Author spotlight: Joanne A Calitri

To start the year, Casa del Herrero Executive Director Rosie Rafferty announced their new Board of Trustees officers and members as follows: Beth Esrey, President; Isabel Wendt, Vice President; Mari McAlister, Secretary; Lily Marx, Treasurer; and new Board of Trustee Members: Susan Budinger, Miles Hartfeld, Marty McDermut, and Kevin O’Toole.  Esrey replaced Board of Trustees […]

The Santa Barbara Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on January 4, 2025. This was part of the 125th National Audubon’s CBC.  This year the Santa Barbara CBC Team leaders are:  Libby Patten, Head CBC Compiler and Coordinator/Compiler for North SB and the Boat team; Glenn Kincaid, Scouting Coordinator, Head Data Coordinator, and the Compiler […]

The Montecito Association Annual and January meeting was held in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom, Tuesday, January 21. MA President Doug Black called the Annual MA meeting to order, and held a vote to ratify the 2025 actions of the MA Board. He highlighted what the MA accomplished in 2024, […]

The Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation – in conjunction with the Carpinteria-Summerland Firefighters and the Carpinteria Firefighters Local 3368 – set up a donation drop-off at the house next to the Carpinteria fire station on Walnut Street. Heading the drive from the SBSCFF is its founder Gail Kvistad of “Living Local,” who has served […]

For this week’s wellness feature, I dove into the pool of health offerings at the Montecito YMCA with its Executive Director Ryan Power. He said, “This is a great time to join the Montecito YMCA. We are currently running a membership promotion, if you sign up by January 31st the joining fee is $0. Your […]

For the 7th year, the lives of the 23 Montecito residents who lost their lives in the 2018 mudslides were honored in a solemn ceremony, Raising Our Light, on Thursday, January 9, outside in the Montecito Union School parking lot.  There, with the Montecito Fire Department Engine as backdrop, was the podium for the speakers […]

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 […]

From Sunday, January 12, through Wednesday, January 15 – Crane Country Day School and All Saints-by-the-Sea Parish Montecito held a donation and pick up drive for the L.A. Fire evacuees staying in the area. Donations were received at All Saints-by-the-Sea Parish Hall and outside grassy areas, and a private area was provided where L.A. Fire […]

Cold Spring School, Montecito Union School and the Montecito YMCA preschool at the time of this report have initiated their educational response for the L.A. fire evacuee children who are staying with Montecito friends and families, at Montecito hotels, and temporarily renting Montecito housing.  Over the weekend through Monday, I started an email thread with […]

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 […]

In a most elegant fashion, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Board of Trustees will hold their 1st Gilded Gala black-tie fundraiser at the Rosewood Miramar Beach on Saturday, March 1. Society Invites is here with all the finer details of this signature “black-tie with a glimmer of gold” gala funding event, as I interviewed […]

As we continue with our January Wellness features, this week it’s all about detoxing your home environment, the products we use, and other external influences. No point in working on our healthy bodies with great food and exercise if there are external factors interfering with it. With that, I interviewed Karen Bloom, who created her […]

A warm welcome to our New Year 2025 First Baby, Esther Love Boyko! Esther was born on Wednesday, January 1, at 3:07 am at the Birth Center at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (SBCH). Her stats are 19.5 inches long, weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces. She is the fourth child of Mariam and Igor Boyko. Igor […]

Chabad Montecito’s 2nd Annual Chanukah celebration and public Menorah lighting took place on Thursday, December 26, from 4 to 6 pm at the Corner Green in front of Pierre Lafond on East Valley Road. The celebration was led (and originally established) by Chabad of Montecito’s Executive Director Rabbi Chaim Loschak and his wife Mushkie Loschak, […]

Carpinteria’s Ad Hoc Harbor Seal Advisory Committee may recommend the city close the Harbor Seal Rookery to human access year-round to save the declining harbor seal population. That would close approximately 1,500 feet of the beach, which contains the rookery. The Ad Hoc Committee’s late December meeting was to review the findings of the seal […]

It’s Merry and Bright at the San Ysidro Ranch now through New Year’s, with festive décor, music, and twinkling lights from the resort entrance and throughout the restaurants, cottages, and outdoor gardens. Holiday trees colorfully decorated were placed in key locations and the Speakeasy has an array of 2,500 twinkling ornaments cascading from the ceiling.  […]

The most looked forward to holiday party behind the hedgerow in Montecito is the Casa del Herrero Soirée, titled Home for the Holidays, held this year on Saturday, December 14.  Upon entering, guests were greeted by lovely ballerinas from the State Street Ballet, celebrating The Nutcracker. Spanish guitar études by Chris Fossek filled the atmosphere. […]

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s 12th Annual Conservation Symposium, titled  “Seeds of Change: Conservation Through Diversity,” will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Santa Barbara County Education Auditorium, and online. It is presented by the Nakashima-Rennie Family and sponsored by S&S Seeds.  Two keynotes will be guest presenter and symposium honoree Peggy […]

The Montecito Association December meeting was held in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom, Tuesday, December 10. MA President Doug Black was absent. The meeting was led by 2nd Vice President Leslie Lundgren with assistance by MA Executive Director Houghton Hyatt. Via Zoom, Montecito Fire Chief David Neels updated attendees on […]

