The Montecito Association March 2025 meeting was held in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom, Tuesday, March 11. MA President Doug Black with1st VP Leslie Lundgren called the meeting to order and moderated the presentations. The key agenda item was the presentation by FLOCK representative Brooke Midgett, via Zoom. Flock makes […]
Montecito’s Trish Davis is being featured in my column for her contributions to preserve the history of Montecito. Davis was recommended to me by the Montecito Fire Protection District Fire Chief David Neels in response to my community request for Montecito women to be featured in my news column for Women’s History Month.Neels stated in […]
The renowned 22nd Annual Tiara Ball by the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation (SBCHF) was held in all its elegance at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort on Saturday, March 8. This annual beyond the black-tie soirée showcases guests in bejeweled tiaras, formal gowns, fine wool tuxedos and more ahead of Paris Fashion Week. While the gala […]
The Montecito Association Land Use Committee (LUC) March meeting was held at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by LUC Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the LUC, Montecito Association Executive Director Houghton Hyatt, SBC Planning Commissioner Laura Bridley, and Aida Thau representing Roy Lee First District […]
In what will turn out to be setting the bar for galas in our town, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s 1st Annual Gilded Gala Fundraiser was held on Friday, February 28 at none other than the Rosewood Miramar Beach. The gala’s mission is to raise funds for the SBMA’s “…dawn of a new era, […]
Laguna Blanca School is announcing their annual Golden Oak Gala on Saturday, March 15 at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito. The event has tickets for sale for 300 to attend and be part of their annual giving for the school. The theme this year to dress for is “Miami Nights.” Event Co-Chairs are Nicholas Miller […]
It was all diamonds and gold, Jimmy Choos and gowns, black tie and diamond studs arriving at the amazing Montessori Center School Diamond Gala fundraiser at the Rosewood Miramar Beach on Friday, February 28. From Porsches to limos, the valet was full as over 250 guests arrived to celebrate 60 years of their favorite school. […]
Kathryn Westland, MPH,Executive Director of the Friendship Center (FC) held a healthy aging event at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center on Sunday, February 23, from 1-3 pm. The event was focused on bringing the FC’s programming and services to Carpinteria residents and their families in response to a need in the area. This meet […]
The Carpinteria Girls Inc. held their first “Red, Black and White” Gala on Saturday, February 22, at their newly renovated Carpinteria campus, transforming both the inside and outside area into an elegant ballroom, with decorations by the girls in their programs. Girls Inc. has humble beginnings – the national organization was founded in 1864 after […]
Society Invites is pleased to announce its time to get your tickets for the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show happening March 7-9, at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. The theme for this year is “Exotic Gardens” – said to take attendees on a journey through the stunning beauty of orchids and their natural habitats. It is […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Your Society Invites gal-Friday is pleased to share the 2025 Legacy Award Winners of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH), who were announced at a trés private soirée called the Leadership Circles of Giving Dinner held at the Fleischmann Auditorium. This year’s honorees are UCSB Professor Emeritus Michael Glassow, PhD; geologist John Powell, […]
For week two of Black History Month, we bring our focus to Healing Justice SB, a nonprofit organization that will celebrate its five-year anniversary this May. Founded May 2020 by Krystle Farmer Sieghart, Simone Akila Ruskamp,and Leticia Forney Resch,their mission is, “To uplift all Black African Americans to affirm that they are deserving of safety, […]
The Montecito Association (MA) Land Use Committee (LUC) February meeting was held Tuesday, February 4, at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by its Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the LUC members, Montecito residents, MA ED Houghton Hyatt, and Chip Wullbrandt of Price, Postel & Parma […]
My annual Black History Month is launched for 2025 with Wendy Eley Jackson MFA; a filmmaker, TV Director/Producer, and college faculty. She is the Founder and Executive Producer of Auburn Avenue Films with 30 plus years of television broadcasting and film experience in the industry. Jackson’s TV/Film work spans SONY Pictures TV, Turner Broadcasting, and […]
Let’s start my annual NAMM report right with this statement from John Mlynczak, NAMM President & CEO, “The 2025 NAMM Show will unite our global industry in support of those impacted in Los Angeles. We are coordinating relief efforts with our partners and are communicating with our members in L.A. on their needs. The NAMM […]
For the first time since being established in 1951, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Women’s Board (SBMAWB) is now fully DEI with its first men members introduced alongside new women members at its annual January Luncheon. I attended the luncheon held on Thursday, January 23, at the University Club. Presiding was SBMAWB President, Paula […]
Your trusty Society reporter is here with the new board members appointed to your favorite nonprofits. The Music Academy of the West, now in its 78th season, has three new officers and four new members appointed to its Board of Directors. The new Board Officers are Board Chair Danner Schefler, Vice Chair Susan Lichtenstein,and Secretary […]
During NAMM 2025, I had the privilege to interview Tom Sumner the President of Yamaha and the Chair of the NAMM Board of Directors. We conversed in person at the Yamaha Dealer meeting rooms, and I took a photo of him with the Yamaha grand piano for Alicia Keys’ 2023 tour that hallmarked their display […]
