Friendship and Brass Bears

Heidi Holly, executive director of the Friendship Center in Montecito and Goleta, has retired after 38 years, and 120 friends and supporters gathered at a fun-filled farewell bash at Brass Bear Brewing Uptown to give her a rousing sendoff.

Kathryn Cherkas, Heidi’s successor who worked as a program director of the organization as well as the Alzheimer’s Association, presented her with a handsome check as a parting gift.

She will spend her retirement traveling and spending more time with her husband Rick, a former Santa Barbara County employee, at their Palm Springs home.

The singing duo A La Carte, Henry Garrett and Jan Ingram, entertained as guests quaffed wine and margaritas, and noshed on local fare.

Among the fan base were ubiquitous emcee Geoff Green, Paul Didier, Holly Carmody, Kathryn Martin, Susan Adams, David Borgatello, Christine Emmons, Greg Gorga, Judi Weisbart, Griselda Madrigal, Dana Newquist, Carmen Ortiz, David Selberg, Das Williams, and Sybil Rosen.

The Friendship Center, which offers care for aging adults, opened at All Saints-by-the-Sea in Montecito in 1979, with a new Goleta branch opening in 2011.