Author spotlight: Joanne A Calitri

Joanne A Calitri MPA is a professional international photographer & journalist, and News Correspondent for the Montecito Journal Media Group LLC since 2002. Email: artraks@yahoo.com

New Beginnings Counseling Center Opens New Location
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 20, 2023

Santa Barbara’s New Beginnings Counseling Center (SBNBCC) held its grand opening with a ribbon cutting reception on Friday, June 9, at its new location, 530 East Montecito Street, Suite 101. The event was well attended, with noted state and local politicians – Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA24), Senator Monique Limón, First District Supervisor Das Williams, District […]

Our Town’s 21st Annual Graduation Issue 3 of 3 
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 20, 2023

This graduation issue has, in order of occurrence: the YMCA Preschool, Cold Spring School, Laguna Blanca Lower School, Montecito Union School, the El Montecito Early School, and Crane Country Day School. The Montecito Journal wishes much success and congratulations to our graduates, school faculty, staff, and parents! YMCA Preschool 2023 Graduation The YMCA Preschool 2023 […]

Hillside House Annual Sunset Soirée By-the-Sea
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 13, 2023

The Hillside House held its annual Sunset Soirée By-the-Sea fundraiser at the Cabrillo Pavilion on Saturday June 3, a sold-out event. Funds raised are directly used for enrichment activities for the quality of life of Hillside House’s residents, including outings to parks, beaches, activities, socialization with the community, and the staff that makes it all […]

Our Town’s 21st Annual Graduation Issue 2 of 3
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 13, 2023

Our town’s schools are holding their graduations from May 21 through June 9th this year. The eight local school graduations are covered in order of occurrence.  This issue has Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the YMCA Preschool. The Montecito Journal wishes much success and congratulations to our graduates, school faculty, staff and parents! Our […]

June Retreat with H.E. Khondung Avikrita Vajra Sakya Rinpoche in Goleta
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 13, 2023

Tara Ling of Santa Barbara is announcing an in-person weekend retreat with H.E. Khondung Avikrita Vajra Sakya Rinpoche, the Head Lama of Phuntsok Phodrang, Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. The retreat is Saturday June 24 from 9 am to 4:30pm and Sunday June 25 from 9 am to 12 pm at the Embarcadero Municipal Improvement District […]

Our Town’s 21st Annual Graduation Issue 1 of 3 
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 6, 2023

Our town’s schools are holding their graduations from May 21 through June 9th this year. The eight local school graduations are covered in order of occurrence.  This issue has Cate School leading the charge with 71 graduates. The Montecito Journal wishes much success and offers congratulations to our graduates, school faculty, staff and parents! Cate […]

First Annual Casa del Herrero Docent Graduation 
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 6, 2023

Casa del Herrero held a graduation ceremony on Thursday May 25 for the volunteers who completed the docent training program. This ceremony is the first graduation held for docents to formally induct them into the docent body, and will likely continue a new tradition for the organization. The Chair of the Docent Committee, Carolyn Williams, […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Picnic Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   June 6, 2023

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation held a picnic fundraiser at the Montecito Country Club on Sunday May 21 in the afternoon. Guests were asked to wear summer whites attire and bring the kids for an all ages fun day with picnic lunch. There were tables and picnic blankets on the lawn to choose from, and […]

Montecito Union School Foundation Annual Gala
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 30, 2023

The Montecito Union School Foundation (MUSF) held its annual fundraiser gala on Saturday, May 20 at the Montecito estate of Blaine and Valerie Lando. The event was sold out at over 200 guests, with sponsors also donating tables to MUS staff and teachers to attend the gala. Everyone was upbeat in their more-than-Sunday-best, with mostly […]

Orianna Cacchione: New Assistant Director at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum UCSB
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 30, 2023

The Art, Design & Architecture [AD&A] Museum at UCSB’s newest acquisition is the hire of Orianna Cacchione, PhD, as its Assistant Director. Filling a long vacant position, she brings new perspectives, background, and for certain, relief, to its Executive Director Gabe Ritter, PhD.  Our interview on Wednesday May 17, was at the museum, during the […]

Brooke Green New Head of Laguna Blanca Lower School
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 30, 2023

Laguna Blanca School has announced that Brooke Green M.Ed. will be taking on the role of Head of the Lower School Montecito commencing July 1, 2023. Green is an alumnus of Laguna Blanca School 1997, has been the Lower School’s third grade instructor and their Learning Specialist grades two through four since 2013; and taught […]

19th Annual Celebration of SB Women’s Fund Grant Recipients
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 23, 2023

The Women’s Fund (WF) of Santa Barbara’s 19th Annual Celebration of Grants reception was held for members and their guests on May 9 at the sold-out Marjorie Luke Theatre. The Women’s Fund is an all-volunteer-led collective donor organization that enables women to combine their charitable dollars into significant grants addressing the critical needs of women, […]

VNA Health’s Mother’s Day Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 23, 2023

The VNA Health’s 22nd Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon Fundraiser, a.k.a. Love fest, took place May 12 at the SB Hilton Ballrooms. The event celebrated Dame Olivia Newton-John as their Remembered Mother and Rona Barrett as their Honored Mother. The sold-out-for-months event with more than 300 attendees saw many familiar faces of philanthropy in our town, […]

