Hillside Santa Barbara held its 20th Annual Emerald Soirée on Friday, June 7, at the Santa Barbara Club’s outside garden area. The organization has been helping those community members with special needs for 80 years. The funds raised at the event support the quality of life for the 59 residents at Hillside. The event started […]
The 18th Annual CommUnify Champion Awards fundraiser was held on Friday,June 7, at the Craft House at Corque in Solvang. The CommUnify 2024 honorees are Geoff Green, The Vikings of Solvang,and Hardy Diagnostics for their dedicated work on behalf of the people of Santa Barbara County. Program commenced with welcome remarks by Chief Executive Officer […]
Crane Country Day School Graduation The Crane Country Day School 2024 Eight Grade Graduation – “Go Coyotes!” – was held on Wednesday, June 12, at 10:30 am. The walkway to the graduation setting on the sports lawn showcased pencil drawing portraits of the graduates on easels. Parents and families sat at round tables with formal […]
The Montecito Association (MA) held its monthly board meeting on June 11 in person at the Montecito Community Hall. The agenda was Homeowners Insurance Availability and Solutions. The presenters were Kelly Weiser from The Weiser Agency and Grace Neumann, Managing Director of HUB International. In lieu of a formal presentation, MA Executive Director Houghton Hyatt, […]
The Environmental Defense Center held its annual event titled, Green & Blue: A Coastal Celebration, on Sunday, June 9, in the lush green gardens at Rancho La Patera & Stow House in Goleta. The 500 attendees of supporters, friends, families, fans, and politicians from the tri-county region and beyond came together to celebrate the organization’s […]
Cold Spring School Graduation The Cold Spring School Sixth Grade 2024 Graduation – “Go Dolphins!”– was held on Thursday, June 6, at 8:30 am in the school’s auditorium. Students processioned to the stage and sang, “Time of Your Life” by Green Day, accompanied by Music Specialist Sara DiSalvo, on piano. CSS Superintendent and Principal Amy […]
Cate School The Cate School’s 110th graduation – “Go Rams!” – was held on Sunday May 26, at 10 am, outside at the school campus. The ceremony began with the graduates’ processional from the field to their grandstand seating area to “Pomp and Circumstance” performed by the Cate School Orchestra. Newly appointed Head of School, […]
It was all love and laughter with a unanimous – yet unofficial – ‘yes’ vote from the Carpinteria Architectural Review Board on Thursday, May 30, as it reviewed the project plans for the renovations and reopening of the beloved “Palms” restaurant and music venue, 701 Linden Avenue. The historic venue, in more ways than its […]
The Montecito Association held its Land Use monthly meeting on June 4, led by new Land Use Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson, who is taking on the position for the second time since 2007. Kirsten Ayars, Ayars & Associates Principal on the 101 Highway project, presented the plan for Montecito through Summer 2025. This same presentation […]
Your Society Invites reporter is giving some love to a cool and friendly live jazz club, The Grape in Ventura. I interviewed the owners and stayed for the Derek Frank Band performance on Saturday, May 25. This locals’ hang has the look of a throwback LA-NYC jazz club interior and the chops to showcase ear-candy […]
Nature lovers unite, it is time for the annual live butterfly expo at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, on now through September 2. The exhibit is held at the Sprague Butterfly Pavilion at the museum daily (except Tuesdays) from 10 am to 5 pm. There will be over 24 species and over 1,000 […]
The American Hiking Society has announced June 1 as National Trails Day. This is an annual event on the first Saturday of June. The mission is to “Leave it Better than you found it,” by volunteering to maintain, clean up, and advocate for public lands and trails. Everyone is invited to discover events and organizations […]
Our town’s eight schools are holding their graduations from May 24 through June 14th this year. The Montecito Journal wishes much success and offers congratulations to the class of 2024, the heads of school, superintendents, principals, faculty, staff, and parents! The Montecito YMCA Preschool The YMCA Preschool 2024 Graduation was held on Friday, May 24, […]
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness month. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offers authoritative information about mental disorders, a range of related topics, the latest mental health research, and resources online. The history of May for mental health dates to 1949, when the United States Congress designated May as Mental Health […]
