On Tuesday, May 3, the Montecito Association Land Use Committee met via Zoom to further discuss the parking issues at the Hot Springs Trailhead, which we’ve covered extensively over the last several weeks. On the call were 30 members of the community, including members of the Land Use Committee, as well as representatives from the […]
Earlier this month, we reported that there was pending litigation between several neighbors on East Mountain Drive and the County of Santa Barbara, regarding parking issues at the Hot Springs Trailhead. A preliminary hearing on the matter is scheduled next Friday, May 6. Petitioners Christopher Anderson, Ross Bagdasarian, Peter Barker, and James Morley, represented by […]
Earlier this month, Troop 1 of Los Padres Council held an Eagle Court of Honor to officially recognize six local high school students who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. A.J. Heinemann, Peter Moschitto, Davis Peterson, Rowen Manriquez, and Matthew Fernandes were joined by Kedrick Condie, who began his scouting career with Troop 1 […]
Montecito’s newest restaurant, Local, opens next week, located on the lower level of Coast Village Plaza (1187 Coast Village Road). The new, vibrant eatery is the brainchild of owner Michael Sheldon, who retired from his role as CEO of Goleta-based Curvature in 2017. “I’ve always loved food, cooking, wine, and the experience of eating in […]
Save the date for the 2nd Annual Teddy Bear Picnic at the Montecito Club, scheduled for Sunday, May 15. Along with all the other nonprofit organizations in the tri-counties, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) learned how to be flexible in their event planning and fundraising over the past two years. By re-imagining their signature events […]
The Montecito Water District will be replacing a 100-year-old stretch of pipeline on East Valley Road near Mount Carmel Church during the coming three to four weeks. This priority project will replace approximately 500 feet of water main that dates back to the 1920s. The start date of the project is Monday, April 25, with […]
Montecito Country Mart (MCM) has welcomed two new stores this month, both bringing fresh products to the Lower Village shopping center. DÔEN, the Los Angeles-based fashion and lifestyle brand, opened this past weekend; the opening marks the brand’s second permanent location. Owned by Santa Barbara-grown sisters Katherine and Margaret Kleveland, the shop features the brand’s […]
At this month’s Montecito Association meeting, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Lieutenant Butch Arnoldi reported on the most recent crime events in Montecito. Arnoldi noted an abandoned rental car on East Mountain Drive; vandalism at Hot Springs trailhead; mailbox destroyed on Buena Vista; intoxicated subject breaking into vehicle on Lilac Drive; embezzlement scam on School House […]
This weekend marks the grand opening celebration of Cashy’s Playpen on Coast Village Road. Owned by Caroline Martel-Miller, the new, aesthetically-pleasing doggie boutique offers toys, bedding, grooming supplies, wellness products, food, treats, home accent pieces, travel carriers, collars and leashes, and more. The grand opening is Friday, April 15, from 4-7 pm. Enjoy 10% off […]
The Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade is launching a new campaign this week, aimed at raising funds for Walk Montecito, a project that will ultimately create eight miles of roadside walking trails throughout Montecito. “The project reflects our commitment to long-term recovery from the Thomas Fire and Debris Flow, and our mission to build both community […]
A new pet boutique catering to dogs will softly open this weekend on Coast Village Road, next to Folded Hills Wine Tasting Room. The boutique is the brainchild of New York City transplant Caroline Martel-Miller, who landed in Santa Barbara with her husband about a year and a half ago. “I’ve always dreamed of having […]
Last week, the Santa Barbara City Council voted unanimously to endorse the Coast Village Community Benefit Improvement District (CBID), an idea brought forth by the Coast Village Association (CVA) nearly two years ago. Earlier this year, 94 property owners on the road received a formal petition for the proposed CBID, the goal of which is […]
Last week, Montecito Board of Architectural Review looked at several more design components of the 101 widening project through Montecito, potentially the last of a series of conceptual review meetings before the project comes back for preliminary approval once Caltrans’ application for the project is deemed complete by Santa Barbara County. As we’ve reported, four […]
