Tag archives: Summerland

The Gardening Lady of Summerland
By Leslie Westbrook   |   August 6, 2020

Sonya Harris keeps the seaside town in the green Most people recognize Sonya Harris from, er, behind. Often seen bent over the landscape edging the 101 northbound entrance, or the Summerland Memorial Garden or other spots in town, Sonya has taken it upon herself to keep the seaside town looking healthy and green ever since […]

Gentrified or Not? A Chat with a Summerland Gentleman and Some Food for Thought
By Leslie Westbrook   |   July 23, 2020

Guy Hamilton and his wife, author Cynthia Hamilton, have lived in Summerland for 33 years. He wouldn’t live anywhere else. Guy recently reached out reminding me that he owned Chanticleer (now the site of Lucky’s) back in the late 1970s-early ‘80s and suggested he could offer a “little different perspective on things.” “Wouldn’t it nice […]

More Buzz…
By Leslie Westbrook   |   July 9, 2020

Longtime fixture Summerland Oriental Rugs has moved their showroom across the street to the former home of Clive Markey’s Pine Trader. Longtime treasure-filled Summerland Antiques Collective re-opened a few weeks ago and has been buzzing with activity adding to the retail mix… Carpinteria’sPorchis moving from Santa Claus Lane to Lillie Avenue (into the space formerly […]

Pilot Organic Agriculture Program
By Leslie Westbrook   |   June 11, 2020

The Carpinteria Unified School District at their May 12 board meeting approved the leasing of a portion of the Whitney acreage that has been in limbo as a potential new campus site for Summerland School for as long as I can remember. Leslie Person Ryan’s Organic Sweetwater Farms (OSF) will be planting four acres of […]

People of Summerland: Gordon Morrison
By Leslie Westbrook   |   June 11, 2020

Every Sunday evening at 7 pm Gordon Morrison, bagpiper, husband, father, and VP of Engineering at Freedom Photonics, steps onto the porch of his family’s Summerland house and plays the bagpipes as the sun sets. It’s a comforting lament during these difficult times. I asked Morrison our usual “People of Summerland” questions. I also sat […]

People of Summerland
By Leslie Westbrook   |   May 28, 2020

From long held memories with old neighbors to first impressions upon new encounters, one thing remains true in our “People of Summerland” snippets: from the terrific views to thoughtful neighbors, the pop. 1,500 town is a magical place. Fran Davis, Writer; Roger Davis, Retired Editor “As Summerland residents for fifty years, we’ve accumulated a staggering […]

Will Montecito Go Full Speed Ahead with Desalinated Water?
By Nick Schou   |   May 17, 2020

This month, roughly 4,600 households in Montecito and Summerland received a special insert along with their monthly water bill. “WATER RATE UPDATE!” the flyer declared in urgent all caps, adding that the “Montecito Water District has Plans for Delivering a Secure Water Future.” Stating that its customers “want their drinking water to come from local, […]

In Passing: Carter Willis Hines
By Montecito Journal   |   May 14, 2020

Carter Willis Hines: July 24, 1941 – May 1, 2020 Carter Willis Hines, 78, passed away Friday evening, May 1, 2020, at his Montecito home with his beloved wife, Victoria, at his side. Carter’s sudden death from a heart attack followed a prolonged illness of several years. Carter was born in Long Beach, California to […]

The Scoop from Rusty’s Pizza CEO Tyler Duncan
By Leslie Westbrook   |   May 14, 2020

It may be the longest, most anticipated pizza parlor opening in Summerland history: five years in the making. At long last Rusty’s Pizza is finally open in Summerland at the former Stacky’s Seaside spot on Lillie Avenue. The day I spoke with Tyler Duncan, CEO of the family business launched by his parents in Isla […]

Gerri French: Clinical Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator
By Leslie Westbrook   |   May 7, 2020

