Dr. Bronte Herbert Reynolds, most recently of Solvang, California, passed away on October 20, 2025, at the age of 85. Born in Ross, Marin County, California, on December 14, 1939, Bronte lived a life filled with purpose, creativity, and dedication to education and family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Lillemor […]

Heal the Ocean’s Thank You celebration at the Santa Barbara FishHouse on November 13th turned into a memorable evening of gratitude and surprises. Despite heavy rain, supporters and dignitaries – including U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal, Supervisor Roy Lee, former State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Councilmember Eric Friedman – filled the venue to honor sponsors of […]

Vehicle Vandalism / Eucalyptus/Humphrey Roads — Friday, November 07, at 015:31 hours Reporting Party advised a male subject had used a hammer to break two windows on vehicles parked in the area. The suspect was last seen walking westbound on the railroad tracks from said location. The area was searched, and deputies were unable to […]

I am writing this letter because Hattie Beresford’s piece on Rowland Hazard III, while very interesting, was missing some vital information that was not included in her article. Of interest is Rowland Hazard III’s role in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the connection of AA with the Hazard property down to this day. Rowland […]

Announced earlier to open on October 31, Veronica Beard’s Coast Village Road location is now slated to open on November 13, according to her website. Stay tuned. Chanel Store to Open at The Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito You asked for more haute couture and it will soon be here with the opening of the Chanelretail […]

Vehicle Violations / North Sheffield Drive & Jameson Lane — Thursday, October 30, at 09:32 hours Deputies saw a black Chrysler 300 travelling northbound on Highway 101. The vehicle had a rear license plate cover that obstructed the characters in violation of VC 5201.1(b). A traffic enforcement stop was initiated at the intersection of N […]

The Montecito Water District has finally received long-delayed federal disaster funds for storm damage repairs, thanks to assistance from Assemblymember Gregg Hart. The reimbursement closes a difficult two-year chapter that began when the January 9, 2023, federally declared storm devastated the area’s critical water infrastructure. Heavy rains and debris flows in the backcountry severed the […]

Online Threats / Virginia Lane, Montecito — Sunday, October 18, 2025, 12:47 pm Deputies responded to a reporting party receiving threatening messages via Facebook Marketplace from an unknown subject. The suspect attempted to buy an item from the RP (reporting party) on Facebook Marketplace and claimed to have sent the money to the RP. The […]

Jeff Harding’s recent column in the Montecito Journal brings up one of the hottest topics facing City Council currently. “Rent Control” surfaces periodically as a solution to the relatively high cost of living in a city where demand for affordable housing has traditionally out-paced supply. Due primarily to our high-functioning Housing Authority, Santa Barbara actually […]

Dr. Gary Lee Schlegel, D. P. M, of Ventura, California passed away at home on the morning of October 1st, 2025 surrounded by his family after a long and bravely fought battle against Parkinson’s disease. Gary was born in Inglewood, California to Forrest and Ida Schlegel on April 8th, 1953. He went to Luther Burbank […]

Vehicle Tampering / Jameson & Loureyro Road, Montecito — Sunday, October 12, 11:14 a.m. Deputies responded to an incident involving a local woman and the towing service she used for roadside assistance. When the tow driver arrived, the woman became verbally abusive. The driver told her that he was leaving and would not tow the […]

Come celebrate Bettina’s 7th Birthday with a week of specialty pies, including the famous clam pie! Keep an eye out on Instagram to see which daily specials they drop. Supervisors Vote to Begin Ending Onshore Oil in Santa Barbara County In a 3-2 vote Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors moved to phase […]

Proposition 50 would temporarily repeal the Citizens Redistricting Commission that California voters created in 2008. California Democrats are expected to win five more Congressional seats than they currently hold. Because gerrymandering is not compatible with democracy, one of the Green Party’s Key Values, the Green Party of Santa Barbara County strongly opposes Prop 50. In […]

