Calling all Kid Entrepreneurs! MCM Lemonade Stand, and More News Bytes
Time to sign up online for your child’s weekend slot at the Montecito Country Mart’s Annual Community Lemonade Stand. Weekend schedule is for July and August.
MCM’s hosting of your child’s lemonade stand is said to teach entrepreneurship while supporting a cause you (or your children) are fond of. How it works: MCM provides the venue, the stand, the cups, the dispenser, and the promotion. You (and your friends, family, kids, or whomever you wish) work the stand and provide your favorite lemonade recipe. After a nominal fee, all proceeds from the sale of lemonade are yours to donate to the charity of your choosing.
411: www.montecitocountrymart.com/community-lemonade
Rotary Club of Montecito Names New President
The Rotary Club of Montecito has selected Peter Buehler as its next president, with his term beginning July 1. Buehler succeeds a legacy close to home—his late wife, Kati Zeller Buehler, served as the club’s president in 2020 and was known for her passion for Rotary’s international mission.
A retired Presbyterian minister, Buehler spent four decades serving congregations in Santa Cruz, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara before retiring from First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara in 2018. He brings a lifelong commitment to community service, leadership, and relationship-building to his new role.
Looking ahead, Buehler hopes to expand the club’s service efforts and strengthen its community presence as the organization approaches its 75th anniversary in 2028. The Montecito chapter is known for initiatives ranging from disaster relief efforts to scholarships supporting SBCC Career and Technical Education students. As Buehler notes, Rotary’s guiding principle of “service above self” remains as relevant as ever.
OSK Highlights Growing Nutrition Crisis
As the cost of housing, healthcare, and groceries continues to climb, Organic Soup Kitchen is drawing attention to a growing challenge facing local residents: nutritional insecurity. The Santa Barbara nonprofit reports increasing demand for its medically-tailored meal programs, which provide nutrient-dense Soup Meals to low-income seniors, cancer patients, and individuals living with chronic illnesses.
Founded in 2009, Organic Soup Kitchen focuses on the connection between nutrition and health, particularly for vulnerable populations. According to the organization, more than 25,000 people in Santa Barbara County are living with cancer, and many face heightened risks of malnutrition during treatment. National research continues to demonstrate that medically tailored meal programs can improve health outcomes, reduce food insecurity, and potentially lower healthcare costs.
Today, Organic Soup Kitchen operates several nutrition support initiatives throughout the county, including its CenCal Medically Tailored Meals Program. With demand rising, portions of the program now maintain waiting lists. Community members can support the organization through donations, volunteering, or purchasing soups from its Haley Street distribution center, with proceeds helping fund meals for residents in need.
411: https://organicsoupkitchen.org
Jill Bell on Board for Hospice SB
Hospice of Santa Barbara has formally recognized Jill Bell as a member of its Board of Directors, bringing more than 30 years of leadership experience in engineering, consulting, executive coaching, and organizational strategy to the nonprofit. Bell, who joined the board in 2025, has advised senior leaders across industries including healthcare, education, technology, and finance.
Bell’s connection to Hospice of Santa Barbara is also deeply personal. Widowed at age 40, she understands the challenges families face during times of loss and has long admired the organization’s free counseling and bereavement services. She said her experiences have strengthened her commitment to helping expand access to support for individuals and families facing serious illness or grief.
Hospice of Santa Barbara CEO David Selberg praised Bell’s strategic expertise and mission-driven leadership, noting that her guidance will help the organization continue delivering compassionate care throughout the community.
Flying Goat Cellars Challenges SBWA in Federal Lawsuit
Flying Goat Cellars, a family-owned Santa Barbara County winery, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the county’s recently established Wine Business Improvement District (Wine BID). The suit argues that the program, adopted in February 2025, unconstitutionally requires wineries to pay a 1% assessment on sales and automatically become members of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association, which oversees the use of those funds.
Owners Norm Yost and Kate Griffith contend that the association’s marketing priorities do not align with their business model, which focuses on direct relationships with customers rather than broader promotional campaigns. Represented by the Goldwater Institute, Flying Goat argues the mandate violates First Amendment protections against compelled speech and association, as well as constitutional protections related to private property.
The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against both the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association.
Final Days to See Hunt Slonem Exhibition
Art lovers have just a short time left to experience Hunt Slonem’s debut exhibition at Seimandi & Leprieur Gallery, which closes on June 7. The show marks the celebrated American Neo-Expressionist’s first visit to Santa Barbara and his inaugural collaboration with the downtown gallery. Featuring more than 20 works, the exhibition showcases Slonem’s instantly recognizable visual language, including his iconic rabbits, birds, butterflies, and lush tropical motifs rendered in vibrant colors and textured brushwork.
With works held in more than 250 museum collections worldwide, including the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, Slonem is one of the most recognizable contemporary artists working today. As the exhibition enters its final weeks, visitors have a last opportunity to experience his immersive world of color, rhythm, and “Exotica” before the show comes to a close.
Explore Ecology Nature Explorers & Summer STEAM
Preschool Nature Explorersis a hands-on nature series designed especially for children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers. Stephanie Soicher, Garden Explorers program coordinator, will begin each session with a cozy story time, followed by interactive, nature-inspired activities that encourage connection with the natural world. Themes include Nature Art & Patterns, Building & Engineering, Sensory Exploration, and Nature’s Rhythm.
The six-week Summer STEAMseries is taught by Melissa Dodos, a credentialed elementary teacher and Explore Ecology’s Creative Reuse program coordinator. This highly interactive series encourages imagination while introducing science, art, and engineering in fun and accessible ways. Each class features a theme, including Animal Kingdoms, Let It Grow, Airborne Adventures, Groovy Gravity, Calming Collage, and Toys on the Move.
411: https://exploreecology.org
Celebrate National Trails Day
Take a hike or join a hiking group on Saturday, June 6; or sign up to volunteer to clear a trail. See Los Padres National Forest website listings, fire and safety data, and trail maps.
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