Tag archives: Friendship Center

The Friendship Center in Montecito held a Thanksgiving luncheon for its members and their families and friends on Wednesday, November 22 at the center. The festive feast was led by Executive Director Kathryn Westland and her team of Kim Larsen, cooks, and even her cousins – the MeekerFamily from San Diego! The cooks were busy […]

Kathryn Westland is the new executive director for the Friendship Center Adult Day Services (FC) in Montecito. This is the first appointment to the position since Heidi Holly, who held the position for 38 years and retired earlier this year. Westland worked at the FC as program manager from fall 2017 through January 2021, and […]

The Friendship Center held its 11th Annual Wine Down fundraiser at its Montecito location on Thursday, September 14 from 4 to 7 pm. The support for this homespun event was large, with over 200 guests and volunteers stopping by to sip and mingle with friends, and enjoy the charcuterie table, especially the freshly baked sweets […]

Heidi Holly, executive director of the Friendship Center in Montecito and Goleta, has retired after 38 years, and 120 friends and supporters gathered at a fun-filled farewell bash at Brass Bear Brewing Uptown to give her a rousing sendoff. Kathryn Cherkas, Heidi’s successor who worked as a program director of the organization as well as […]

Feb. 4 saw the 24th annual Festival of Hearts Friendship Center fundraiser at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort Montecito. The theme this year was Kentucky Derby Style, with guests dressing in colorful hats and retro-outfits.  It was a fun (and fashionable) time for event co-chairs Kathy Marden and Sue Adams: “We have a particular fondness […]

The Friendship Center Montecito held a private Veterans Day celebration to honor its senior members who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The event was chaired by Family Services Manager Kim Larsen and Development Director Sophia Davis. Key event sponsor was Montecito Rotary Club President Tony Morris. The program, emceed by Carol Metcalf-Roth, starred […]

The Friendship Center Montecito held its annual wine event on Thursday, September 8 at the center’s outdoor patio area. Guests were greeted with an option to wear a mask made available at the reception desk. Ready with big smiles at the wine glass pickup area were Event Chair Kathy Marden and Co-Chair and Board Vice […]

The Friendship Center and VNA Health recently co-hosted a Veteran Pinning Ceremony this past week honoring 14 veterans at the Friendship Center in Montecito. This is a rare and special treat because typically pinning ceremonies are scheduled for one veteran privately. VNA Health has made a special exception to “Come to Seniors” at the Friendship […]

The Friendship Center serves an often overlooked, but much-needed niche for the aging adult community — providing a daytime home away from home where the dependent seniors can take advantage of companionship and engaging activities. They also receive necessary supervision while their family caregivers receive respite and a much-needed break from the demands of caregiving […]

Friendship Center has been there for its seniors and their families for many years. There are two facilities, one in Montecito across the street from the Episcopal church (All Saints-by-the-Sea) and another in Goleta. They provide day care for elder and dependent adults. Before the pandemic, their centers were a home away from home. Members […]

It’s natural for students who move away from home to feel nostalgic about the place they left. I am reminded of this every week, reading letters about people’s experiences growing up in Montecito. Some speak to my own memories more than others. The letters about surfing and hiking… well, let’s just say I look like […]

For the last 22 years, Montecito’s Friendship Center has hosted a fun-filled pre-Valentine’s event to raise funds for the Center’s HEART (Help Elders At Risk Today) Program, subsidizing the cost of adult day services for low-income aging and dependent adults and their families. This year, thanks to the pandemic, the event is going virtual, and […]

Ever since March, Montecito’s Friendship Center has been delivering monthly care packages to its senior citizen clients who have been mostly isolated at their homes from Goleta to Summerland during the pandemic. Two months ago, the center also hosted a drive-in event where clients could wave to staff from the comfort and safety of their […]

This week, both sides of State Street would typically be lined with crowds watching men and women wearing traditional Mexican costumes parading on horseback or dancing in formation from one end of town to the other. But thanks to COVID-19, the annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta has been called off for the first time since […]

On Tuesday, June 2, fourth graders at Laguna Blanca Lower School held their Citizenship Event via Zoom. Usually held as a special breakfast on campus, the event is a culmination of curriculum taught in the fourth grade, focusing on good citizenship and leadership. Each year, students choose members of the community who exhibit the Six […]

Since 1979, Montecito’s non-profit Friendship Center has provided group therapy for senior citizens from Monday through Friday at its rustic headquarters on Eucalyptus Lane. Normally by mid-morning on a weekday, the center would be a buzz of activity, with caregivers dropping off members to enjoy a day full of live music, therapy dog yoga, talks […]

Friendship Center brought 2020 roaring in with their 21st Festival of Hearts “The New Roaring ‘20s” held at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. The hotel was a sea of feather boas, sequins, fringe and headbands as the flapper ladies and a few dandy gentlemen sipped Fess Parker wines to the live music of A […]

Friendship Center held their first veterans’ celebration with lots of red, white and blue, a hug line and applause for each veteran attending. If you gave a hug you were rewarded with a home baked heart shaped cookie. Lt. John Blankenship from Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation was there with a color guard, Deborah Bertling sang […]

Next Wednesday, November 6, the Friendship Center invites the community to celebrate veterans and their service to our country at the Montecito Center, 89 Eucalyptus Lane.  There will be a heroes’ hug line, heart cookies, flag ceremony, and patriotic music. Carol Metcalf-Roth, licensed MFT, Military Family Life Counselor, and comedian, will do live comedy and […]