1 Oct 2024
[Re]-Discovery of the Rare Saints’ Daisy Flower on Santa Cruz Island
The Nature Conservancy contacted me about a “re-discovery” of a rare and endangered lavender daisy on Santa Cruz Island, called Saints’ Daisy, last seen there 59 years ago. The discovery was by Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s [SBBG] Rare Plant Field Program Manager Sean Carson, who, with his colleague John Knapp, Senior Island Scientist for The […]
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Women in Communication: Turning Passion into Career
As a Santa Barbara wine expert, I’ve learned that the finest vintages are best enjoyed with inspiring company—and that’s exactly what I found with the Association for Women in Communications, Santa Barbara. Serving on the board has been an absolute delight, immersing me in a vibrant community of brilliant women who are as passionate about […]
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Pupping
They behaved like rambunctious children – playful, and inquisitive. They’d also never seen a kayaker before. Three-month-old northern fur seal pups were almost knocking me out of my kayak while paddling around Point Bennett on San Miguel Island. May and June are an exciting time to be on the Channel Islands National Park. There’s anticipation […]
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Miramar Madness: More Lame Duck Gamesmanship
On the eve of Supervisor Elect Roy Lee’s term, it’s positively mind-blowing to see how fast our County apparatus and its various apparatchiks can push various and controversial First District projects forward. Allow me to explain: Rules and process matter because without them Special Interests can – with the help of favoring Supes and the […]
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On Retreat: Hearing Your Inner Truth Through Peace and Time Away
Sometimes, taking time away to be quiet and introspective is exactly what’s called for. This might be simply when you’ve been working hard and need a break. Or, in response to a significant event like a big birthday, a career change, or when the kids leave home. It might be precipitated by a health issue, […]
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From Zero to a Hundred-Ten
There are days when the most exciting things my wife and I do are Wordle… “Got it in four.” Ha! I got it in three.” Well, just wait until tomorrow.” Dispense boxes of cereal into their new “ant-proof” plastic vaults… “Raisin Bran done.” “Check.” “Special K done.” “Check.” “Cheerios… ah, dang. Broom.” “Check.” And maybe […]
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It Had to Happen (Or Did It?)
One of my favorite poems is by a woman named Susan Marr Spalding. It’s called “Fate,” and is in two parts, each of nine lines. It contrasts the different ways life could have turned out for two presumably imaginary couples. In the first part, the man and woman lead lives which make it extremely unlikely […]
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The Versatility of Ariel Leira
Ariel Leira is a multidisciplinary visual artist and writer who grew up amongst the trees of Montecito, documenting her TRAVELS through glowing, abstract photography and heartfelt poetry. She was a lifer at Crane Country Day School – where we met in fifth grade – and graduated from Santa Barbara High School. Leira’s artistic proclivities began […]
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Okra
Her Produce has some green and red okra at the farmers market right now and let me tell you, if you haven’t tried okra before go and grab some of this delicious fruit. That’s right – it’s technically a fruit as it is a flowering plant with edible seed pods. Grown mainly in warm climates, […]
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How Faith-Based Colleges Shape Students
Guests from the Lilly Network of more than 100 faith-based colleges and universities will examine the initial findings of a study about the intellectual-religious experience of undergraduates at the network’s national conference hosted by Westmont’s Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts on September 27-29. The Springtide Institute study, commissioned by the Lilly Network of Church-Related […]
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Third Annual Unite to Light Weekend Gala & Art Exhibit
The 3rd Annual Unite to Light Fundraiser Gala is October 18 – 19, at the Community Arts Workshop on Garden Street. There are two Galas, an art x science x tech exhibit by 45 artists, performances by the State Street Ballet and the Selan Dance Collective, light painting, craft cocktails, DJs, and an after-hours party […]
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A Royal Fun Time at One805LIVE!
For the second consecutive year the One805LIVE! fundraiser at Oscar winner Kevin Costner’s Carpinteria estate was by royal appointment with Montecito resident Prince Harry, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week, presenting an award to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office helicopter pilot Loren Courtney. The Duke of Sussex, a former chopper pilot himself in the […]
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On a Roll with Rally4Kids
Michael Baker, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara County, definitely made a splash when he participated in the 9th annual Rally4Kids when 63 cars, ranging from Porsches to Ferraris, traveled a 142-mile route starting and ending at the Santa Barbara Polo Club, culminating in the Black and Gold Gala emceed by […]
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Green Gala Gets Funk-y
How appropriate that a Funk Zone locale dubbed the Bakery Block raised a lot of dough when the Community Environmental Council hosted its annual Green Gala for 250 guests raising more than $100,000 to help its work in protecting California’s Central Coast from the climate crisis. The boffo bash, co-chaired by Carolyn Fitzgerald, Katy Powers, […]
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Giving Symbols a Voice
A crowd of 80 guests descended on The Voice Art Gallery for a celebratory book lunch of the A History of Psychology Through Symbols, a two-volume set of textbooks written by local psychologist Dr. James Broderick and illustrated by Montecito artist Dr. Danuta Bennett. The curious crowd included Peter and Kathryn Martin, Brendon Twigden, Keith […]
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State Street Ballet En Pointe
Santa Barbara’s popular State Street Ballet kicked off its 30th anniversary year with a reception at the Riviera Bar downtown for 40 guests, including Brooks and Kate Firestone, Dan and Meg Burnham, Barbara Burger, Deborah Bertling, Tigran Sargsyan, Leila Drake, Jennifer Whalen, Cecily MacDougall, Scott Reed, and Jonathan Bishop. “It has been an extraordinary history,” […]
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Tunes to Remember
Four months ago, Rick Porter and his wife, former chanteuse Libby Aubrey-Porter, celebrated ten years of marriage with a bountiful bash at the Rosewood Miramar’s Manor Bar for 50 friends. The fun fête at the same venue was repeated when Libby, accompanied by her 14-year-old prize-winning West Highland terrier, Blessings, sang the songs of Cole […]
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New Members on Board
Lucy Firestone, Gregory Fuss, and Greg Giloth have been appointed to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees for a three-year term. Firestone is a producer, transformation coach and co-founder of Firestone Sisters’ natural perfume line, with more than 20 years’ experience creating content that inspires healing and growth. A Princeton graduate, […]
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Home Support
A third of U.K. residents support Prince Harry returning to the country on a permanent basis, a poll in the country’s Mail on Sunday has revealed. This represents a significant increase over the past six months, and suggests the Duke of Sussex, 40, has managed to turn the tide of public opinion. While more than […]
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