Joanne A Calitri

On Tuesday, June 2, Montecito Fire's Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Gamm received the 2026 Rotary Club of Montecito Public Service Award. Nominated by his peers, Gamm was recognized for his exceptional work ethic, personal integrity, and exemplary service to our community. Jared's wife, Shannon , and his children were able to join for this meaningful moment. MFD thanks the Rotary Club of Montecito for honoring Jared's service and making a positive impact on our community.

The Montecito Sanitary District has unanimously approved its first sewer rate adjustment in seven years, adopting a phased five-year plan designed to address aging infrastructure and ensure long-term system reliability. The decision followed a public hearing on June 10 and was informed by the MSD's first comprehensive sewer rate study in more than a decade.

On June 4, Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon honored Captain Evan Skei for his 25 years of dedicated service to Montecito Fire and our town. Attending the presentation was Skei's family.

The Channel Islands YMCA annual fundraiser “Reaching for the Stars” was held on June 4 at the SB Women's Club, aka Rockwood, on Mission Canyon Road. The event is the organization's single largest funding source that supports its organizational overhead and various programs serving youth in Santa Barbara County. This year the event's team reports they raised $137,000.

R ick Caruso – along with First District SB County Supervisor Roy Lee and SBC Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown –held a grand opening of the long-awaited Montecito Sheriff's Office Substation, located at the Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito, on Wednesday, June 17, at 3:30 pm. The new substation serves the community of Montecito, an unincorporated town in Santa Barbara County

July's predicted warmer weather calls for lemonade at the Montecito Country Mart, now being served by our local schools and youth programs. Here is the upcoming schedule:

The 101 Highway construction frustration has come to a few new heads with the April installation of the Coast Village Road at Hermosillo Drive traffic light, purported to be “temporary.” (We hear you, residents who've been used to a quiet two-lane road without roundabouts and traffic lights.) Press from the Montecito Community Connect Group states, “The gridlock on Coast Village Road due to the new traffic signal extends the full length of Montecito from Sheffield past the tennis courts approaching Salinas and up and along Hot Springs, up San Ysidro and on to East Valley Road.”

On Sunday, July 19, I had the pleasure of meeting with Chabad of Montecito Executive Director, Rabbi Chaim Loschak and his wife Mushkie on the birth of their child Bracha Leah . Leah joins her brother Yosef , and sisters, Nechama Chana , and Shaina . It also provided an opportunity to talk with Rabbi Chaim on the recent gift of a Torah for Chabad of Montecito by the Ruimy Family. A celebration of the new Torah is planned for August 9. Indeed, very mamish!

Just imagine your new favorite pasta prepared fresh by Sergio Chierego , owner and chef of Pasta Santina, and served on lovely Hudson Grace whiteware made in Italy.