Tag archives: YMCA

YMCA Project Moves Forward – Finally
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   July 15, 2021

After nearly 13 years in the making, plans for expanding and remodeling the Montecito YMCA are once again moving forward, with the YMCA’s project application expected to be submitted to Santa Barbara County by the end of the month. “We’re still here, and the project is still happening,” said YMCA executive director Mike Yamasaki, who […]

Montecito Family YMCA Launches Annual Fundraising Campaign
By Nick Schou   |   February 25, 2021

At 6 pm on February 17, Montecito’s beloved YMCA officially launched its annual fundraising campaign in an effort to help ensure that everyone in southern Santa Barbara County has access to community programs and resources that support youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, and struggling families. This year, the YMCA hopes to raise $120,000 to […]

Santa Barbara Salvation Army Toy Drive Helps Hundreds of Families Celebrate Christmas
By Nick Schou   |   December 31, 2020

The shortest day of the year turned out to be an unexpectedly generous one for needy Santa Barbara area drive families. From 9 am to 6 pm on Monday, December 21, the Santa Barbara Salvation Army held a food and toy drive at its headquarters on Hollister Avenue, providing gifts of food and toys to […]

Youth and Family Services YMCA
By Lynda Millner   |   August 22, 2019

Youth and Family Services YMCA gave a thank you party to generous donors that support this branch of the Channel Islands YMCA. Hosting at their beautiful Hope Ranch abode were Al and Marsha Roberson. No one went away hungry with bountiful platters of hors d’oeuvres and plenty of wine. When I think of the YMCA, […]

Letters to the Editor
By Montecito Journal   |   July 11, 2019

East Valley Road to Perdition I am astonished to be writing again about the Ennisbrook Owner’s Association and their unwillingness to fulfill their responsibilities to us as members and residents.  Ennisbrook owns our entire road. It starts at East Valley Road, and continues past ten properties and the four Ennisbrook members are the last four […]

Reaching For The Stars
By Lynda Millner   |   May 30, 2019

Youth and Family Services YMCA had their 20th anniversary for Reaching for the Stars at Santa Barbara Women’s Club, Rockwood. The terrace outside the club is always so welcoming, this time set with glasses for wine tasting from Brander, Jaffurs, Melville, Pence, Union Sacre, and brew tasting from Draughtsman Aleworks, Inc. and Firestone Walker Brewing […]

Summer Camp at the YMCA
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 21, 2019

The Montecito Family YMCA is gearing up for another summer filled with adventure, laughter, and enriching the lives of the Y campers, parents, and staff.  Y Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association, which recognizes that the YMCA facilitates summer camp programs that are committed to building a safe, nurturing environment for their children. […]

George Leis Joins YMCA Board
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 14, 2019

Montecito Bank & Trust President and COO George Leis will join the YMCA of the USA board; Leis is a past chair and current board member for the Channel Islands YMCA, serving seven branches from Lompoc to Camarillo, and now he will join Y-USA as a board member.  “It is an honor to be nominated […]

The Year in Review 2018
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 27, 2018

It is more than obvious that 2018 was a pivotal year for Montecito and its residents. The first week of the year, we were recovering from the Thomas Fire, which weeks earlier had suffocated Montecito and Santa Barbara in smoke and ash while scorching nearly 282,000 acres from Ventura to Santa Barbara, including ten structures […]

Thanksgiving at YMCA
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 22, 2018

The preschoolers at Montecito Family YMCA spent last week learning about the traditions of Thanksgiving, concluding with a Thanksgiving Feast made by the preschool staff in the Y kitchen.  “The Thanksgiving Feast was a chance to bring the entire school and their families together, while teaching students the history and significance of the holiday,” says teacher Annie […]

YMCA Revises Plan
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 8, 2018

It’s been nearly a decade since reps from the Montecito YMCA set out to renovate and enhance the community facility on Santa Rosa Lane. After multiple iterations, revisions, and countless community meetings, a new conceptual design is in the works, with new renderings released this week.  The former, more expansive plan, which was submitted to […]

Rubber Duck Regatta
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 31, 2018

This Sunday, June 3, at 10 am, the Montecito Rotary Club and the Montecito YMCA will co-host the first Montecito Rubber Duck Regatta to raise funds for the YMCA, local scholarships, and other Rotarian service projects.  During the event, 1,000 ducks will race from one end of the Montecito YMCA pool to the other, fueled […]

YMCA Thanks Emergency Partners
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 17, 2018

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. […]

YMCA’s Capital Campaign
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 10, 2018

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 […]

Reaching for the Stars
By Lynda Millner   |   May 10, 2018

For 19 years, Youth and Family Services (YFS, a branch of the Channel Islands YMCA) has held a fabulous dining experience. This year, they went all out with 15 chefs, plus SBCC culinary students and eight wineries and wines curated by Tama Takahashi for a five-course ultra gourmet dinner at Rockwood Women’s Club. Guests began […]

YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 26, 2018

On April 21, the California Highway Patrol’s chipmunk mascot, Chipper, helped to donate toys to families affected by the recent fires and mudslides at the Montecito YMCA.  Spin Master toy company donated 12.5 pallets of toys to the California Highway Patrol. Chipper passed out toys and greeted kids at the event, which is a national […]

Good Friday Breakfast
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 22, 2018

The Santa Barbara Family YMCA has announced that Dr. Joseph Bondarenko, former “KGB’s Most Wanted,” will speak at the 41st Annual Good Friday Breakfast on March 30. The event will take place at the Earl Warren Showgrounds at 7 am.  “After the recent hardships our community has faced, it’s important to break bread together, feed […]

Reopening the Village
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   February 1, 2018

Within the last week, Montecito started to return to normal, with the gradual reopening of the upper village shops, the YMCA, Montecito Library, several preschools, and Montecito Union School.   The shops and restaurants in the upper village were closed a significant portion of December, due to mandatory evacuations during the Thomas Fire. Reopened for […]

Montecito’s Year in Review 2017
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 4, 2018

As another year passes, we reflect on notable events in the Montecito community. From California’s largest wildfire, progress on development and new businesses, school happenings, retirements, and more, 2017 was a busy year in Montecito. While far from all-inclusive, here is a snapshot of our community’s happenings in 2017.  Thomas Fire   Without a doubt, […]