Mahmood Loul, DDS, has purchased the dental practices of Dr. Ronald Dinning and Dr. David Cowan, located in the Las Aves complex on the corner of Cabrillo Blvd and Los Patos Way. While Dr. Dinning has moved out of state, Dr. Cowan is still seeing patients and working together with Dr. Loul. Dr. Loul hails […]
On April 10, the Santa Barbara National Charity League (NCL) will host its Senior Recognition Event at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. The past two years have seen the event held in a modified form, but the celebration is back in-person and ready for “Springtime in Paris.” The 25 graduating seniors along with their […]
Montecito’s Letter Perfect owner Leslie Person Ryan has relocated the stationery shop from its longtime location on Coast Village Road, moving temporarily to a showroom on Garden Street in Santa Barbara. Person Ryan tells us she is actively in negotiations to reopen a larger store by April, but cannot yet release the new address or […]
At last week’s Montecito Planning Commission hearing, the Commission was briefed on the Highway 101 Widening Project, which will eventually be in front of the Commission for conceptual review once the project application is deemed complete. Project planner Nicole Lieu explained to the Commission that the final design of the project is still in flux […]
Cold Spring School Foundation is hosting a community open house next Thursday, March 31, with community tours at 9 am and 5 pm. We recently spoke with Holly Kane, a CSS parent and President of the CSS Foundation, who gave us an update on the school’s achievements and upcoming classroom additions; this is the first […]
Last week Montecito Country Mart announced that its newest eatery, Alma Fonda Fina, is scheduled to open in June. The restaurant is the latest offering from Ramon Velazquez, a local Santa Barbara chef and Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, and the owner of the popular Corazon Cocina in the Public Market in downtown Santa Barbara. Alma […]
This Saturday, March 19, Santa Barbara County Flood Control will take acquisition of 630 Randall Road, the final one-acre property to be acquired in which to build the Randall Road Debris Basin. After a lengthy delay, a recent ruling by the Ventura County Superior Court has given Flood Control the green light to continue building […]
Tuesday, March 15 is known as Equal Pay Day, a public service awareness event to illustrate the gap between men’s and women’s wages. The National Committee on Pay Equity began recognizing this symbolic day in 1996, in an effort to bring awareness on how to solve wage inequity. The date of the event symbolizes how […]
Last week marked Groundwater Awareness Week, according to the National Ground Water Association, and The Groundwater Foundation. Groundwater Awareness Week was established in 1999 to highlight the responsible development, management, and use of groundwater and to celebrate local groundwater efforts across the country. According to Montecito Water District, groundwater is a critical component of California’s […]
This past weekend, the Santa Barbara Thunderbolts, the AYSO U12 girls’ soccer team, won the Western States Championship. The team includes fourth and fifth graders from Cold Spring School, Montecito Union, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Seven months ago, 1,800 U12 girls’ soccer teams began their season in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and […]
Word on Coast Village Road is that the owner of Montecito Deli, Jeff Rypysc, is in talks with a well-known Montecito restaurateur to sell the business, located at 1150 Coast Village Road. If all goes as planned, the deal will close April 1. The new concept for the deli, which has been in the same […]
Casa del Herrero – Montecito’s National Historic Landmark – announced last week that an art exhibition at the property, Channing Peake – To Mexico and Beyond, has been extended to Saturday, April 30, 2022. This vibrant exhibition, in collaboration with the Channing Peake Estate, is comprised of several working drawings made by Peake during his […]
Montecito’s Letter Perfect owner Leslie Person Ryan says she is still seeking a buyer for her 38-year-old stationery and gift store on Coast Village Road. After two failed escrows, Person Ryan is hoping to find a buyer who will be as passionate as she is about stationery, letter writing, and gracious correspondence. Letter Perfect, located […]
At a quiet Montecito Association meeting earlier this week, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Lieutenant Butch Arnoldi reported on crime in Montecito over the last month. There have been several residential burglaries including near the Polo Fields, on Romero Canyon, Tiburon Bay Lane, School House Lane, East Mountain Drive, and on Ortega Ridge. Lt. Arnoldi said […]
