To the Santa Barbara City Council: Change is coming to Coast Village Road (CVR). Good changes that will enhance and beautify CVR to the standards for which Montecito is known worldwide. Coast Village Road is the commercial lifeblood of Montecito. This remnant of old Highway 1 has changed over the years from the sleepy 1950s […]

For the 98th year, the Santa Barbara Fiesta Stock Horse Show and Rodeo at the Earl Warren Showgrounds kicks off on August 4. Hosted by Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara, Inc., the 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving the historic annual event, this event brings together the best horsemen and women from San Luis Obispo, […]

As it enters its 26th year of business, Village Properties is celebrating an astounding $20 billion in gross sales volume. But the Santa Barbara County-based firm’s leaders say an even more meaningful number is 12,900, which reflects how many times they have paired people with a perfect space and represented sellers in maximizing property value.  […]

Montecito – home to such luminaries as Oprah and Stedman, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, and, of course, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex. The glitterati of the world. Every inhabitant a multi-zillionaire. Well… maybe… but not if your name is Hollis Crawford and you’ve just been fired from your third […]

New to the area? Experiencing an ongoing issue at your home or in your neighborhood? There are people for that. The County of Santa Barbara has more than 4,000 employees that can help with everything from behavioral wellness to tax collection to County Fire and Sheriff’s operations. But knowing who to call for what can […]

In the July 14 issue of the Montecito Journal, Joe Armendariz’s letter to the editor titled “Radical Status,” contained multiple inaccurate assertions related to the application for the Radis/Roots Cannabis retail store proposed location on Santa Claus Lane, as well as misinformation concerning existing businesses there. Mr. Armendariz fails to mention that he is a […]

Coming up on Saturday, July 23 is Mental Wellness Center’s 3rd Annual Alma Rosa Winery Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction Walk. The live walk will take place at the scenic 628-acre estate of the Alma Rosa Winery and participants will have the opportunity to walk through the winery’s luscious pinot noir […]

The Polo Training Center Santa Barbara (PTCSB) is hosting its annual benefit golf tournament on August 22 at the Montecito Club’s Jack Nicklaus Signature course. The PTCSB is a nonprofit dedicated to making polo more accessible for local youth. Not only does the organization envision the sport’s growth as increased training and collegiate scholarships, but […]

William (Bill) Joseph Jones, a longtime resident of Montecito who enjoyed his family, fishing, and sailing, passed away peacefully in his sleep at age 89. Bill is remembered for his wide warm smile, strong core values, sense of humor, and passion for helping others. Anyone who dealt with him knew that his handshake was a […]

We live on Channel Drive in Montecito and along with the neighbors we have sent several emails regarding the lack of Sheriff’s presence since COVID and the increase of illegal activities. Last night was 4th of July and sadly Channel Drive had far fewer families enjoying the fireworks and many more people drinking, flying drones […]

One of the most disturbing aspects of the Dobbs opinion by the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices is the certainty that further assaults on our basic freedoms are coming. Not only on women’s reproductive rights, protected since 1973 under Roe v. Wade, but privileges and liberties Americans have long enjoyed, and encompassed in […]

Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) will be joined by Santa Barbara’s beloved Prime Time Band on 4th of July for a free festive concert at 5:00 PM at Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens. Enjoy pops tunes, family favorites and patriotic classics, plus a special guest performance by the Prime Time Band. Attendees are encouraged to […]

In response to “Two Years Later: Still an Unfair and Forced Choice Objections to Cannabis Retail at Santa Claus Lane,” I wanted to take the opportunity to provide some actual facts about legal, compliant cannabis dispensaries. I’m three months shy of my 60th birthday and my interest in medicinal cannabis began in 2014 with my […]

Ready to take action against gun violence? Join Santa Barbara’s chapter of Moms Demand Action in their fight to keep our community safe. All are invited to attend a meeting and join the movement this Monday, June 27, from 6-7 pm at Oak Park in Santa Barbara. Following the horrific shooting in Uvalde, people across […]

The USCB Media Arts and Technology (MAT) Department held their End of the Year Show (EoYS) at the Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science, and Technology (SBCAST) for June’s 1st Thursday. The MAT Department is a “transdisciplinary graduate program that fuses emergent media, computer science, engineering, electronic music and digital art research, practice, production, and […]

The days are at the longest and the Summer Solstice Parade is coming back at full force and with a new Santa Barbara Street route. This upcoming weekend promises to be full of costumed revelry and to live up to this year’s theme: Shine. The Solstice crew is also seeking some last-minute volunteers to help […]

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Santa Barbara Committee (MLKSB) presents its all-new virtual celebratory program during this Juneteenth weekend, June 17 through June 20. This year’s theme is based on Dr. King’s words from Birmingham, Alabama on April 14, 1963: “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of […]

The Marjorie Luke Theatre is proud to present The ShapeShifters band collective as they celebrate Solstice at The Marjorie Luke Theatre on June 25th beginning at 7 pm, located at 721 East Cota Street.  The evening will feature a two-set concert composed of Santa Barbara’s premier musicians and vocalists accompanied by a courtyard celebration with […]

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse Docent Council reopened the courthouse for tours this past Monday, June 13. The courthouse, constructed in 1929 following the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake, is a landmark popular among both locals and visitors.  Free one-hour tours are offered Monday through Friday at 10:30 am and 2:00 pm, with no reservation required. […]

