Tag archives: community

Connecting Doctors to Underserved Communities and Career Fulfillment Across the Globe
By Steven Libowitz   |   April 23, 2024

World Telehealth Initiative had a very lofty goal when the nonprofit began in 2017: use modern medical robotics and engage volunteer physicians to make an impact in healthcare disparity across the globe. With half of the world’s population lacking access to essential health services, statistics show that nearly nine million people die every year from […]

Montecito Association April Board Meeting
By Joanne A Calitri   |   April 23, 2024

The Montecito Association held its monthly Board meeting April 9 in person at the Montecito Library.  Public Comments for Items Not on the Agenda: Peter Daily presented his issues of private roads flooding following rain events. He asked the MA to get drainage and curbs installed with the Roads Department, and to resolve uninsured properties […]

Building Resilient Communities: The Power of Philanthropic Giving in Supporting Local Businesses
By Nicki Parr   |   April 16, 2024

In the heart of every thriving community lies a network of local businesses that can serve not only as its economic backbone but also as its social one. Yet, in the face of challenges such as economic downturns and natural disasters, these businesses often bear the brunt of adversity.  This was clearly evidenced in Montecito […]

Granada Theatre
By Steven Libowitz   |   April 2, 2024

Are you wondering why there’s a whole lot of hoopla about the Granada Theatre 100th birthday beyond merely marking a major milestone? First, perhaps, pivot over to Hattie Beresford’s comprehensive column The Way It Was (page 22) in this issue. That piece traces the history of the grand old theater – from its vaudeville days […]

New Beginnings
By Steven Libowitz   |   March 26, 2024

New Beginnings’ Safe Parking program turned 20 earlier this year, a milestone you need to celebrate. On the other hand, I wish it didn’t even exist in the first place. In an ideal world, there wouldn’t be homeless people living on the streets or in their cars. The latter is what the Safe Parking program […]

CVA Communiqué: Paving the Way to Progress
By Beth Sullivan   |   March 26, 2024

The City of Santa Barbara and Coast Village Association (CVA) are paving the way for a better district… literally!  Over the past eight years Montecito and Coast Village Road have endured many challenges. We have experienced droughts, rain events, winds, the Thomas fire and subsequent devastating debris flow, as well as the pandemic. As a […]

SBCC Foundation
By Steven Libowitz   |   March 19, 2024

It was Geoff Green, the longtime CEO of SBCC Foundation, who created and spearheaded the organization’s SBCC Promise, the program that provides all recent local high school graduates with the opportunity to attend the community college full-time free of charge for up to two years. The Promise is comprehensive and robust, covering virtually everything a […]

California Missions Foundation
By Steven Libowitz   |   March 12, 2024

Most locals are probably aware of the best Santa Barbara place to visit every Memorial Day weekend for a glimpse of the chalk drawings during the I Madonnari street painting festival. They know they can spend a colorful summer evening watching music and dancing from Mexico and other indigenous Californios cultures during La Fiesta Pequeña, […]

AHA!
By Steven Libowitz   |   February 20, 2024

Roxana Petty is understandably proud that AHA! is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, marking a quarter-century since the nonprofit’s founding as a small summer program just a few months after the infamous Columbine High School massacre. In an effort to reduce the possibility of such a tragedy happening in Santa Barbara, AHA! (which stands […]

Santa Barbara Symphony
By Steven Libowitz   |   February 13, 2024

For the Santa Barbara Symphony, the 2023-24 season expresses a number of the outreach efforts in its mission: to enrich residents’ lives by producing and presenting the highest quality musical experiences, performed with artistic excellence and accessible to the entire community – as well as inspire a passion for symphonic music in the next generation […]

The Venerable Covarrubias Adobe 
By Hattie Beresford   |   January 30, 2024

In July 1909, much to the alarm of the Santa Barbara populace, the Morning Press announced that the venerable Covarrubias Adobe was to be razed and replaced by a modern apartment building. Without notice, Nicolas Covarrubias had sold it out from under his aging siblings, Camillo and Amelia. The first they heard of the sale […]

UCSB A&L
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 23, 2024

UCSB Arts & Lectures’ fall season was one for the ages, with enviable events throughout the breadth of its programming. The dance program boasted an era-spanning array, from the launch of the Martha Graham Dance Company’s Graham100 programs to the stunning West Coast debut of Turn it Out with Tiler Peck & Friends. Pop music […]

Sanctuary Centers
By Steven Libowitz   |   January 16, 2024

Last month’s groundbreaking ceremony marked Sanctuary Centers’ initiation of its forthcoming new building. To witness the launch of this transformative community benefit project was, of course, a thrilling moment. The project, which will provide 34 units of new housing along with co-located medical, dental and behavioral health clinics, represents a milestone moment in the nonprofit’s […]

Family Service Agency
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 26, 2023

Seniors experiencing depression or related mental health challenges have a new resource to help them retain their independence and improve quality of life thanks to a recently-launched program from Family Service Agency (FSA). PEARLS – an acronym for the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives – utilizes an evidence-based approach to reduce symptoms of depression […]

An Evening with Jay Leno
By Jamie Knee   |   December 26, 2023

On Thursday, December 14, it was a memorable evening in Montecito. The Rosewood Miramar Beach Hotel turned into a radiant stage, hosting an unforgettable event – An Evening with Jay Leno: A Celebration of the Turner Foundation’s 65 Years of Service.  The gala commenced with a welcome and introductions by John Davies, whose words ushered […]

Coast Village Happenings
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 19, 2023

While finishing landscaping touches take place on the Olive Mill Roundabout, crews have been busy beautifying Coast Village Road for the holidays. Last week a tree lighting took place, featuring performances and appearances by Santa Barbara High School Madrigals, Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, and the Santa Barbara Festival Ballet (Nutcracker characters).  Santa Barbara Mayor Randy […]

Sansum Clinic
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 12, 2023

The Montecito Journal’s 2024 Giving List book for Santa Barbara was just published last month in time for Giving Tuesday, but already the two-page spread about Sansum Clinic is out of date.  Not the part that takes note of the fact that Sansum’s breadth of services are so pervasive in the area that it’s likely […]

Shop, Sip, and Stroll 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 5, 2023

Another local holiday celebration happening next week is on Coast Village Road: Shop, Sip, and Stroll will take place from 3 to 6 pm on Thursday, December 7. Presented by the Coast Village Association and the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, this community event features Santa Claus arriving in style to help light a holiday tree […]

TBCF: Celebrating 21 Exceptional Years 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 5, 2023

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) proudly marks its 21st year of standing with families battling cancer in the tri-counties in significant ways. What began as a humble grassroots effort has blossomed into an organization now synonymous with hope and critical financial aid for families enduring the trauma of pediatric cancer. Despite its modest office on […]

Love Thy Neighbor
By Montecito Journal   |   December 5, 2023

You’d think someone moving into a new neighborhood would want to maybe take a beat and see what the vibe is like, maybe see how things happen, maybe get a feel for the place. After all, who wants to start off on the wrong foot with the people who are going to be living next […]