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art Women’s Board held its second fundraising “Art à la carte” soirée at the University Club. The SBMA Mercedes Eichholz Director and CEO Amada Cruz, along with the SBMA Women’s Board President Isabel Wendt, welcomed the guests as they arrived at the reception on the outside patio and lawn area. […]
Camerata Pacifica’s season closer was a blending of Phillip Glass’s repetitive structures in composition with classical artist Frank Zappa’s use of sampling music as background topped by key instruments in a composition. A few works had audible hints of a Lydian diminished scale combined with an auxiliary blues diminished mode in a contemporary classical resolve […]
The California Nature Art Museum, formerly known as the Wildling Museum, held its 18th Annual Wilderness Spirit Awards Brunch at the Buellton Marriott’s Grand Ballroom, Sunday, May 19. For the first time in its history, a new category was added, “The Sustainability Award,” and awarded to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The Wilderness Spirit […]
The Montecito Association (MA) held its monthly board meeting on May 14 in person at the Cold Spring School auditorium to accommodate the expected large turnout of residents regarding the slated presentations by All Saints-by-the-Sea Parish and School, and the Neighbors of the Miramar. Indeed, the auditorium was at capacity with the MA board on […]
For its capstone annual event, The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara (WFSB) held its 20th year anniversary “Celebration of Grants” at the Lobero Theatre on Tuesday, May 7. The WFSB provides grants for the much-needed services and organizations that support all citizens in our town. With its strict guidelines of qualifications and series of interviews […]
The VNA Health’s 23rd Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon Fundraiser took place Friday, May 10 at the Santa Barbara Hilton Ballroom. The event celebrated Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree as their Remembered Mother and Leslie Person Ryan as their Honored Mother. The sold-out event opened with a champagne reception, and silent auction tables in the ballroom. Raffle tickets […]
The Montecito Fire Protection District has five final chipping dates now through July: May 28: Arcady, Knapp, Cowles, Cottage, El Rancho, Sky View, Lanai Rd June 10: Sierra Vista, Nicholas, Ridge View, Canyon View, Sycamore Vista, Ranchito Vista, Calle Elegante, Calle Hermosa, Crest View June 24: East Mountain (100-1600 blocks), Irvine, Brooktree, Upper Hot Springs […]
The Youth and Family Services YMCA’s Reaching for the Stars Annual Fundraiser was held on Thursday, May 2, at the Santa Barbara Women’s Club. The sold-out event commenced on the patio with flamenco music by guitarist Chris Judd, libations, and hors d’oeuvres. Guests included District Attorney of Santa Barbara County (June 2022) John Savrnoch who […]
The $18.3 million construction projects for the roundabouts at San Ysidro Road and Olive Mill Road received their own special celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony, speeches, Recognition Certificates from elected officials, and press on Thursday, May 2. The celebration was set up on the upper sidewalk area around the northbound entrance ramp (now closed) […]
Give it up community for Kenzie Caldwell, who is competing to be the 2024 cover model of Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine.Caldwell can win the competition via your vote – see 411 links. Voting ends May 16. Everyone can vote once a day to help her get to the finish line of the top 20 […]
Transition House (TH) held its Silver Anniversary Mad Hatter Luncheon fundraiser at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara on Tuesday, April 23. The theme was “Come Celebrate our Silver Anniversary.” Guests arrived showcasing a variety of silver threaded designer pieces, from hats, scarves, dresses, rhinestone tops, right down to the basic silver lurex card’y. Hats took on their […]
The Laguna Blanca Lower School fourth grade students annually hold a Citizenship Breakfast on the school’s Montecito campus to acknowledge their choices of good community citizens in our town. At the breakfast celebration, each student introduces and briefly talks about the citizen they chose. Their speeches honor their citizen and present that person’s qualities to […]
Congratulations to the Explore Ecology (EE) Annual Environmental Steward 2024 Award winners, officially celebrated on Sunday, April 28, at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival onstage in the Kids Corner. Each year, the EE group invites the public to submit their nominations for these important award categories of local schools and clubs. The EE team […]
