Brian and Birnam: The Green Green Grass of Home
By Jeff Wing   |   April 15, 2025

Brian O’Laughlin was born to it – his awkward orientation at Washington State University notwithstanding. “Everybody shows up and all the other students are holding their major signs. You know, ‘What’s your major?’ And I was just walking around aimlessly looking for my group. I asked someone from admin, ‘Excuse me. Where’s Turf Management?’” The […]

Hot Springs, Red Flags, and Congestion Enforcement
By Tiana Molony   |   March 11, 2025

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, county officials say Montecito’s hot springs have seen a surge in popularity. They attribute the increased foot traffic, in part, to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where posts have promoted the pools as a must-visit destination.  There were also reports of tour buses dropping off large groups at the […]

 

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Pipelines & Supes’ Salaries: Community and Organizations Flock to BOS Meeting
By Tiana Molony   |   March 4, 2025

Hundreds gathered outside the Santa Barbara County Administration Building on the morning of Tuesday, February 25th.  The focus of the day was the Board of Supervisors meeting, where they were to consider the appeals to the County Planning Commission’s (CPC) approval of Sable Offshore Corporation’s application for a change in owner, operator, and guarantor for […]

Intuitive da Vinci 5 Comes to Foothill Surgery Center
By Tiana Molony   |   February 25, 2025

A surgeon enters the operating room and sits on a stool in the corner. They lean in and rest their forehead on a cushioned viewfinder before placing their fingers in the appropriate loops. The surgeon begins the operation while the patient is just feet away. They’re using the Intuitive da Vinci 5, an advanced robotic […]

Crime in Montecito and Insurance Rates post-L.A. Fires
By Joanne A Calitri   |   February 25, 2025

The Montecito Association February 2025 meeting was held in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom, Tuesday, February 11. Leslie Lundgren, 1st VP MA, called the meeting to order and moderated the presentations. Present were MA Executive Director Houghton Hyatt and the full MA board. The top agenda item was the crime […]

Pools and Paths at the Land Use Meeting
By Joanne A Calitri   |   February 18, 2025

The Montecito Association (MA) Land Use Committee (LUC) February meeting was held Tuesday, February 4, at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by its Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the LUC members, Montecito residents, MA ED Houghton Hyatt, and Chip Wullbrandt of Price, Postel & Parma […]

Belrose Estate Jewelers
By Tiana Molony   |   February 11, 2025

It all started in 1967 in New Jersey on the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk. That’s where Joe Schweke’s parents, Rose and Sam Schweke, opened Belrose Galleries, selling a variety of objets d’art, fine jewelry, and antiques. “I grew up in and amongst opulent and rare and beautiful objects at a young age,” Joe shared, speaking […]

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  • Leader of the Pack: Jaclyn Sicilia: A Dog’s Best Friend
    By Zach Rosen   |   February 4, 2025

    Sure, the discovery of fire was kind of a big deal for humanity. But little did we know that that was also the moment we discovered a way to light up our life every single day. As early man and woman sat around their newly-invented flame, the enticing aroma of (let’s just assume) woolly mammoth […]

    Biltmore Project at the Land Use Meeting
    By Joanne A Calitri   |   January 21, 2025

    The Montecito Association Land Use Committee (LUC) January meeting was held Tuesday, January 7, in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by its Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the Land Use Committee members, MA Executive Director Houghton Hyatt, MA President Doug Black, land surveyor […]

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    Raising Our Light: Montecito Comes Together for the 7th Anniversary of the Debris Flow
    By Zach Rosen   |   January 14, 2025

    January 9th, 2018, is a night that Montecito will never forget, yet nature has provided some unwanted reminders. In 2023, heavy rains, flooding, and evacuations all took place on the very day of the 5th anniversary of the tragic Debris Flow in Montecito that took 23 lives. Even now, as the community prepares for the […]

    Roy Lee Takes Oath of Office as First District Supervisor
    By Joanne A Calitri   |   January 14, 2025

    In its first meeting of 2025, and its 125th convening, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors inducted into office three supervisors in an hour and half ceremony with much pomp and circumstance. Newly elected to the BOS is Roy Lee, First District, and taking their second and third terms respectively are Fourth District Supervisor […]

    Crime in the ‘Cito: Sheriff’s Blotter 93108
    By Montecito Journal   |   January 14, 2025

    False Alarm / 800 block Cold Spring Rd — Monday Dec 23, 2024, at 22:00 hours Reporting Party (RP) called law enforcement because she received concerning text messages from her estranged cousin she has not been in contact with over several years. RP stated her cousin texted her stating that he is close by and […]

    A Year in Review
    By Montecito Journal   |   December 31, 2024

    January As 2024 unfurled along California’s gilded coast, Santa Barbara’s January presented itself as a month of stark juxtapositions – where celebration and loss, preservation and development, tradition and change played out against a backdrop of perpetual sunshine. The Ritual of Renewal On New Year’s Day, while most of America huddled under blankets nursing champagne […]

    RH Montecito: The Old Firehouse Rekindled
    By Jeff Wing   |   December 24, 2024

    On the evening of Thursday, December 12, an unveiling took place in the heart of our Upper Village. RH Montecito – The Gallery at the Old Firehouse opened its doors with a flourish and in poured a colorful sampling of gifted local burghers, noted interior designers, and other species of happy creative gravitas – all […]

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