Mad Hatter Returns! 24th Annual Transition House Fundraiser
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 23, 2023

The 24th Annual Transition House Mad Hatter luncheon took place on May 11 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara SB grand ballrooms. The 230 guests wore all manner of millinery attire with designer matching outfits. The theme was Garden Party at the Ritz. Hats ranged from antique 1920s lace, feathered hats, Vegas fedoras with an Ace of […]

Dr. Helena Ndume Awarded ASCRS Humanitarian Award
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 16, 2023

Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International announced the prestigious American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery’s (ASCRS) 2023 Chang-Crandall Humanitarian Award recipient is Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia, who SEE has collaborated with for more than 25 years. The award, presented on May 6 in San Diego, honors her life’s work to date and continuing in […]

Return of the 21st Annual Blue Water Ball
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 16, 2023

After a four-year hiatus, the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper organization held its signature fundraiser, The Blue Water Ball, on May 7 at the Santa Barbara Cabrillo Pavilion Ballroom overlooking our beautiful ocean, coast, and view of the SB Channel Islands. The sold-out event of all things blue had guests in ocean-inspired attire. Dinner tables sported seafaring […]

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Upcoming Picnic
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 16, 2023

The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) announced its annual picnic fundraiser to be held at the Montecito Country Club (MCC). The event proves to be a super-fun and low-key way for people to contribute to their foundation. The event cochairs, Sofie Langhorne and Deborah Stanley, are asking attendees to don a “summer white” outfit of […]

Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Inspire Luncheon with Jane Seymour
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 9, 2023

The return of the in-person Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Inspire Luncheon was sold out – more than 400 guests filling all three SB Hilton ballrooms on Wednesday, April 26. There was a super up-buzz in the air at the reception as guests connected with friends. VIPs were seen at the step’n’repeat for media photographs. Next to […]

23rd Youth and Family Services YMCA’s Reaching for Stars
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 9, 2023

The Channel Islands YMCA Youth & Family Service (YFS) held their 23rd annual fundraising event titled, Reaching for Stars, at the Cabrillo Pavilion on Wednesday, April 26. The event funds its five-tiered service programs for youth through age 24: Youth and Family Services, Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, St. George Youth Center, My Home, and […]

SBMA Women’s Board Annual Fundraiser: The return of Off the Wall
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 9, 2023

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art Women’s Board decided to do their signature event, Off the Wall, for their annual fundraiser and to pay tribute in memoriam to one of its co-founders, Cecia Hess, who started this lively auction in 2007 with Peggy Odgers. This is the 7th time it has been held since inception […]

12th Annual NAMM Report Part 2: AI tech & traditional music gear
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 2, 2023

First stop, the Innovation Lounge for AI with an immersive speaker system by Genelec and hosted by GPU Audio. I went to the Neural Synthesis machine learning (ML) music-making demo by CJ Carr, head of audio research at Harmonai and band member of DADABOTS. He did live ML sampling, and to make it real he […]

Larry J. Feinberg x Michael G. Wilson Director’s Dialogue SBMA
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 2, 2023

The SB Museum (SBMA) of Art’s Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Director Larry J. Feinberg hosted his Director’s Dialogue with Michael G. Wilson, renowned and accoladed screenwriter and producer of the James Bond film series since 1979 with his sister Barbara Broccoli. Both were recently promoted from OBE to Commander of the Order of the British […]

Profant Foundation Fashion Show at SB Woman’s Club Luncheon
By Joanne A Calitri   |   May 2, 2023

The SB Woman’s Club at Rockwood hosted a Fiesta fashion show-luncheon on April 19th. The Profant Foundation for the Arts donated their Vintage Fiesta Costume Collection and the models were members of the SB Woman’s Club.  During the luncheon and reception, a slide show depicting the history of the Profant family and their involvement in […]

12th Annual NAMM Report: Part 1: 50 Years of Hip Hop Saves the NAMM Show
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 25, 2023

The NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation stepped up to the plate on diversity, equity, and inclusion by acknowledging, awarding, and celebrating Hip Hop music “from the lens and expertise of its musicians, engineers, music brands, and gear used to create Hip Hop” during its NAMM Show (April 13-15) at the Anaheim Convention Center.  […]

Jane Seymour Keynote Speaker at Upcoming Alzheimer’s Event
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 18, 2023

The Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter is hosting their annual Women’s Initiative Inspire luncheon on April 26 at the Hilton Beachfront Resort. Tickets are selling fast, as Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress Jane Seymour is the keynote speaker. When I spoke with Katina Zaninovich, Board Chair and Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Committee Chair, about […]

Society Does National Walk Day with Denise Austin
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 18, 2023

A society news reporter goes where the news is, and this week the spotlight is on fitness. Get those sneakers on kids! April 5th marked the annual American Heart Association’s (AHA) National Walking Day—and the start of your new exercise goals during April walking month. To celebrate it in true California-Girl style is fitness icon […]

Fr. Virgil Cordano Center: Meals, Laundry, and Comfort…
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 11, 2023

