Tag archives: Casa Dorinda

Driven by Memories
By Richard Mineards   |   June 30, 2026

By Lisa Duncan Father’s Day arrived bathed in sunshine in our Eden by the Sea, where dozens of gleaming classics lined the Front Plaza at Casa Dorinda for a festive vintage car show. But among the polished chrome and lovingly restored classic cars, one story stood out. Beside his award-winning 1943 Dodge WC 52, Robert […]

‘How to Cook a Coyote’ with Betty Fussell
By Richard Mineards   |   December 16, 2025

Written by Maria McCall Casa Dorinda was abuzz as legendary food writer Betty Fussell welcomed an excited audience for the launch of her new book, How to Cook a Coyote: The Joy of Old Age. Sparkling with her cheeky sense of humor, she declared, “Live each day as if it were your first and last!” […]

Sending Support
By Richard Mineards   |   June 17, 2025

Casa Dorinda is hosting its annual Scholarships Awards ceremony next week. Every year the tony retirement home raises scholarships for staff members and their families. This year they are honoring more than 40 scholarship recipients and celebrating a record-breaking $217,000 in scholarship rewards. Since its establishment in 1997, the scholarship fund, in partnership with the […]

Art at the Casa
By Richard Mineards   |   January 21, 2025

Cadillac margaritas topped with Grand Marnier and burritos added to the decided Mexican theme when award-winning food writer and author Betty Fussell, 97, recipient of three James Beard Awards, welcomed her Mazatlán-based daughter Rosalind “Tucky” to Casa Dorinda for a joint exhibition of their artwork. Betty, who moved to our Eden by the Beach from […]

Casa Dorinda’s Lisa Thomas Awarded by the AFP
By Joanne A Calitri   |   November 12, 2024

To celebrate National Philanthropy Day, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter, holds their annual awards soirée to honor those who have made a significant contribution in fundraising and philanthropy. Their 2024 ceremonies took place on Tuesday, October 29, at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The event opened with a meet and greet cocktail […]

Separating Opinions from Facts
By Montecito Journal   |   August 6, 2024

I just read Jeffrey Harding’s article, “It’s Kamala!” First, a disclaimer: I don’t often read articles by real estate investors or financial bloggers, both of which Mr. Harding is/has been. Too much self-interest and too many opportunities to be swayed by investors/clients’ priorities. But this most recent article, published under the MJ’s misleading heading, “An […]

Ty Warner’s Manhattan Hotel to Open
By Richard Mineards   |   June 25, 2024

After an epic four-year battle between Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner and the Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotel group, his 926-foot tall I. M. Pei-designed Manhattan hostelry is reopening in September. The iconic East 57th 383-room property, once known as the most expensive hotel in New York City, has been shuttered since the start of the […]

On Display at Dorinda
By Richard Mineards   |   May 28, 2024

Casa Dorinda staged its latest exhibition featuring the works of resident Michelle Joanou and her late husband Phil curated by Penny Arntz. Michelle is an accomplished fiber artist with a Carpinteria loft studio, while her former New York ad agency CEO husband, who died ten years ago, only started as an artist at the age […]

On Display at Casa Dorinda
By Richard Mineards   |   April 2, 2024

Just four months after moving into Casa Dorinda, artist Victoria Furst Hines has lost no time in making her mark. Victoria, who with her late husband Carter ran a popular Montecito drapery business, has displayed 36 of her colorful works in oil, acrylic and watercolor, just a tiara’s toss from the home’s capacious dining room […]

Big Box Thoughts
By Montecito Journal   |   August 8, 2023

I just read Jeff Harding’s piece on the addition of Restoration Hardware in the Vol. 29 Issue 30 edition of the MJ. While I generally agree with a lot of what Jeff had to say, I feel like the piece requires some clarification. The reason these formulaic retailers he mentions are on Coast Village is […]

Life in Casa
By Montecito Journal   |   May 30, 2023

When I moved to Casa Dorinda on January 1, 2009, after being on the waitlist for five years, it was the height of the 2008 financial disaster which cost me a $300,000 loss on the sale of my house. I had friends from the Music Academy of the West here, and the first four years […]

Triangle Restoration Project Complete
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 16, 2023

After a two-year public/private collaboration and with the help of hundreds of donors, the Montecito Community Foundation (MCF) is pleased to announce the impending completion of Montecito’s Triangle Restoration Project: the rejuvenation of the corner of Hot Springs and Olive Mill roads.  In a few short weeks, “The Triangle” will once again be a beautiful […]

The Kitchen Angels: Debris Flow at the Casa Dorinda Retirement Community 
By Barbara T. Hadley   |   January 10, 2023

Located at the intersection of Hot Springs and Olive Mill roads, Casa Dorinda was dubbed “ground zero” for the events of January 9th. The Debris Flow occurred in the early morning hours when over 200 on-campus residents were still asleep and there was a skeleton staff of less than 10. The torrential waters skirted the […]

Montecito’s 2022 Year in Review
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 3, 2023

Project Progress Highway 101 Widening Project  The long-awaited widening project from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara was discussed at length in 2022, with countless meetings to discuss design, construction, timing, and other details related to the addition of a third lane through Montecito.  The Montecito segment of the project (called 4D) includes widening 1.4 miles of […]

Plans for the Casa Dorinda Triangle
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 13, 2022

At the Montecito Association’s Land Use & Transportation Committee hearing earlier this week, the committee was briefed on upcoming plans to beautify the “triangle” in front of Casa Dorinda, where Olive Mill and Hot Springs roads meet.  The $200,000 project is being funded in part by Montecito Community Foundation, with help from Casa Dorinda and […]

Casa Dorinda Broadens Its Luxe Offerings With the New Bliss Expansion
By Stella Haffner   |   April 5, 2022

Tourists, newcomers, and longtime residents – we all love Montecito. Over the years, we have enjoyed watching our small town develop and grow while staying true to its Spanish revival sensibilities and dedication to community. Today, the latest in local renovation comes in the form of the Bliss Expansion at Casa Dorinda. Established in 1918, […]

In Passing: Paul F. Glenn, 1930 – 2020
By Montecito Journal   |   October 29, 2020

Paul F. Glenn was well known among commodity traders and medical researchers. He deftly handled the double-edged sword of long and short positions in volatile commodities markets, which enabled him to reach another of his goals beyond financial success: philanthropy in medical research. Paul Foss Glenn was born and raised in Sharon, Pennsylvania. He was […]

Casa Dorinda Scholarship Fund
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 20, 2020

Due to the ongoing pandemic, Casa Dorinda residents and staff missed out this year on celebrating the recipients of the Casa Dorinda Scholarship in person, an annual tradition dating back to 1998 when a group of Casa residents began a fund to help staff members and their families achieve their educational goals. But the pandemic […]

An Homage of Fallen Trees
By Nick Schou   |   July 2, 2020

One of them is sits in front of the Montecito Public Library. Another can be found on the grounds of the Knowlwood Tennis Club. Two are located next to the Boy Scout building in Upper Manning Park. Several are scattered along different trails in Montecito’s Ennisbrook and Casa Dorinda open spaces, and all of them […]

Duck Duck Two
By Gretchen Lieff   |   May 28, 2020

In last week’s Journal you’ll recall “ducknappers” had snatched a nest with a mamma duck, three ducklings, and seven eggs from under an oak tree at Montecito’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church parking lot. Our “Duck Column” describing the story had “gone viral” as pressure mounted to “find the ducks.” It’s been an exhausting […]