Tag archives: conservation
Reunir is a Spanish word meaning “to gather”; to bring together friends whose collective passion, ideas, and commitment are making a legendary difference serving the land. The invitation wanted us to reunir with the California Rangeland Trust (CRT) at the Santa Barbara Club. Why the Santa Barbara Club? The club was formed in 1892 to […]
Gwen Stauffer’s eleven-year stewardship of Lotusland will be remembered by many achievements, most recently the completion of Lotusland’s Japanese Garden renovation. Lotusland’s Board of Trustees has named Rebecca Anderson, currently the Garden’s Director of Philanthropy, as Lotusland’s Interim Executive Director. “We are all very excited to have Rebecca help lead the organization moving forward,” said […]
Birnam Wood Country Club was the location of a dinner for a special group of folks who contribute to the Yosemite Conservancy. This was hosted by Don Fuhrer who has been a “keeper” of Yosemite for many years. He even owns a cabin in the park. The president of the Yosemite Conservancy, Frank Dean, was […]
Since being established in 1926, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (SBBG), has become a pillar of our community. Whether it was one of the garden’s many school programs, or just a visit with the family, many of us have childhood memories of the space. From the majestic redwood grove to the sprawling meadow, these enchanting […]
Montecito Union School has received a Certificate of Recognition for valuable contributions towards water efficiency, conservation and stewardship from Montecito Water District. This award recognizes many steps that Montecito Union School has taken to reduce water consumption and model good water stewardship for the community. In recent years MUS has implemented several highly visible projects […]
The Gaviota Coast Conservancy (GCC) held its first annual fundraiser at the Music Academy of the West to celebrate the donation of $165 million to buy the Bixby Ranch and to preserve 32 acres (76 miles) of precious coastline forever. This was all due to the largess of Jack and Laura Dangermond. They wanted to […]
The Gaviota Coast Conservancy hosted its first ever Coastal Legacy bash at the sun-soaked Music Academy of the West, attracting 230 guests and raising around $200,000 for the environmental non-profit. The event honored philanthropists Jack and Laura Dangermond who, two years ago, preserved in perpetuity the largest privately-owned ranch on the Gaviota Coast with the […]
On Saturday September 21, from 2 to 5 pm in the sun-dappled environs of the Music Academy of the West, Jack and Laura Dangermond will be honored with the Gaviota Coast Conservancy’s (GCC) Coastal Legacy Award for 2019 – a festive and deeply grateful acknowledgement of the couple’s show-stopping rescue of 24,000 long-contested acres with […]
To La Cocina, formerly Somerset, with my snapperazzi Priscilla, to check out the made-over East Anapamu Street eatery, which now features Mexican-Californian cuisine. The charming back courtyard, filled with lavender bushes and gnarled ancient fig trees brought in by flatbed trucks from Northern California and craned in over the rooftops when it first opened after […]
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) is the keeper of our maritime history, some of it unique in the world. Marine biologist, educator, and naturalist Holly S. Lohuis recently shared with us stories and images from around the world showing why it is critical we understand both the ocean’s influence on us and vice versa. Throughout […]
Beatrice Brown (“Brownie”) Borden, author and wildlife photographer, died peacefully on March 25, 2019 at her home in Montecito, California. She was 98. Brownie traveled throughout the world with her late husband, noted naturalist, conservationist and filmmaker Dick Borden (1910-1999), documenting a wide variety of birds and animals. Together, the Bordens contributed to many theatrical […]
The Mural Room conservation project in the Santa Barbara Courthouse received a prestigious award – the 2018 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award – one of only six awards in California. It honors preservation projects representing exemplary achievements on behalf of preserving California’s richly diverse heritage. “The California Legacy Foundation (CLF) is proud of the entire project […]
Last October, aqua-hero and CEO of the Fish Reef Project Chris Goldblatt, with members of the team, invited a handful of journalists on a donated pontoon boat to watch the implementation of an artificial reef set in the shallow waters of Lake Cachuma. The Fish Reef Project strives to show that artificial reefs – a […]
A tidal wave of generosity swept over the historic El Paseo restaurant when Heal the Ocean, celebrating its 20th anniversary, hosted its annual sold-out gala, raising around $200,000 from 200 guests. The bustling bash had Montecito actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, recently recovered from a breast cancer scare, as honorary chair and Los Angeles auctioneer Rick Werner […]
MWD general manager Nick Turner provides an update on District happenings as we head into a new water year: October 2018 – September 30, 2019. The 2017-2018 water year presented nearly every challenge a Water District might face: ongoing historic drought conditions, unprecedented climatic events, high-demand for fire protection, infrastructure devastation, disaster response, and community […]
(Between now and Tuesday, November 6 [election day], members of the water and sanitary district communities, and other interested parties, will present various opinions on the subject of water and waste management. The views expressed under the imprimatur of this column – whether they are by candidates for the water or sanitary boards of directors […]
