New Members on Board

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara has announced four new board members.

The fab four are Elizabeth Cholawsky, a technology executive, Erika Culwell, a financial advisor, Sandy Seale, with a master’s and doctorate in engineering from MIT, and Ashley Parker Snider, who has worked in sales and marketing at the Fess Parker Winery in Los Olivos since 1989. She is also currently a board member for Direct Relief and Bishop Garcia Diego High School.

The foundation has given in excess of $167 million to 64,000 county students since its founding in 1962.

Wine & Palms

Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force at the weekend for the two-day California Wine Festival with a rare and reserve-level opening night at the Hilton’s Plaza del Sol and a beachside bash opposite Chase Palm Park billed as “an event for the senses” with 250 wines from more than 70 vintners and 30 eateries 24 hours later.

There was also a Best Tri-Tip 805 barbecue contest. Part of the proceeds went to the Foodbank of Santa Barbara.

I’ll drink to that.

Charity Visit

Prince Harry visited Angola last week to see the landmine work being done by the Halo Trust charity.

It mirrored the scene of his late mother Princess Diana making a similar visit 28 years ago for the British organization.

Since 1994 more than 123,000 landmines have been cleared from national parks and family-friendly common areas.

More than one million landmines still remain. 

Show Ratings

The Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle show With Love, Meghan failed to break into Netflix’s top 300 programs for the first half of 2025.

The lifestyle show was part of the Riven Rock couple’s $100 million deal with the streamer.

Meghan’s show is ranked at No. 383 this year with just 53 million viewers across the globe.

And it wasn’t any better for Prince Harry, whose passion project on polo ranked at 3,436 out of around 7,000, with a disastrous 500,000 views internationally.

Work Colleagues 

Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow had eyes for British actor Hugh Grant while dating actor Brad Pitt, according to a new book Gwyneth, The Biography by Amy Odell.

While filming in 1996 and going out with Pitt, she had a secret passion for Grant, who was dating actress Elizabeth Hurley at the time.

Pitt and Paltrow broke up in 1997 reportedly because Pitt felt “overshadowed” by her success.

Montecito Matrimony

Selena Gomez, the Only Murders in the Building actress, and music producer Benny Blanco are planning to tie the knot in a star-studded ceremony in Montecito in September.

The lavish event, according to London’s Daily Mail, will be attended by close friends and family, including singer Taylor Swift and her NFL star beau Travis Kelce.

The late summer weather is “ideal’ for the singer, 32, and Blanco, 37, because of their busy schedules.

The couple got engaged in December 2024, after dating for year.

Taking a Tour

Down Under

Oprah Winfrey is set to return to the antipodes in November for the first time in 15 years for a five-date speaking tour.

The former TV talk show titan, 71, is planning a series of appearances across Australia, making her first Down Under visit since 2010.

Oprah is also expected to enjoy a private holiday while she is in the country.

Mechanical Mishap

Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry suffered a near-miss as she almost fell out of the air while performing in San Francisco at the weekend.

Fans were left panicked by the heart stopping moment as the singer, 40, belted out her hit “Roar” while soaring through the sky on a mechanical butterfly.

Katy initially looked at ease as she soared over the crowd at the Chase Center while singing during her Lifetimes Tour concert.

However, matters took a turn for the worst as she suddenly plunged downwards as the flying machine appeared to malfunction.

Katy stopped singing as she tried to compose herself before continuing with the show.

Sightings

Josh Holloway noshing at Olio e Limone… Kevin Costner at The Nugget in Summerland… Josh Brolin at Pierre Lafond.

Pip! Pip!