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 […]
The Santa Barbara Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on January 4, 2025. This was part of the 125th National Audubon’s CBC. This year the Santa Barbara CBC Team leaders are: Libby Patten, Head CBC Compiler and Coordinator/Compiler for North SB and the Boat team; Glenn Kincaid, Scouting Coordinator, Head Data Coordinator, and the Compiler […]
Santa Barbara Black Culture House, founded and headed by Darrell M. McNeil and Sally A. Foxen McNeill,are inviting all community to their monthly series of cultural events, music, programs, community talks, exhibits, and poetry, for Black History Month 2025. The events are at their pop-up location, Soul Bites Restaurant (423 State Street), and two events […]
The Montecito Association Annual and January meeting was held in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom, Tuesday, January 21. MA President Doug Black called the Annual MA meeting to order, and held a vote to ratify the 2025 actions of the MA Board. He highlighted what the MA accomplished in 2024, […]
The Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation – in conjunction with the Carpinteria-Summerland Firefighters and the Carpinteria Firefighters Local 3368 – set up a donation drop-off at the house next to the Carpinteria fire station on Walnut Street. Heading the drive from the SBSCFF is its founder Gail Kvistad of “Living Local,” who has served […]
Huge shoutouts to The Montecito Country Mart shops and restaurants for their immediate, dedicated, and generous aid for the evacuees and first responders to the L.A. Fires in toto. MCM owner James S. Rosenfield shares, “Our hearts go out to L.A. and everyone impacted by the devastating fires. Please know that we send our love […]
For this week’s wellness feature, I dove into the pool of health offerings at the Montecito YMCA with its Executive Director Ryan Power. He said, “This is a great time to join the Montecito YMCA. We are currently running a membership promotion, if you sign up by January 31st the joining fee is $0. Your […]
For the 7th year, the lives of the 23 Montecito residents who lost their lives in the 2018 mudslides were honored in a solemn ceremony, Raising Our Light, on Thursday, January 9, outside in the Montecito Union School parking lot. There, with the Montecito Fire Department Engine as backdrop, was the podium for the speakers […]
The Montecito Association Land Use Committee (LUC) January meeting was held Tuesday, January 7, in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by its Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the Land Use Committee members, MA Executive Director Houghton Hyatt, MA President Doug Black, land surveyor […]
From Sunday, January 12, through Wednesday, January 15 – Crane Country Day School and All Saints-by-the-Sea Parish Montecito held a donation and pick up drive for the L.A. Fire evacuees staying in the area. Donations were received at All Saints-by-the-Sea Parish Hall and outside grassy areas, and a private area was provided where L.A. Fire […]
Cold Spring School, Montecito Union School and the Montecito YMCA preschool at the time of this report have initiated their educational response for the L.A. fire evacuee children who are staying with Montecito friends and families, at Montecito hotels, and temporarily renting Montecito housing. Over the weekend through Monday, I started an email thread with […]
In its first meeting of 2025, and its 125th convening, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors inducted into office three supervisors in an hour and half ceremony with much pomp and circumstance. Newly elected to the BOS is Roy Lee, First District, and taking their second and third terms respectively are Fourth District Supervisor […]
In a most elegant fashion, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Board of Trustees will hold their 1st Gilded Gala black-tie fundraiser at the Rosewood Miramar Beach on Saturday, March 1. Society Invites is here with all the finer details of this signature “black-tie with a glimmer of gold” gala funding event, as I interviewed […]
As we continue with our January Wellness features, this week it’s all about detoxing your home environment, the products we use, and other external influences. No point in working on our healthy bodies with great food and exercise if there are external factors interfering with it. With that, I interviewed Karen Bloom, who created her […]
A warm welcome to our New Year 2025 First Baby, Esther Love Boyko! Esther was born on Wednesday, January 1, at 3:07 am at the Birth Center at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (SBCH). Her stats are 19.5 inches long, weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces. She is the fourth child of Mariam and Igor Boyko. Igor […]
Chabad Montecito’s 2nd Annual Chanukah celebration and public Menorah lighting took place on Thursday, December 26, from 4 to 6 pm at the Corner Green in front of Pierre Lafond on East Valley Road. The celebration was led (and originally established) by Chabad of Montecito’s Executive Director Rabbi Chaim Loschak and his wife Mushkie Loschak, […]
Carpinteria’s Ad Hoc Harbor Seal Advisory Committee may recommend the city close the Harbor Seal Rookery to human access year-round to save the declining harbor seal population. That would close approximately 1,500 feet of the beach, which contains the rookery. The Ad Hoc Committee’s late December meeting was to review the findings of the seal […]
It’s Merry and Bright at the San Ysidro Ranch now through New Year’s, with festive décor, music, and twinkling lights from the resort entrance and throughout the restaurants, cottages, and outdoor gardens. Holiday trees colorfully decorated were placed in key locations and the Speakeasy has an array of 2,500 twinkling ornaments cascading from the ceiling. […]
The most looked forward to holiday party behind the hedgerow in Montecito is the Casa del Herrero Soirée, titled Home for the Holidays, held this year on Saturday, December 14. Upon entering, guests were greeted by lovely ballerinas from the State Street Ballet, celebrating The Nutcracker. Spanish guitar études by Chris Fossek filled the atmosphere. […]