The upcoming Fiesta celebrations will officially come to a close with the lively Fiesta Finale festivities, held at the historic El Paseo Restaurant. The event also acts as a fundraiser for the John E. Profant Foundation for the Arts. Profant himself was an active member in Fiesta celebrations and Santa Barbara’s artistic community as a […]

I am the CFO and co-owner of Autumn Brands, a sustainable and ethically grown cannabis farm in the Carpinteria Valley. We focus on growing high-quality cannabis that uses zero pesticides, which means not even organic pesticides. We re-use and recycle all our irrigation water and have all organic waste turned to compost. We are a […]

Local residents were in for a treat on Saturday afternoon when a group of renowned musicians played a backyard benefit to raise awareness for ShelterBox, a Santa Barbara-based global disaster relief organization, that is providing much needed help to people displaced by the crisis in Ukraine. The audience picnicked on blankets and lawn chairs, relaxing […]

La Cumbre Plaza’s interior design showroom is welcoming award-winning artist Francis Scorzelli to its fine arts gallery. House To Home is an all-encompassing design center that provides all the trades needed to personally create your home. Their design services range from furniture to lighting to specialty finishes. Scorzelli is a New York native and Santa […]

Carlos, The Bear, was grieving the loss of his sister, Carla Bear, as he lumbered up the animal trail that runs from East Valley Road to Summerland, when he ran into Connie, The Cougar.  “Hey there Bear, I haven’t seen you for quite a while, Carlos. You look sad. What’s up?” said Connie. Carlos gave […]

Helene Zalk Pollock was born on January 8, 1919, in Duluth, Minnesota. Her parents Estelle and Louis Zalk moved to Los Angeles in the early 1930s. Her father Louis found success in the early days of the steel industry and later as a business leader when he introduced theosophy to Southern California and co-founded the […]

On May 30, Senator Monique Limòn nominated Mothers’ Helpers as the 2022 California Nonprofit of the Year. California Nonprofits Day allows legislators from across California to highlight a Nonprofit of the Year in their district and have the organization recognized at a celebratory luncheon in June.  Mothers’ Helpers was established in 2009 and strives to […]

The Santa Barbara Tennis Club’s art gallery, 2nd Fridays, will show Marianna Victoria Mashek’s exhibit In Pursuit of Beauty for the summer. 2nd Fridays features new local artists on the second Friday of every month, and showcases uplifting art and people to enrich and broaden the general and SBTC community. Mashek is a Santa Barbara […]

On May 24, United Women for Ukraine gathered the community for a fundraising luncheon that marked the three-month anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine. Attendees honored Ukraine with its national anthem and were moved by concert pianist Miroslava Kisilevitch’s performance of Ukrainian classical music, including Ukraine’s spiritual anthem “Melody.” Guests were also able to learn […]

On June 26, Women in Democracy will gather to celebrate their 50th anniversary.  The event will feature Congresswoman Katie Porter as the keynote speaker and former State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson as the mistress of ceremonies. Founded in 1970, the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara has been a longstanding community of local women dedicated to promoting, […]

Two years ago, on July 28, 2020, The Santa Barbara Independent published my article “An Unfair and Forced Choice: Objections to Cannabis Retail at Santa Claus Lane.” There I explained that the decision to place a cannabis retail outlet in either Summerland or Santa Claus Lane was forced because the county arbitrarily insists there must […]

On May 30, 2022, around 10:30 pm, several concerned community members called the Santa Barbara Police Combined Communications Center to report they heard loud, unusual noises and breaking glass coming from Santa Barbara High School property. Several Officers responded to the High School to investigate the reported suspicious activity. When Officers arrived on scene, approximately […]

As longtime residents of Montecito, we are writing to share our experience and warn the community to watch out for Cox Communications. Sneaky, inept, and arrogant is an understatement. To date, their egregious mishandling of the proposed installation of a state-mandated gas generator on our property has cost us over $20,000 in both legal and […]

Joyce Enright’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 25 at El Montecito Presbyterian Church from 2 to 4 pm. Donations in Joyce’s honor can be sent to the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission and El Montecito Presbyterian Church. Please contact Lauren Enright at (805) 252-9031 with any questions. Citizens for the Restoration of […]

On Saturday, May 14, an unusual influx of emaciated, weak, and hypothermic brown pelicans began arriving at the Wildlife Hospital at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (SBWCN). The amount of pelicans that are being rescued and delivered are increasing at a daily rate, but the cause of their condition is still unknown.  There are […]

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History – a nonprofit organization founded in 1916 – opens its popular summer exhibit Butterflies Alive! this weekend. For the first time, the exhibit will feature more than a dozen colorful tropical species from Costa Rica. Director of Guest Experience Kim Zsembik shares, “We are excited to welcome these […]

Samantha Bearman, the owner of Bear Cave Productions, LLC, is single handedly bringing comedy back to the Santa Barbara community. Bearman has established Bear Cave Comedy shows at several thriving locations from Goleta through downtown Santa Barbara. The goal behind Bear Cave Comedy is to lift up voices that are often marginalized in the comedy […]

On Saturday May 21, 2022, Fiesta La Presidente Maria Cabrera unveiled this year’s Old Spanish Days poster and pin. The pin is a 3D silver fan that serves as a common symbol during Fiesta performances and in the crowds to fight off heat. The poster features an archived watercolor by Arthur Beaumont with printing by […]

Editor’s Note: In this industry, you’re only as good as your last mistake. And we made one. A big one – in the Voter’s Guide in the previous issue (MJ Issue 19, May 12-19). Somewhere between juggling incoming stories and caffeine stares our collective eyes missed two candidates in the United States Representative, District 24, […]