New Dunn School Leader Reinvisions Santa Barbara County as Inclusion Lab
By Nick Masuda   |   June 3, 2021

Kalyan Balaven isn’t slated to start his job as Head of School at Dunn until July 1 — but it feels like he has been around for months. That’s because he has. He’s not only utilizing this time to acclimate his wife and two children to the area, but also establish a rapport with the […]

Wildfire Season is Upon Us: Here’s How Montecito Fire Can Help You Prepare
By Christina Atchison   |   May 27, 2021

High fire season is officially underway for the South Coast. It’s easy to feel worried when looking at the parched brush, dramatically lacking rainfall totals, and concerning forecasts for warmer temperatures and impending sundowner winds. However, worry is not an effective method for survival. Instead, your Montecito Fire Department is focused on educating and preparing […]

 

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‘Fiesta Has Definitely Returned’: La Primavera Kicks Off Summer-Long Party
By Richard Mineards   |   May 27, 2021

After Old Spanish Days was all but cancelled last year because of the pandemic, Fiesta fever was palpable at the Carriage and Western Art Museum with La Primavera, as the unveiling of the colorful festival’s new poster and pin helped kicked off the festivities in front of nearly 100 guests, led by gloriously attired La […]

TBCF Plans In-Person Picnic
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 27, 2021

With fingers crossed that California will “reopen” on June 15, the team at Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) is planning their first in-person event in over a year. Like all local nonprofits in 2020, TBCF cancelled numerous fundraising events, held a virtual event, and pivoted at every turn, all while providing more support than ever […]

No Conflict of Interest Found in Cannabis Licensing Scandal; L.A. Magazine Stands by Story
By Nick Schou   |   May 27, 2021

It’s now been two months since Los Angeles Magazine published a bombshell exposé by former Montecito Journal reporter Mitchell Kriegman claiming marijuana-related corruption inside Santa Barbara’s City Hall. At the center of Kriegman’s sprawling, roughly 4,000-word story, which the Journal declined to publish last year before Kriegman departed from the paper, was the contention that […]

‘He was a seeker’: Former SB Mayor Hal Conklin dies at 75
By Nick Masuda   |   May 22, 2021

The Santa Barbara community is mourning the loss of Hal Conklin, the city’s former mayor and a beloved community activist for decades up and down the South Coast.

Veteran Teacher Resigns During Tense Cold Spring School Board Meeting
By Nick Schou   |   May 20, 2021

The most recent meeting of the Cold Spring School District’s Governing Board took place at the school campus at 6 pm on May 10 and, despite lingering COVID-19 concerns, drew a standing-room only crowd. Participants included all five board members, school officials including Superintendent and Principal Amy Alzina, Chief Operating Officer Yuri Calderon, and about […]

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  • The Bear is Back. Time for Montecito to Get Serious About Co-Existence — or Euthanasia.
    By Sharon Byrne   |   May 20, 2021

    Our autumn bear has made a roaring spring appearance. Sheriffs saw him on Romero Canyon Road at the end of April. Neighbors reported the bear hit chicken coops in the Oak Grove area at the beginning of May, where he also dined on guinea pigs. He hit our board member Penny Bianchi’s place at East […]

    Did Cannabis Baggage Derail Das Williams’ Coastal Commission Bid?
    By Nick Schou   |   May 20, 2021

    On May 5, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Santa Barbara City Councilmember Meagan Harmon to the California Coastal Commission, one of the state’s most powerful institutions, which serves to preserve and protect the coastline from commercial and development interests. A New York University trained lawyer and Harvard graduate from Lompoc, who is a relative newcomer […]

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    Montecito Association Meets
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 20, 2021

    Earlier this week, the Montecito Association Board of Directors was shown preliminary renderings of the design of the widening of the 101 Freeway, which will eventually widen the freeway to three lanes in each direction between Sycamore Creek in the city of Santa Barbara up to Romero Creek in Montecito.  Design engineer Zach Siviglia showed […]

    Wish Upon a Montecito Star: MUS Fundraiser Gets Help from a Legend
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 13, 2021

    Saturday, May 22 will be a very exciting evening for Montecito Union kids, parents, and the greater community, as Montecito Union School hosts a virtual gala featuring professionally produced musical performances from MUS students. Dubbed “Montecito Star,” the event is in lieu of the Montecito Union School Foundation’s annual gala, which raises money for various […]

    Randall Road Debris Basin Groundbreaking
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   May 13, 2021

    On Monday, government officials, staff, contractors, and community partners broke ground at the future site of the Randall Road Debris Basin; a project outlined at length two weeks ago in the Montecito Journal.  “It’s amazing we’ve gotten to this point,” said County Public Works Deputy Director Tom Fayram. “A project like this can often take […]

    Big Problems Call for Big Solutions
    By Sharon Byrne   |   May 13, 2021

    High fire season in Santa Barbara County started on May 3, with California coming off a record-setting year. According to the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council (SBCFSC), a total of 9,639 fires burned some 4.4 million acres of land, making 2020 the largest wildfire season recorded in the state’s modern history. The 2021 fire […]

    Honoring the Persevering Class of 2021
    By Scott Craig   |   May 13, 2021

    Westmont’s determined and resilient class of 2021 will walk across the stage and celebrate Commencement in person on May 8, at 9:30 am on Thorrington Field in a special, socially distanced layout.  Sandra Richter, Westmont’s Robert H. Gundry professor of biblical studies, delivers the address, while President Gayle D. Beebe will present the Westmont Medal […]

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