Q. What special memories do you have of Summerland? My fondest memories of the Summerland community come from when I first became a mother. Summerland is a wonderful family town and Summerland Elementary was (and still is) a wonderful school. Families would get together at The Nugget and at the beach. Cafe Luna was a hub, but […]

Kara Richard: Summerland Salon & Spa
By Leslie Westbrook   |   May 7, 2020

Q. With COVID-19 changing the way we interact as a community, how are you making it work through this difficult time and do you have any tips to share? A. Here at the Summerland Salon & Spa, we’ve worked together as a team to think of innovative ways to stay in touch with our clients. […]

Itching to Re-Open
By Leslie Westbrook   |   April 30, 2020

“We’re itching to get open and…” said Kyle Irwin, “Welcome everybody back!” business partner Susie Bechtel chimed in, finishing her business partner’s sentence. The duo opened their highly anticipated Field + Fort design shop and café in Summerland just this past November to great acclaim – only to shutter the doors some four months later, […]

Laughter in the Time of Corona
By Leslie Westbrook   |   April 16, 2020

We all need some comic relief in the time of corona, and there’s plenty of distractions around to tickle our funny bones. While watching CBS This Morning news last week, I caught a segment that featured a re-envisioned Fleetwood Mac cover which was originally created by Santa Barbara designer Larry Vigon. Someone had manipulated the […]

A Chat with Summerland Artist Richard Aber
By Leslie Westbrook   |   April 16, 2020

Contemporary artist/sculptor and thinker Richard Aber and his wife, Carol, have lived on bucolic Greenwell Road in Summerland, where he has created art diligently in his home studio on their property, for the past 41 years. His contemplative pieces have been exhibited nationally and internationally, including in several exhibitions in Italy, where the coronavirus has […]

What Goes with Chili? Beer!
By Leslie Westbrook   |   April 2, 2020

Island Brewing Company recently introduced same-day beer delivery for Summerland (and Carp) residents. Orders placed before 2 pm are delivered the same day between 4-7 pm, orders placed after 2 pm come the next day. All beer must be dropped off with an individual who can display legal ID of being 21+ years old, no […]

Cooking Through Corona
By Leslie Westbrook   |   April 2, 2020

The buildings have emptied at 101 Innovation Place – the QAD campus atop Ortega Hill – but the staff of five and volunteers at ShelterBox, the global non-profit whose U.S. staff normally does their good deeds from the building that once housed the original Josten’s college ring manufacturing facility, are spreading a little recipe love […]

Show a Little Local Love
By Leslie Westbrook   |   April 2, 2020

Hey Summerland and beyond, time to show a little love to Summerland Beach Café. The café is open for take-out (8 am – 3 pm) and will deliver to Summerland! Their ever-popular Hamburger Tuesday is still on ($6.99/half price), so order burgers for the family, your neighbors, or someone who may be shut in alone. […]

Pet Fostering in a Pandemic
By Nick Schou   |   March 26, 2020

Summerland resident Lee Heller has lived in Santa Barbara County, including Montecito, for the past 23 years, and has been active in animal services for another few decades before that. She’s also a longtime volunteer with the cat-centric Animal Shelter Assistance Program, or ASAP, which is based in Goleta. According to Heller, animal shelters throughout […]

Through Rain, and Wind, and COVID-19
By Leslie Westbrook   |   March 19, 2020

Since Summerland does not have mail delivery to homes, the Summerland Post Office 93067 has been the unofficial heartbeat and spot to bump into your neighbors. Not much bumping allowed anymore, unless it’s your elbow. Here too, where everyone knows one another, neighbors are helping neighbors. Postal clerk Bert Vega knows everyone as well and […]

Adam’s Angels
By Leslie Westbrook   |   March 19, 2020

Adam McKaig, Realtor and Summerland/Toro Canyon resident, decided to ask friends and neighbors to join him in an effort to help out our neighbors. “Adam’s Angels” now consists of some 40 volunteer citizens who have signed up in the Summerland area and beyond to help deliver supplies to those who are housebound due to COVID-19 […]