Tag archives: people
I’m tired of this right brain, left brain nonsense. First, we have to address that this “creative self” and “logical self” segregation is a complete fiction. But it’s doubly misguided when used as propaganda in the wildly artificial arts-science divide; humanities scholars must be analytical, and science people must be creative. Here to serve as […]
This week, we’re hearing from a recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music, 23-year-old Jules Bartling. I’ll admit, it’s quite difficult for me to picture Jules as an adult. The last time we saw each other, we were probably nine and 12 years old, in the MUS auditorium, rehearsing for that season’s play — […]
As a former student of Montecito Union School, Santa Barbara Junior High, and Santa Barbara High School, Ava Burford was well acquainted with her hometown before leaving for UCLA. However, her return home in March 2020 gave her a chance to see Montecito from a new perspective. Within the liminal space of the pandemic, many […]
For many of us, the summer months means dusting off the good old Santa Barbara uniform: flip flops, sunblock, and a trusty swimsuit. Whether you’re sporting Ray-Bans or Billabongs, the mark of a local is their constant beach readiness. Talking to us today about her time in Santa Barbara and her love of the beach […]
Summer is here and so is Dear Montecito’s one-year anniversary. To celebrate the column’s one-year run, I wanted to invite back some of my favorite people featured in Dear Montecito from the past year. Meredith Urschel was a natural first choice. Since speaking to us last, the Montecito Union School alumna and concrete enthusiast has […]
The course of life can be as wild and unpredictable as crashing waves. Yet, with a little curiosity, practice, and a touch of tenacity, one can weather the waves, surfing on top of their crest as you face the flow of life. For Gail Steinbeck, she has been surfing the waves of life since she […]
“Go West, young man, and grow up with the country,” a newspaper editor proclaimed as the United States expanded westward in the 19th century. That advice could be amended now to “South and West,” according to the latest findings of the U.S. Census Bureau, which in April issued its pandemic-delayed count of the nation’s population […]
Since starting this column, I’ve hoped to either feature a fellow student from my own university or another student of psychology. Today, we’ve got two for the price of one. I am happy to introduce Maiya Roddick: an alumna of the University of St. Andrews, a student of psychology, and a wonderfully thoughtful and accomplished […]
Home can certainly be where you make it, but sometimes home is simply where it has always been. For Joanne Rapp, who grew up in Santa Barbara, she did not expect to come back home to the area after college. But when life gave her the opportunity to return, she found that the tight-knit community […]
We are social beings, and the stretches of isolation can be challenging. For seniors who are at higher risk of COVID and may be facing limited mobility, even the recent reopenings do not offer the same opportunity to rejoin a distanced social life. Many do not have the same social outlets to keep them active […]
Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas have long been known for their small town feel. Often those who grow up here end up returning for the picturesque charm and quaint community. For Margery Baragona, after being raised here and later returning, she has found that the area still has the same beauty and general feel […]
What’s your favorite memory of growing up here? “One of my favorite memories of growing up in Montecito is walking with friends to the Upper Village from Montecito Union School and getting a sandwich from the Village Cheese & Wine Shop. It was just the most incredible sandwich you ever had. Just cheese and meat […]
Richard Thomas Caleel was born in 1936 to Lebanese parents Tamir Sarkis Caleel and Almaza Caleel in Detroit, Michigan. He had two older siblings that he was very close to in spite of them being quite a bit older than him. His parents waited out the depression for their third child. Richard looked up to […]
Everyone likes a TED talk. You learn something interesting every time you tune in, so it’s little wonder that when the opportunity to hear the Ted talk presents itself, locals listen. Edwin Knowles – better known to Montecito neighbors and friends as “Ted” – is a veritable font of wisdom and charming anecdotes culled over […]
Outside Wendy Foster‘s signature store in Montecito’s upper village, the tables were completely occupied, but I was lucky enough to find a spot under a tree dressed in the colors of the fall season. From my perch, I could appreciate the park’s green lawn, the tables nearby under which a few furry friends had made […]
Aaron Briner, 43, grew up in Santa Barbara and is an eighth-generation Santa Barbara native. He attended San Marcos High School and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Aaron reminds one of a younger, more handsome brother of Garth Brooks. He seems very Americana, laid-back, and you can […]
Lillian Carson has the kind of face that not only makes you smile but also makes you want to throw your arms around her. First of all, it is beautiful but it’s also a kind and loving face – and that’s why it’s no surprise she is the expert on grandmothering and how to love […]
I moved to Montecito because of a house. I was living in Malibu and looking for a new start. On a visit to Montecito, I saw this charming little gardener’s cottage that had been part of a large estate. A friend owned the cottage and wanted to sell it, and I fell in love with […]
They looked like ordinary babies when they were born and it wasn’t clear which part of the family either of them took after, but, year after year, both seven-year-old Deacon T and five-year-old Kessler Buckley developed substantial genetic traits, making it quite clear these young men are related to their grandfather, MJ founder James Buckley.
Ever since I have been doing these columns about interesting people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, friends have been saying, “You have to meet Natalie Myerson.” A mutual friend finally set us up for a lunch at Louie’s at the Upham Hotel in Santa Barbara, and Natalie was there waiting for us when we […]
