Casa del Herrero’s New Paths and Trustees
To start the year, Casa del Herrero Executive Director Rosie Rafferty announced their new Board of Trustees officers and members as follows: Beth Esrey, President; Isabel Wendt, Vice President; Mari McAlister, Secretary; Lily Marx, Treasurer; and new Board of Trustee Members: Susan Budinger, Miles Hartfeld, Marty McDermut, and Kevin O’Toole.
Esrey replaced Board of Trustees President Heather Biles, who worked tirelessly on establishing their first Capital Campaign, the groundwork for its 2025 Centennial Year events, and was always a delight to interview. Biles remains a Board of Trustees member. I asked her for a statement on shepherding the Casa Board and its hallmark events under her tenure.
Biles, “It has been an honor to serve as President of the Board of Trustees of Casa del Herrero for these last two years. This was an exceptionally busy and rewarding period for the board. We successfully launched a capital campaign to support the Casa’s centennial anniversary, secured a $750,000 grant from the Department of the Interior’s Save America’s Treasures program for restoration, and completed significant capital improvement projects that will preserve the Casa for generations to come. One of the highlights of the year was hosting the return of Noche de Gala as part of Fiesta, which was a joyous celebration of Santa Barbara’s rich heritage. We also introduced a variety of smaller events, making the Casa more accessible to our community and achieving record-breaking visitor numbers in the process. What I am most proud of, however, is fostering a vibrant and dedicated network of supporters. From committee volunteers and docents to our talented and experienced board members, the Casa is thriving because of their collective passion and commitment to protecting and preserving this community treasure.”
Casa del Herrero continues to make headway on its Capital Campaign and restorations. This month saw the completion of the estate’s garden paths which were in need of repair and rebuilding. Funding for that project was aided by a $10,000 grant from the Montecito Community Foundation. Last week, they held a private celebration to officially reopen the paths. Attending were Montecito Community Foundation board members Atanas Ivanov, Ambia Clark, Jason Siemens, Chana W. Jackson, and Ruth Green.
Rafferty added, “We applied for a grant for the path restoration through the Montecito Community Foundation and was awarded $10,000 in April 2024. These paths have tangible benefits for the community as they allow greater access to the estate. As a result of this restoration, we are now setting up a new event titled, Creative Tuesdays in the Gardens, where visitors and members can roam the gardens, do art, and have a picnic.”
Adding her thanks to the MCF, Board of Trustees President Esrey said, “It’s wonderful when organizations come together for the greater good of our incredible community. We are deeply grateful for the support of the Montecito Community Foundation, along with so many other amazing people and organizations in Santa Barbara. A huge thank you to all those who support Casa del Herrero.”
You might also be interested in...