Burglary / 900 block Ladera Ln — Monday, October 6, at 07:50 hours Reporting party (RP) called to report jewelry and money are missing from the residence. RP/Victim believes it was taken the previous day while the home was unattended for one hour.  E-Bike Failure to Stop / East Valley Rd/Sheffield Rd — Wednesday, October […]

Missing Juvenile Located / Rockbridge Road — Sunday, September 28, at 02:53 hours Deputies responded to check the welfare of a missing juvenile. The juvenile was located and removed from the MUPS (Missing & Unidentified Persons Section) database.  Assault/Battery / 5360 Foothill Road — Tuesday, September 30, at 14:33 hours Deputies responded to a fight between […]

Jorgen Kjaempe (Kempa), age 88 of Montecito, California, passed away on September 23rd, 2025, following a short battle with cancer. Jorgen was born on October 22, 1936, on the small Island of Bornholm in Denmark. Jorgen served in the Danish Army as a Military Policeman at the age of 19. At the age of 20 […]

Vote YES on Proposition 50 — the Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment — in California’s November 4 special election. You can vote in person on November 4 or return your mail-in ballot, which you will receive in the next few days. Send your YES vote early so campaign volunteers can reach others who […]

The Ysidro Jazz Society in partnership with Monkey 47 Gin transported guests back to the roaring ’20s with Sip & Swing on October 2 – an elegant evening of live jazz, craft cocktails, and vintage flair. Inside the chic Prohibition-style speakeasy, the Al Vafa Jazz Trio filled the room with lively swing tunes while Monkey […]

The recent article “Zero Zero: The Regulations Being Defined Right Now” leaves readers with several incorrect impressions about Zone Zero and California’s wildfire mitigation strategy. I have close family ties to the Montecito community and care deeply about its future. I also bring over 34 years of frontline and policy experience in wildfire suppression and […]

The Montecito Union School (MUS) Board of Trustees has announced the approval of a $7.5 million settlement to resolve litigation stemming from alleged sexual abuse by a former staff member between 1972 and 1978. The settlement, which includes no admission of liability, was reached after careful consideration of the financial risks posed by continued litigation. […]

I will say it on our common behalf: We Love Fannie Flagg! But which one? Fannie Flagg has been all over the map, and it is one of those largish maps one can never hope to refold. Are we endeared to the Literary Grande Dame of Fried Green Tomatoes (and a score of other beloved […]

Montecito Fire Chief Neels honored Montecito Firefighter/Paramedic Carlos Luna, September 12. MFD shares Luna’s story, “Carlos grew up in Michoacán, Mexico. His family moved to Oxnard, CA, when he was 8 years old. Luna played high school and college football, and on the University of Houston Division I team. In 2014, he put his education […]

Assault/Stealing Gas / PC 22810 Summerland Fuel Depot — Monday, September 15, at 07:28 hours Reporting Party (RP) was attempting to make a delivery to the gas station, but suspect’s vehicle was parked blocking the unloading area. The delivery driver asked the suspect to move his vehicle so they could unload their goods. Unprovoked, the […]

Join the Dog Days of Summer Photo Contest!  This year’s theme is all about the beach. Dress your pampered pup in their best seaside style and dive into our end-of-summer pup party. Every photo snapped will be entered for a chance to win! Winners to be announced in the Montecito Journal! The #1 Top Dog’s […]

Burglary / 1700 block Fernald Point Lane — Monday, September 1, at 16:40 hours Unknown suspect(s) gained access to the house’s crawl space, cut an air duct, and accessed the inside of the residence through the air duct opening that led to the living room. Some of the breakers were switched off by the suspect(s). Nothing […]

Civil Issue / 3500 block Via Real — Monday, August 18, at 10:21 hours Deputies responded to a civil issue. E-bike Theft / 1281 Channel Drive — Monday, August 18, at 19:20 hours Victim reported his e-bike was stolen from in front of Coral Casino. The suspect was described as a Hispanic adult male. The […]

