When you wrote the article about Caltrans tearing down the iconic trees in the Montecito median in order to expand the freeway, one of their excuses was that it would allow them to limit tearing up the landscape on the edges of the freeway. I wrote a letter questioning many of the positions Caltrans was […]

Keith Roger Austin, beloved father and grandfather, entrepreneur, traveler, lover of life, and rock ‘n’ roller, passed away on September 22, 2023, at the age of 79, after a short battle with cancer. Keith, still working in his studio, listening to vinyl records and was on air with his radio show The Rock Files, doing […]

Frank Davis Umanzio was born on September 10, 1934, in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Pasquale and Felicia Umanzio, and passed from this life on December 7, 2023, at age 89. Frank and his beautiful wife Jean met in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1956 and married in 1957, living happily together for 66 years.  In 1974, Frank […]

You’d think someone moving into a new neighborhood would want to maybe take a beat and see what the vibe is like, maybe see how things happen, maybe get a feel for the place. After all, who wants to start off on the wrong foot with the people who are going to be living next […]

As we bid farewell to a soul who embraced life with an extraordinary fervor, we mourn the passing of Reuben Walker Eliyahu Smith. His departure leaves an indelible void, and we reflect on the poignant words from one of his own poems, asking the profound question: “Did you love this world of ours the best […]

Donnie Carolan, 66, of Santa Barbara, California, passed away on October 18, 2023. He was born on May 28, 1957, in Morristown, New Jersey. Donnie was a passionate individual who had a deep love for music. He was actively involved in various choirs such as the Master Chorale and the Trinity Episcopal Church Choir. Donnie’s […]

Rare Brazilian Cabochon Paraiba Tourmaline surrounded by 114 diamonds, set in 18 kt yellow gold and platinum. For over 40 years, Silverhorn has been renowned for its handcrafted jewelry, using rare gemstones and exemplary craftsmanship. Known for award-winning creativity, each piece is artfully crafted with precision. At their Design Studio in Montecito, clients can observe […]

Regarding the “Ring Nets” installed in the canyons above Montecito in response to the disastrous mudslide of January 9, 2018: As the Executive Director of an environmental organization in Santa Barbara, I joined the Board of The Project for Resilient Communities (TPRC) to watch the proceedings from an environmental point of view. The Ring Nets […]

Last week while reporting on the upcoming Beautification Day event on November 4, we mistakenly omitted an important sponsor: Occhiali Fine Eyewear, which is providing cupcakes for the event from Violette Bakeshop. Owned by Samantha Eve, the bakery specializes in custom cupcakes for various celebrations. We regret the omission.  For more information about Beautification Day, […]

An unsightly gate was recently installed at the trailhead to Hot Springs Canyon with the given reason that the trail should be closed on days of high fire danger for safety reasons. This is the same canyon that was closed several months ago after heavy rains and where the authorities imposed draconian penalties of possible […]

A special event will be held today, Friday, September 29,  to welcome Sansum Clinic into the Sutter Health Integrated Health System. A ribbon cutting will celebrate the partnership, which takes effect October 2, with the CEOs, key executives, and staff touring the renovated spaces of the Foothill Surgery Center, including the locations where three new […]

I’m not a civil engineer so I admit to being somewhat confused about the need for roundabouts versus single lane stops due to the improvements to the HWY101. More lanes are not exiting onto San Ysidro or Coast Village at once are they? My concern is one of proper (and pleasing) scale and awkwardness. These […]

Traffic circles sound so British, don’t they. I feel like folk in Downton Abbey period garb should be milling around, with an occasional ‘ahooga’ horn barreling into the Olive Mill. Thanks for your softly-wrapped skepticism/wariness about the new “fixes.” I was an outspoken critic when the idea first surfaced and maintained a wary and concerned […]

Carolyn Pesnell Amory passed away August 13th at 101 years. Carolyn led an exciting life and was well-known for her charity work. From 1979 to 1985 Carolyn was Chairman of the Board of the New York City Division of the American Cancer Society receiving every award given by the Society and breaking many fundraising records […]

I came to Casa Dorinda in October 2020, in the middle of Covid. Despite the uncertainties and hurdles presented by the pandemic, I was thrilled at the prospect of moving here. As a single woman with no living relatives in this country, I had been exploring senior living communities for several years. Unlike many Casa […]

In his dirge over the demise of print daily newspapers, James Buckley seems to assign the initial cause of the recent shuttering of the Santa Barbara News-Press to The New York Times’ purchasing of that publication in 1985. He expounds on that curious contention by stating that The New York Times didn’t “know” Santa Barbara […]

Ed and his twin sister, Anne Carty, co-own and manage Carty & Carty Antiques in Montecito’s Upper Village, where their business serves as a resource for historical expertise. With the help of their mother’s early savviness, their establishment has become a hub of knowledge within the community. “We’ve been in Santa Barbara since 1865, came […]

Gwyn Lurie’s Editorial, “Wreck-Quiem for the Santa Barbara News-Press” (MJ August 3-10) should be required reading for every high school Civics class in the land. It captures the infinite value of “The Third Estate” (sic), as journalists and newspapers were once called. It describes in fearsome detail what happens when there are no gatekeepers watching […]

I just read Jeff Harding’s piece on the addition of Restoration Hardware in the Vol. 29 Issue 30 edition of the MJ. While I generally agree with a lot of what Jeff had to say, I feel like the piece requires some clarification. The reason these formulaic retailers he mentions are on Coast Village is […]

The Profant Foundation’s Fiesta Finale Gala will be held on Sunday, August 6 starting at 5:30 pm at the historic open-air El Paseo Restaurant; included is a delicious gourmet dinner, a dazzling professional performance, a live auction led by Erin Graffy, a costume contest, and dancing under the stars. It was those same stars and […]