The Carpinteria Bluffs call for volunteers for its Bluffs Restoration on Saturday, May 4 and May 18, from 9 am to 12 pm. The cleanup is in collaboration with CivicSpark and the City of Carpinteria. Work to be done includes planting native species, weeding, and general cleanup. Tools and snacks provided. Volunteers meet at the […]
Husband and wife duo Lou Fontana and Louise Ulrich-Fontana have officially opened their third Oat Bakery location in the Montecito Country Mart. The opening party was on Wednesday, April 18, featuring free loaves of bread and cookies, and a T.W. Hollister vermouth spritzer bar. On hand besides the plethora of news reporters were the Oat […]
Attention all space cowboys and star-trekking galaxy women! On Star Date 77800.4, Thursday, May 2, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) is inviting the public to its 10-year anniversary celebration at its main headquarters in Goleta. The event commemorates ten years of operating their global telescope network. This is a great opportunity […]
Students in Montecito Union School’s second-grade art class were recently taught about using neon in sculpture by local neon multimedia artist and theater mainstay Rod Lathim. MUS K-6 Art Specialist Alyssa Gonzalez requested that the Montecito Journal report on the project. For the annual art project, the students create an art collage using their music […]
The Atkinson Gallery and Art Department at Santa Barbara City College presented the 2024 Annual Student Exhibition. SBCC first year and second year students submitted their artwork for consideration to be in the show, and to compete for an art studies scholarship. I attended the Opening Reception on Wednesday, April 17, at the Atkinson Gallery. […]
The Montecito Union School Foundation (MUSF) annual gala fundraiser was held on Friday, April 12 at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito. This year’s formal affair – Côte d’Azur: A night in the French Riviera. The important fundraising gala assures that the resources of MUS will continue and be added to. It awards grants towards the […]
The 65th Annual Carpinteria Community Awards Banquet took place on Saturday, April 6, at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s indoor gym. Held annually since 1958, the event was led by the newly formed Carpinteria Community Association [CCA], whose Board of Directors are President Karen Graf, Neil Bartlett, Bob Berkenmeier, Mary Ann Colson, Beth Cox, Gary Dobbins, […]
The Montecito Association held its monthly Board meeting April 9 in person at the Montecito Library. Public Comments for Items Not on the Agenda: Peter Daily presented his issues of private roads flooding following rain events. He asked the MA to get drainage and curbs installed with the Roads Department, and to resolve uninsured properties […]
The Los Padres ForestWatch is excited to celebrate Earth Day during all of April in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties with info sessions and clean ups. The organization is calling for volunteers to work shifts in Santa Barbara, Ojai, and Ventura. Duties include signing up new volunteers, selling merchandise and meeting like-minded individuals who are […]
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s annual awards event, Fuel Her Fire (formerly titled ‘Women of Inspiration’), was held on Thursday, April 4, at their Carpinteria campus gym. Over 200 people joined to congratulate the scholarship winners and the local honorees. The scholarship awards are presented to girls who are members of the local organization and have […]
Susan and Palmer Jackson, Jr. of the Ann Jackson Family Foundation have announced they are the co-chairs of Casa del Herrero’s $18 million capital campaign. The capital campaign, titled, “Preserving our Past, Protecting Our Future,” is the first comprehensive capital campaign in the 30-year history of Casa del Herrero as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. In […]
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Children’s Department and Trauma Services Department joins with the County of Santa Barbara Fire Department and Emergency Management Services, the County of San Luis Obispo, Car Seat Concierge, Car Seat 101, and Safe Kids Santa Barbara County to host a free Child Car Seat and Booster Check Event on Saturday, April […]
Shabbat Shalom! The 12th Annual Mega Shabbat event by Chabad of UCSB was held outside on Friday, April 5, at the Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center, established 2007 by the Rohr Family of NYC in memory of Mrs. Charlotte Rohr (née Kastner). The attendance was approximately 1,100 people, the largest single shabbat in the history […]