The repurposed Santa Barbara store fronts at 4020 Calle Real, Suite 2, are serving our city’s homeless two meals a day – and a place to call home from 9 am to 3 pm. This is the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center (FVCC), conceived by the Daughters of Charity at St. Vincent’s and the Franciscan Friars […]

Girls Inc of Greater SB & Girls Inc Carpinteria Working to Keep Our Girls & Teens Strong, Smart, and Bold
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 11, 2023

This is the motto of Girls Inc, founded in 1864 as a movement called the Girls Club of America in Waterbury, CT, and tasked itself to help young women migrating from rural areas to find a job after the Civil War. Fourteen charter clubs were joined into a national organization [1945] by Rachel Harris Johnson, and changed […]

SB Cottage Hospital Foundation’s Annual Tiara Ball
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 4, 2023

The beloved annual Tiara Ball held by the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation (CHF)is as glamorous as it is dedicated to raising funds to continue supporting and expanding its latest health care services, and its top rank in the country – in 2020, Newsweek ranked the leading hospitals in 21 countries, listing Santa Barbara Cottage […]

Talking TLC with SB Humane
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 4, 2023

This week we visited with Kerri Burns, CEO of SB Humane and her team of CFO Paige Van Tuyl, and COO Dori Villalon at the Santa Barbara location on Overpass Road. The four-acre property holds a veterinary clinic and surgery center, food, lodging and training of dogs, a cat hotel, and offers shelter during local disasters […]

Women’s History Month with Women Professional Barbers
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 28, 2023

To celebrate local women of history, this column dedicates the month of March to them – their contributions, their stories, their inspiration, and opportunities to support. This week we are talking with our town’s women barbers. While the barber profession began over 6,000 years ago in Egypt, pushing the bar upward are women barbers who […]

Women’s History Month with Wendy Sims-Moten
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 21, 2023

To celebrate local women of history, this column dedicates the month of March to them – their contributions, their stories, their inspiration, and opportunities to support. “Anywhere there is a woman, she is creating impact.” This is the quote of a most accomplished woman whose career spans 26 years with the County of Santa Barbara […]

Clay Studio’s Art Exhibition for Women’s History Month
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 21, 2023

Clay Studio, founded by Patrick Hall in 2012, held its first exhibition to honor women in ceramics as part of Women’s History Month at its new facility in Goleta. The show, titled Women Makers, Then, Now, Here, opened on March 8, drawing 300 visitors to its three-year-old 24,000-square-foot facility. The showcase is on view through […]

A Talk with Leonie H. Mattison, PGI’s CEO and President
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 14, 2023

To celebrate local women of history, this column dedicates the month of March to them – their contributions, their stories, their inspiration, and opportunities to support. As a Black woman born in Jamaica, West Indies, growing up in Queens, New York City, and deciding to make Santa Barbara home 15 years ago, Leonie H. Mattison, […]

Montessori Center School Annual Benefit
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 14, 2023

The Montessori Center School held its annual soirée benefit at the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club on March 4. The theme, “The Golden Age of Jazz,” brought more gold lurex to this side of the Nile that could rival the rate of inflation. Men in pinstriped, wool zoot suits to tuxedos with bowler hats escorted their […]

Mandatory Forest and Trails Closures, and Montecito Hot Springs Monitoring
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 7, 2023

After receiving a report of five cameras being placed around the Montecito Hot Springs areas and several agencies unaware of their presence, Montecito Journal reached out to local authorities for answers regarding the cameras. The response received was concerned with the current mandatory closure of the local forests, trails, and recreation areas to the public, […]

SB Museum of Art Women’s Board New Members’ Luncheon
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 7, 2023

On Feb. 21, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) Women’s Board held its annual New Members luncheon at the Santa Barbara Club downtown. The event was chaired by board Vice President Karen Tenzer and the event committee was President Paula Farrington, Jean McCourt, and Linda Wortham. The private gala was artfully done with fresh […]

Women’s History Month with Pamela Dillman Haskell
By Joanne A Calitri   |   March 7, 2023

Uncredited inventors in science, math, aeronautics, architecture, music, and art, women have made numerous contributions to everyday life. Heralding causes from suffragettes, No Kid Hungry, health care, truth in cosmetic ingredients, and redefining beauty – women strive to change the patriarchal narrative.  Take notes, Almar Latour, the hemline index, rather the long and short of […]

Black History Month Feature Interview Part 2: Warren B. Ritter II
By Joanne A Calitri   |   February 28, 2023

As we near the end of Black History Month, hopefully all of us have given ourselves the opportunity to explore and experience Black history, culture, contributions, and successes.  The Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. writes, “Carter G. Woodson and his co-workers were many, ranging from college presidents and government […]

Black History Month Part 1: Darrell M. McNeill and Sally A. Foxen-McNeill SB Black Culture House
By Joanne A Calitri   |   February 21, 2023

Black History Month (BHM) is an annual national celebration during February that commenced with Negro History Week (February 1926) initiated by Carter G. Woodson, founder of Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). Later in the 1940s, Blacks in West Virginia began to celebrate February as Negro History Month, and by 1960 […]