The Harbor Restaurant/Longboard’s Grill, one of Santa Barbara’s most recognizable waterfront dining destinations, sold last week, according to Hayes Commercial Group, which brokered both sides of the deal. The iconic restaurants on Stearns Wharf have been operated by the Scott family along with longtime Santa Barbara restaurateur Dave Perry for more than four decades. The […]
At a special board meeting earlier this week, the Cold Spring School Board voted 4-1 to approve moving forward with a short-term loan to help fund the school’s upcoming and long-awaited expansion project. The acquisition of the loan – and the financial position of the school in general – has been the subject of some […]
Members of the Highway 101 widening team through Montecito were in front of the Montecito Board of Architectural Review last week for the second time, reviewing aesthetic features of the project related to fencing, landscaping, and lighting. The project, which will widen the freeway to three lanes in each direction between Sycamore Creek in the […]
Next week at a special board meeting, the Cold Spring School Board will consider approving the acquisition of a short-term loan in order to fund the school’s upcoming expansion project. Cold Spring School Superintendent Dr. Amy Alzina hosted members of the community for an informational meeting about the project and funding options two weeks ago […]
Traffic was at a standstill this past weekend, with an underground fire causing the closure of the northbound freeway lanes near Via Real on Saturday evening. After an ongoing investigation of the fire, which was believed to be coming from a storm drain under the freeway, Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspect they believe intentionally set […]
Unique women’s clothing and accessory boutique Juniper is tucked between Sakana and Occhiali in Coast Village Walk, with owner Marie Ferris offering an array of luxury clothing lines not found in other stores. “I love pieces that are unexpected and unique,” Ferris told us during a recent visit to the shop. “My style is soft […]
The Montecito Board of Architectural Review has had a full docket the last few months, hearing over 17 Montecito projects last week at a regular meeting, just one week after needing to call a special meeting in order to consider seven other projects. The next two meetings are already booked with 13-14 projects each, while […]
Montecito Bank & Trust reported that total assets grew $398.62 million, an increase of 20.41% during the 12-month period, to $2.35 billion for the year ending 12/31/2021. Strong deposit growth of $401.15 million or 23.15% year-over-year, pushed year-end deposit totals to $2.13 billion. Loan growth declined $143.4 million or 10.88% year-over-year due to Payroll Protection […]
Last week at a well-attended Montecito community meeting regarding the 101 freeway widening project through Montecito, reps from the project reported that sound walls that had been proposed in the Montecito portion have been removed due to flooding concerns. The project is in initial planning review with the County of Santa Barbara as part of […]
A class-action lawsuit was filed in late January by former employees at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore against Montecito resident Ty Warner and his hotel company. The lawsuit notes that at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, 450 employees of the resort were furloughed, with hotel operators not being forthcoming about when […]
Last week property owners on Coast Village Road – 94 of them to be exact – received a formal petition for the proposed Coast Village Community Benefit Improvement District (CBID), an idea brought forth by the Coast Village Association (CVA) nearly two years ago. The goal of the CBID, which is funded by property owners […]
For nearly 18 years, Here’s the Scoop (aka Scoops) owners Bob and Ellie Patterson have operated their beloved Coast Village Road gelateria, scooping their daily house-made gelato and sorbet for dozens of customers every day. “Scoopie,” as the Pattersons have lovingly referred to their successful business, is a feel-good staple on Coast Village Road, and […]
American Riviera Bank announced earlier this week unaudited net income of $11,829,000 for the 12 months ending December 31, 2021. This represents a 60% increase in net income from the $7,378,000 earned in the same reporting period in the prior year. In 2021, the bank achieved an annualized return on average assets of 1.04% and […]