Tag archives: community
This year’s Montecito Association (MA) Village Fourth Parade & Celebration was the biggest, baddest, boldest parade in Montecito history. Everybody participated: from California Highway Patrol, SB County Sheriff, SB County Fire, Montecito Fire, Boy Scouts, to all the schools, all the organizations, all the groups that matter to Montecito and care about Montecito. Montecito’s Village […]
At this month’s Montecito Association (MA) Board meeting, Coast Village Association president Bob Ludwick addressed board members to give an update on the CVA’s initiatives and mission. Representing about 125 businesses, 85 of which are retail or restaurants, as well as nearby residents, the CVA has three active committees, including Beautification, Events & Promotion, and […]
Sometimes it takes a village. That point was well demonstrated three weeks ago, when dozens of Montecito residents – mostly strangers to each other – gathered at a community roundtable to share what they’d learned so far from the Thomas Fire and Debris Flow insurance claim experience. There was some initial trepidation the group might […]
Mindy Denson and her dedicated team are once again planning an old-fashioned “country faire” and parade for the 4th of July. “This year is extra special, given what we’ve been through,” Denson said, adding that instead of choosing one or two grand marshals, those being honored this year include first responders who worked round the […]
Montecito Family YMCA has partnered with more than a dozen local organizations and leaders to provide assistance to the Montecito community in response to the Thomas Fire and mudslides. In collaboration with these local organizations, the YMCA was able to assist in providing childcare, mud removal, youth activities, clothes, and toys for affected Montecito residents. […]
For those keeping track, little Otilia Marie Harbin came into this world at approximately 11:30 am on Cinco de Mayo (May 5), weighing in at 7 lbs., 5 oz., and measuring all of 20”. Otilia is the daughter of Lily (Buckley) Harbin and Jeremy Harbin, who live in Silver Lake in the Los Angeles area. […]
Coming to the close of its annual Capital Campaign, the YMCA is still $40,000 short of its goal to raise $125,000. “We are currently working with the Santa Barbara resource network to provide free memberships to families affected by the January 9 debris flow, in addition to our normal program and membership subsidies,” said executive […]
The Thomas Wildfire and the January 9 debris flow have presented the county with the most complex disaster recovery and preparedness scenarios in California history. The confluence of events leading to the twin disasters was unprecedented, the threat of a repeat disaster is still imminent, acceptable mitigation solutions are still amorphous, and their costs uncertain. […]
With tickets being given away for free, the Lobero Theatre was at capacity for Liv On, a community concert organized by Rod Lathim and Thomas Rollerson, with Aussie songbird Olivia Newton-John, and award-winning songwriters Amy Sky and Beth Nielsen Chapman. “After what has happened in the community, we wanted to lift spirits,” says Rod. “They […]
In the four months between December 2017 and March 2018, Montecito was evacuated five times; 23 people lost their lives; 170 homes were destroyed and more than 350 others were severely damaged. We are currently a community under siege, trapped between a strong desire to rebuild and the uncomfortable realization that we are about to […]
(Editor’s note: The following was sent to us from Mindy Denson.) Montecito residents living on Santa Rosa Lane, San Ysidro, Lemon Grove, Sea Cliff, Court Place, and Mira Monte attended the bash last weekend, with typical fare including hotdogs and burgers with all the fixins! Everyone brought side dishes such as the homemade potato salad […]
“Sips and Nibbles” was the title of a benefit for Food from the Heart (FFH) – a nonprofit I’d never heard of. Founder Evelyn Jacob informed me, “We have been around for 24 years.” I would soon learn Food from the Heart is all about feeding people. We were gathered in the courtyard of El […]
Family update: Lily Buckley Harbin and her husband, Jeremy Harbin, expect to welcome into their home their first child – a little girl – on or around the 10th of May. Traveling from all over the United States and even London, England, to help Lily celebrate the upcoming blessed event, nearly two-dozen of her friends […]
Montecito firefighters were out in force at the San Ysidro Ranch, but there were no flames to extinguish or new mudslides to clear up. Just the opportunity for more than 100 blaze busters and other VIP guests to enjoy the bounteous hospitality of Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner, who hosted a dinner party in a […]
AHA! Co-founders and directors Jennifer Freed and Rendy Freedman are pleased to announce “Rising Together”, a free community event for the South Coast area to find support and resources post the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslide. The event is set for SB City College West Campus on Saturday, April 21, at 9 am. It was […]
Going forward, Montecito home and business owners need to have continuing, affordable, comprehensive, insurance coverage. As a community, we need to speak with one voice in demanding that public officials ensure that such insurance remains in place. Here are three of the issues that will have to be addressed by lawmakers, insurance regulators, and insurance […]
Montecito‘s bike and walking paths are slipping into the ocean. Recent heavy rains are eroding the bike path’s retaining wall along Channel Drive. The path is now dramatically undermined; easily viewable from the beach. In various areas, huge sections of retaining cement walls, mounds of cliff-side mud and trees litter the sand. This week, a […]
Two weeks ago, we reported on the opening of the Montecito Center for Preparedness, Recovery, and Rebuilding, in the Orfalea building on Coast Village Circle. Last week, the newly-formed “805 Conservation Collective” set up shop at the center, adding another resource for mudslide victims to access in the heart of Montecito. “The work is both […]
Recovery Project is new community support group that was born out of the recent doubleheader disasters that have hit our rarefied enclave. Founder Berna Kieler, a Montecito resident since the 1980s, describes it as “grass-roots, neighbors helping neighbors” being carried along by people dedicated to seeing the community and its residents recover. “I was in […]
The Amazons ruled when United Way launched Women United with a debut lunch for 150 guests at the Hotel Californian. The new all-female group’s intent is to strengthen the local community through a focused investment of talent, compassion, and philanthropy and expand educational opportunities for children from pre-kindergarten through third grade. The socially gridlocked bash, […]