The International All Volunteer Coastal Cleanup Day is Saturday, September 20. Locally, Explore Ecology heads its operations for Santa Barbara County beaches.  In Montecito, Youth leader Pyp Pratt, 17, will once again be stationed at Butterfly Beach with his dad Paul to lead the volunteers and manage the cleanup.  At Hammonds Beach (end of Eucalyptus […]

There was recently a “Letter to the Editor” published about the sale of the Battistone properties that could be misunderstood. After reading it, I thought I should reach out to provide important information about the potential sale. For over 50 years, the Battistone Foundation has been dedicated to its charitable purpose of providing low-cost housing […]

Ralph Minc, longtime Santa Barbara local, passionate athlete, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2025, at the age of 79. Ralph was born in Tayport, Scotland, to Catherine Duncan Minc and Hendryk Minc, a Polish Jew who escaped the Nazis and eventually made his way to Scotland. In 1958, the […]

In an all-hands-on deck request, Sarah Aguilar, director for the Santa Barbara County Animal Welfare Services, is asking community members to temporarily or permanently adopt one of 50 dogs that are being displaced while the SB and Lompoc shelters undergo repairs and upgrades. The SB shelter received a grant from the ASPCA in partnership with […]

Jeff Harding criticizes the college educated youth that are gravitating to Socialism with puerile augments such as “Capitalism has provided the greatest prosperity ever.” This is simply not true; it has provided the greatest wealth inequality in history and left our environment shattered. Science has progressed in the last 200 years, and this provided the […]

Suspect on Property / 700 block Park Lane — Sunday, August 10, at 09:51 hours Victim called to report an unknown male jumped the fence at the above location and was walking around the construction site and home that is being built on the property. Unknown suspect left prior to law enforcement  arrival. Victim believed […]

August 27, Friday at 6 pm: Family Movie, Up!, free with popcorn! Back to School Recommendations: kids backpacks and school supplies by State Bags at Poppy Store; Smythson planners from The Trading Post; and for busy moms on the go it’s the Clare V. crossbody handbag. Chabad’s Summer BBQ Calling community to join in Montecito Jewish […]

“Finish every morsel.” Those were Cathy Sanford’s words while sharing a meal with the grandkids – and yet it was also the way she lived her life. She believed in savoring every bite, every moment, and every opportunity in life. And for 94 beautiful years, she did just that. Cathy’s life was rich with love, […]

I am urgently writing to alert citizens of Santa Barbara about a threat to the Battistone Foundation Complex, unique housing in the 1300 block of Chapala Street. These properties, home to nearly 200 low-income seniors ages 63 to 98, are up for sale, but there are no written covenants to insure they will remain affordable. […]

Gerry Spence, the legendary Wyoming attorney whose folksy style and relentless advocacy won him every criminal jury trial he ever argued, died Wednesday at his Montecito home. He was 96. Over more than five decades, Spence built a reputation as a “country lawyer” who took on some of the nation’s most powerful institutions. His high-profile […]

Burglary / Romero Canyon Road — Monday, August 4, at 10:30 hours Victim called to report a burglary at his home which he believed occurred on or around 7/25-7/26. While he did not have info helpful in identifying a possible suspect, he believed the burglar may have been someone who had worked at this home […]

On August 18th at approximately 5:20 am, Santa Barbara Police Officers were dispatched Code 3 to the Ospi Montecito Restaurant, 1809 E Cabrillo Blvd on a call of an unconscious male inside the restaurant. Santa Barbara Fire Department and AMR Paramedics were also dispatched to the location. When Officers arrived, fire and medics were on […]

For Friday’s recap, Montecito Fire Department Chief Neels celebrates Firefighter/Paramedic Trevor Oakley who recently completed his probation period; congrats! Oakley arrived at Montecito Fire in 2024 via his hometown Buellton neighbor, Montecito Firefighter Evan Hamaker. Oakley, “Personally, I’ve always gravitated toward the Montecito area. My wife Alexis and I spend a lot of time at […]