On Thursday, August 10 at 5:30 pm, Drs. Tiff Thompson and Nick Dogris, of NeuroField Neurotherapy, Inc., will be giving a talk at the Faulkner Gallery (40 West Anapamu).  They will share information and insights from their extensive knowledge of neurotherapy to demystify and inform on this subject. Any who are curious about neurotherapy, neurostimulation, […]

Nicholas Proctor Palonen, beloved son, brother, husband, and father, was welcomed into the world by his parents, Marjorie and Craig Palonen, on April 10, 1981, in Santa Barbara, California. From that day forward, he became an indispensable part of a loving family, joining his older brother, Tye, on countless childhood adventures — from explorations of […]

Teresa McWilliams, born in Warsaw, Poland in 1937, relocated to Santa Barbara in September 1949 and has been a resident of Montecito for longer than many of us have been alive. Reflecting on the community’s transformation, McWilliams reminisces about a Montecito from a past era. “I’ve lived here for a long time, over 70 years, […]

Summerland is a unique blend of small-town charm, a vibrant mix of locally-owned stores and restaurants, and an outdoor paradise. Ocean views abound from every street.  We are a close-knit and welcoming community. Our town exudes a friendly and neighborly spirit. We support each other in crisis.   We are NOT a food desert. We […]

Byron Lyle Fairbrother was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to Edwin Henry Fairbrother and Randi Tangvall Fairbrother. He had a heart attack while sailing in San Diego. Their team won last year’s race. He learned to sail as a youngster at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. At least he passed doing something he loved. […]

This Friday, June 16, the public is invited to take part in an informal meeting regarding the launching of a documentary with a satirical angle about rebranding ME, Long Covid, and other diseases. (www.movieaboutme.com) The effort is being spearheaded by Chesley Heymsfield, a Santa Barbara film producer who is living with ME. “I first noticed […]

Santa Barbara County residents who believe they may have Long Covid can now be seen at the UCLA Long Covid Clinic, according to Dr. Henning Ansorg, Santa Barbara County Health Officer. The phone number of the UCLA clinic is: (310) 825-2631. While Santa Barbara County does not have a Long Covid clinic, “UCLA has stepped […]

While the open-door policy of the UCLA clinic may be good news for Long Covid and autoimmune disease sufferers, a look into the legal world involving disability claims for patients provides an unfortunately different view. Although President Biden declared last year that the road had been cleared for Long Covid patients to file federal disability […]

Michael Cherry (85) died peacefully in his home in Palm Desert, California on the morning of March 29th, with loved ones at his side.  Michael was born in Fall River, Massachusetts to Nelson and Constance Cherry (Brayton), and was raised in Bristol, Rhode Island. Michael graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut (’55). He […]

More than just a “Magic Man,” Milt Larsen was a kind and generous person. It’s inevitable that he and Arlene should marry, because they’re both the same – so friendly and giving. Milt and I first met when I joined the Magic Castle. Over our 50+ year friendship, he was always generous with his time, […]

When I moved to Casa Dorinda on January 1, 2009, after being on the waitlist for five years, it was the height of the 2008 financial disaster which cost me a $300,000 loss on the sale of my house. I had friends from the Music Academy of the West here, and the first four years […]

I read in last week’s edition [of MJ] that someone has told the food trucks not to come to Montecito because of complaints. I find this shocking – that someone would complain when the people eating lunch at these trucks are mainly working for them! I am a direct next-door neighbor to the Olive Mill […]

I am glad that “Robert’s Big Questions” are published regularly in the weekly Montecito Journal. The writer is among my most interesting friends (among other things, he’s the widely grinning high-brow guy cavorting about on his unicycle in parades and events around town), and I find it worthwhile to consider how and what he thinks. […]

Bob Veloz passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 13, 2023, with his beloved family by his side.  Bob was born on January 31, 1934, in New York City to Louis and Adelaide Veloz. Three years later, the family welcomed identical twin boys who brought so much joy to the family. When Bob was […]

On May 5, 2023, Sansum Clinic and Sutter Health announced they have entered into exclusive discussions with each other, with plans to sign a non-binding letter of intent this week to enter into a strategic partnership. The two organizations have begun “exclusive discussions with each other” with the partnership expected to be formalized in the […]

Local philanthropist and bridge player Julie Nadel, 77, passed away on March 29th at her home in Santa Barbara. A private service was held on April 4th. When describing Julie’s bridge style, Dutch champion Joris van Lankveld said, “One of Julie’s strengths was that she had no fear to bid, and she put her opponents […]

Bobbie Rosenblatt passed away peacefully at home in Santa Barbara being held by the love of her life. She was a wonderful woman full of love and positive energy. Music was a huge part of her life, and she continued going to rock concerts into her 80s. She loved the arts and traveling around the […]

I would like to add something to the comments on the recent Board of Supervisors’ decision regarding sound walls along the 101 corridor in Montecito, which meeting I attended. My concern is that in this conversation we are perhaps disregarding the “elephant in the room,” which would be the status of our creeks and their […]

Carolyn Virginia Wyatt passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, in Santa Barbara on March 5, 2023. A loving devoted wife and adoring mother and grandmother, she was born in Hollywood, CA on February 6, 1936. She is survived by her husband Philip Wyatt, her children Scott, Jon, and Lori, and her grandchildren, and stepchildren. She […]

Re: “Picking A President in 2024” (Diana Thorn, Thursday, March 30) Inflation is a world-wide problem. (In the U.S., it is currently 6.4 percent.) More can and should be done to find a solution, and President Biden will rightfully take the heat if it isn’t – but President Biden did not cause the problem. The […]