The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (SBRM) Women’s Auxiliary held its annual Bethel House Christmas Tea for its women in recovery program on Wednesday, December 11 at the home of Susan Hughes. Organizing the event were newly appointed SBRM Women’s Auxiliary President Cindy Anderson,with Auxiliary members Dianne Davis, and Kirsten Walters. This beloved holiday celebration for […]

Montecito Association Hosts 4th Annual Parade of Lights, Cars, and Holiday Spirit The Montecito Association’s 4th Annual Holiday Car Parade took place on Saturday, December 14 at 5pm. The celebration started at 3 pm in the Upper Village with a Sip ‘n’ Shop and live music by Maitland Ward. Signing up to be in the […]

Richie Ramirez and head barber Jessica Jay launched the Barbershop’s 13th Annual Charity fundraiser for the holidays, on Friday, December 6. The annual charity event was started humbly in 2011 with Richie’s love of kids. He launched first the “Toys for Tots” where he collected three oversized moving boxes of toys for kids that were […]

The annual tradition of decorating the Hathaway Tree at Manning Park was held by the Montecito Association and its Montecito Beautification members, in collaboration with Montecito Fire, on Wednesday, December 4, in the afternoon. There were at least 30 adults, a handful of kids, and two doggies on hand to help, along with water and […]

It was cannons and gun powder and planks to walk – aye aye the pirates have arrived! this year for the 38th Annual Boat Parade of Lights, held on Sunday, December 8. Our proud sailors, boaters, and commercial fishermen took this year’s theme, “Yule Tide Pirates” to the next level with their spectacular boat lighting, […]

Your Society gal shares with you that Montecito is always the best for parties. Our little town is looking more like Rodeo Drive with our exclusive shops and restaurants, and now with the holiday lights and décor, including a tree and soon a menorah. This year marks the 2nd Annual Coast Village Association’s Holiday Tree […]

The Montecito Association Land Use Committee (LUC) December meeting was held Tuesday, December 3, 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 ED Houghton Hyatt, President Doug Black, Music Academy of the […]

The Friendship Center in Montecito held its annual Thanksgiving lunch for its members and their families and friends, on Wednesday, November 27, outside on the patio. The membership has grown 30% in the last year and the event was packed. Noted members at the lunch were Luis Cabello with his daughters Patty and Graciela;and 101 […]

St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara held its 14th Annual Fashion Show Luncheon fundraiser on Saturday, November 30 – and for the 3rd year it was held at the Rosewood Miramar Beach. This annual event is always sold out and is traditionally held on the Saturday following Thanksgiving.  The event is sponsored by Claudia Lash and Pat […]

Local and international fashion designer Catherine Gee will be hosting Hado Being Aura Photography at her eponymous store in La Arcada on Saturday, December 7th. Hado Being describes aura photography as showing “the current state of your energy being and can provide you with an abundance of information about yourself.”  Schedule a unique aura photo […]

Art & Soul has a new secondary location with an exhibit to (artistically) boot! The gallery has opened a new spot at 1323 State Street next to the Arlington Theatre in the ARTS District. It will kick off its Grand Opening with the exhibit, The Art of Place, featuring artists – Brad Betts, John Baran, […]

At the beginning of November, the Friendship Center held its 12th Annual Wine Down at the Arlington Theater with a special twist – this year’s event included a ghoulish costume theme given its proximity to Halloween. This sold-out event brought food, dancing, and much more to a crowd of 130 guests, raising nearly $60,000 in […]

The Mate Gallery co-owners Matt Albiani and Ron Brand have confirmed with me on Monday, November 25, L.L. Bean will be sold for the first time in a California retail store at their Mate Gallery in the Montecito Country Mart!  In the store will be L.L. Bean’s Boat and Tote open top tote bag, classic […]

The cutest dual pop-up ever to hit Coast Village Road was held at Poppy Marchéon Friday, November 22. The independent shop owners for the dual pop-up were owner of Bunny Shapiro Beads Bunny Shapiro and Courtney Ormond of laCalifornienne. Shapiro and Ormond have been Instagram friends and met in person at the pop-up. The combination […]

Friday late afternoon, I deliberately stopped by the Montecito Country Mart to find out the grand opening of Sunspel for you. The store was assembled and finishing touches on the clothing were being done. I spoke with Sunspel Manager Perle Overney, who shared that the grand opening will be Saturday, December 7, from 12-6 pm. […]

Truck racing superstar Dan Chamlee, founder of The Factory Racing, Inc.has officially won the Class 7 Title at the 2024 Baja 1000 race on November 15-16. This is the 9th Baja 1000 win for Factory Racing, Inc.  On Dan’s team this year were his wife Laurie as Crew Chief. Riding in the truck with him […]

Vistas Lifelong Learning organization held its annual Margerum Distinguished Speaker Program featuring Dr. Joel Rothman, at the Music Academy, Montecito, on Thursday, November 21. The event co-chairs were Leslie White and Jill Breedon.  The program, entitled “Extending Healthy Lifespan: Promises and Societal Challenges of Longevity Science,” was sold out at standing room only. Rothman has […]