Raising Our Light in Montecito
Last Wednesday, January 9, on the one-year anniversary of the 1/9 debris flow that devastated our community in 2018, nearly 1,500 residents turned out to mark the occasion with a gathering in Lower Manning Park followed by a candlelit walk down San Ysidro Road, culminating at All Saints-by-the-Sea Church.
As community members began gathering in the park, music was provided by Robert Brown, Lynette Gaona, and Peter Melnick. A Chumash blessing was sung by Marcus V.O. Lopez, Casmali Lopez, and Marcus Lopez, Chumash educators and activists, who were residents of Old Spanish Town in Montecito during the devastating debris flow. David Landecker provided the sounding of the shofar, leading into the short program that began with an introduction by MUS superintendent Anthony Ranii and All Saints Rector Aimee Eyer-Delevett, followed by the singing of “Amazing Grace” by mudslide survivor Lauren Cantin. A candle-lighting ceremony came next, featuring the lighting of candles by several leaders in our community. The names of each of the 23 victims of the mudslide were read, followed by a moment of silence. Carie Baker-Corey, who lost two of her daughters, Morgan Corey, and Sawyer Jane Baker Corey, read a poem written by Sawyer before her death.
Cold Spring School superintendent Dr. Amy Alzina introduced the multi-school choir, a choir made up of children from Cold Spring School, Montecito Union, Crane Country Day School, Laguna Blanca Lower School, and our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic School, which sang “This Little Light of Mine” before leading the participants on the candlelit walk. Walkers traversed San Ysidro Road, which was closed off by local law enforcement. Two beams of blue light –one shining from the Montecito Inn, the other from All Saints – led the way.
Upon arrival at All Saints, participants were greeted by volunteers with the Organic Soup Kitchen, who passed out warm cups of soup. The church bells rang 23 times in honor of the 1/9 victims. People gathered in the church to hear more music and to reflect upon the past year.
The large scale event was pulled off by many organizations and entities, including Montecito Community Foundation, All Saints, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Montecito Covenant Church, El Montecito Presbyterian Church, Habitat for Humanity, Behavioral Wellness, 805 Conservation Fund, Cottage Health, Congregation B’nai B’rith, Montecito Shul, Santa Barbara City College Foundation, Montecito Fire, Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade, Montecito Association, Women’s Economic Ventures, Institute of Collective Trauma and Growth, Jeanine’s Bakery, the Organic Soup Kitchen, the Miramar, the County and Supervisor Das Williams’ office, and all the local schools.
