […]
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Stars on Stage
Romantic comedies are notorious for generally lacking depth or containing many thought-provoking moments, lest they get in the way of the jokes and romance. In Constellations, on the other hand, audiences are not only entertained but also challenged to consider the continuum of free will versus fate, and our perceptions of time, place and much […]
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