Letters to the Editor
By Montecito Journal   |   November 5, 2020

Put Our Children First Our family moved into the Cold Spring School District on the eve of the Thomas Fire. We chose the district because we had first-hand experience with Dr. Amy Alzina’s leadership at Adams Elementary School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Her student-centered focus and educational vision is the perfect recipe […]

The Opposite of Progress is Fashion?
By Robert Bernstein   |   November 5, 2020

People often compliment me on my colorful shirts. Much of the credit goes to my friend Robin; she finds some of the best for me on eBay. While I always say “thank you,” I often ask, “Do you know what is the opposite of progress?” They usually look mystified. “Fashion!” I triumphantly reply. I point […]

 

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Vote.
By Gwyn Lurie   |   October 29, 2020

I’m told that when we have something important to say, we should say it as succinctly as possible. I don’t always adhere to this, but here goes… Don’t fear. Don’t dread. Don’t complain. Don’t regret…. VOTE! Or, as said by others more esteemed and eloquent than I: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate […]

Letters to the Editor
By Montecito Journal   |   October 29, 2020

Cold Spring School: Just the Facts, Ma’am I first learned about Measure L2020 a little over a month ago from the front page of this very publication. Little did I know that when I posted about it on NextDoor, I would spark a debate that has both divided and united various members of our community. I […]

A Matter of No Party Preference
By Leslie Westbrook   |   October 29, 2020

In the newsroom of the Washington Post, Lou Cannon cultivated a reputation as a “reporter’s reporter.” Concealing his political loyalties was as much a matter of professional integrity as it revealed his facility to see both sides. “I’ve been a Democrat and I’ve been a Republican,” Cannon revealed during a recent Zoom conversation just before […]

The Facts About Measure L2020
By Amy Alzina   |   October 29, 2020

For those of you who don’t know me, I am the Superintendent and Principal of the Cold Spring School District. I am a resident and member of the Cold Spring School Community. As of last year, I was also a parent at Cold Spring School. In all of these capacities, I have dedicated myself to […]

Are We Becoming a Gerontocracy?
By Rinaldo Brutoco   |   October 29, 2020

Think about it. In 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated at the age of 70, making him the oldest person to assume the presidency. He is running this year against Joe Biden, who will be 78 if inaugurated in 2021, while Trump will be 74. In a campaign where there are massive differences between “the Donald” […]

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  • The Great Barrington Declaration
    By James Buckley   |   October 29, 2020

    If any sentient being has been in doubt as to which side virtually all the major media and social media companies are on, non-coverage of both the Hunter Biden laptop e-mails and the Great Barrington Declaration should be proof positive of which side they’ve taken. When presidential candidate Joe Biden tells the debate moderator (in […]

    The New World of Virtual Convening
    By Ken Saxon   |   October 21, 2020

    Humans are communal by nature. Even for an introvert like me, this pandemic has made me miss “face-time” with friends and colleagues. I, for one, will be very happy when we can be together again without fear of infecting one another. There is no substitute for in-person bonding and collaboration. Yet in talking with a […]

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    As Supervisors’ Pay Rises, Should Constituents’ Confidence Lower?
    By Gwyn Lurie   |   October 21, 2020

    On October 7, in a 3-2 vote, our County Board of Supervisors voted to give themselves an optional 3% pay raise. Supervisor Joan Hartmann justified her vote by explaining that “this job is a very demanding one with a lot of responsibilities that are very diverse.” Das Williams and Steve Lavagnino expressed similar justifications for […]

    Letters to the Editor
    By Montecito Journal   |   October 21, 2020

    Full STEAM Ahead There has been much discussion about how the upcoming Cold Spring School bond measure will impact the members of the school community, but it is worth pausing to consider how this measure will impact the current and future students. Cold Spring School has a strong culture of providing students with an enriching […]

    The Electromagnetic Spectrum
    By Tom Farr   |   October 13, 2020

    Even as a kid growing up in Southern California, I was always wondering: Why do things look the way they do? Why is the sky blue, but grass is green? I got into rock collecting and wondered at the variety of colors and textures – how did they form? As I studied geology in college […]

    Support Sharon Byrne and City Net for a Montecito Homeless Solution
    By Jim Witherell   |   October 13, 2020

    Solving tough community problems requires committed people coming together to build effective coalitions. Congratulations to Sharon Byrne, executive director of the Montecito Association, for her courage in launching “Hands Across Montecito,” a community-based homeless outreach project, scheduled to roll out this month in Montecito. Homelessness in Our Area The State of California leads the nation […]

    COVID-19 As Metaphor — A Russian Master Strategist Weighs In — And Our Pick For President
    By Gwyn Lurie   |   October 13, 2020

    Four years ago this newspaper was one of a handful of publications nationally to announce its support for Donald Trump for president. It did so largely because of Trump’s positions on deregulation and renegotiating many of our trade agreements. In his 2016 endorsement, my predecessor wrote, “We do hope Trump lives up to his promises […]

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