Happy New Year! For your reading pleasure on this first holiday of 2008, here are all the Montage stories from July 2007 until today. To read the full story, just click on the date. Enjoy the trip down memory lane, and I hope 2008 proves eventful for you, which will of course make it newsworthy for me!

J'amy Brown

(Part one of this review, from January through June, was published on Christmas Day, December 25. Click here for that story.)

July 3, 2007

Extra: Backcountry fire off Paradise Road causes Montecito Fire Dis’t. to open gates at 144 (lower Sycamore Canyon) (6-30-07)

Caltrans relocks gates at 144 in spite of high fire danger

A refined Largura project submitted to MBAR, action postponed story poles requested

Closeup on the crash site of the contract helicopter used on the Zaca Fire.
J'Amy Brown

July 8, 2007

Extra: Montage goes fishing and Zaca Fire Copter Crashes nearby

July 10, 2007

San Ysidro pharmacy corner owner Richard Gunner presents new development ideas to MA

Team Ty (Warner) working hard to open Coral Casino by July 30

Carbajal hosts conclave to look at Hwy 144 landslide impasse and road closure protocols

Zaca Fire creates huge mushroom clouds of smoke and ash Friday afternoon
Dan Segan

July 13, 2007

Extra: Ash spreads into Santa Barbara from, what is today being called a 37 percent contained Zaca Fire

MERRAG offers Ash-flow tips

July 18, 2007

Interview with Dr. Gayle Bebee, new president of Westmont

Christy Todd Whitman and Michael Huffington visit with Montecito GOP supporters

Montage confirms Tom Cruise did not purchase Rob Loews Picacho Lane home

July 24, 2007

Author Tony Rafael talks to Channel City Club about his book Mexican Mafia

Jewelry-Art from Silverhorn on display at Santa Barbara Art Museum “Nights”

Chainsaw Don joins MERRAG training corps and things get electric

Jack Maxwell’s lawsuit hits Santa Maria court

Heal the Ocean gets $300K in state grants

Coral Casino July 30 opening delayed to August 20

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, greets Montecito friends

Developer and hopeful Miramar savior Rick Caruso was all smiles Tuesday night when he presented his new plan for the hotel to the Montecito Association.
J'Amy Brown

July 26, 2007 (also in print)

Interview with Rick Caruso

August 1, 2007

Caruso unveils his Miramar plans at MBAR, who says inadequate info

Largura gets a boomerang from MBAR, asked to make more changes and return on 9-10

August 5, 2007

Extra: Montecito Fire calls for town hall meeting concerning Zaca Fire emergency planning

August 7, 2007

As Zaca fire moves south, 500 nervous Montecito residents jam into town hall meeting

Montage offers list of emergency preparedness tips

MFD Chief Kevin Wallace
J'Amy Brown

August 16, 2007

Q & A with Fire Chief Kevin Wallace about Zaca Fire status

Tom Green replaces Isaiah Tchobanoff as Montecito’s Community Resource Deputy Sheriff

Red Flag Alert opens gate at Hyw. 144

August 21, 2007

Jonathan Winters entertains departing Zaca Fire commanders

Bob Collector, Andy Arnold and Deanna Wassom resign from MA Board

Winters having fun with J'Amy and Herb McElwee.
J'Amy Brown

Zaca Fire appear to be backing away from Montecito, says Chief Kevin Wallace

Caruso submits completed plans to the county, visits MA, where he hears encouragement

Montecito hostess Lauri Tilson cooks up gourmet party

August 28, 2007

Oprah’s looks quiet ten days before Obama $2,300-per-person fundraiser

Nancy Koppleman to host small private lunch for Obama, sans celebrities

SB Uncensored wraps up campy Channel 17 show

MERRAG hosts training on psychology of a disaster

Richard Wilke gives MFD a big Thank-You card

MPC to hold Aug. 29 briefing on intent of resource management hillside zone

Demolition has started on the Music Academy of the West’s big remodel

Coral Casino postpones August 20 opening, hoping for Labor Day

Montecito Union School gets brand new track field

Permanent bridge completed between MUS and YMCA

Clair Gottsdanker’s son, Josh, won the New Zealand National Lottery

Letter Perfect is Moving down the street

J'Amy Brown

August 30, 2007

Extra: Romero Canyon brushfire burns three acres and an out-building

August 31, 2007

Coral Casino opens and Montage snaps the first photos

Plush poolside chairs.
J'Amy Brown

September 4, 2007

Miramar Story poles go up over Labor Day

Stephen Murdoch gets cheers his new book signing party

Martha Smiglis toasts Montecito artist Virga

Double pleasure: there are two J. Colins in Montecito

Rudy Giuliani to return to Montecito on September 27

September 11, 2007

With story poles and neighbors causing grief, Caruso pulls his Miramar plans

Coral Casino opens on August 31

Oprah raises $3million for Obama at her lawn party

Montage wonders what kind of circus she’s joined

Jimmy Connors and Bill Clinton at the Montecito Country Club on Wednesday afternoon, September 19.
J'Amy Brown

September 19, 2007

Extra: Bill Clinton visits the Montecito County Club and Montage is there

September 21, 2007

Extra: Prominent Community Volunteer Barry Siegel passes away

September 26, 2007

Montage’s one-year anniversary, 77 columns competed

Bob Collector talks about his departure from MA

Lou Weider appointed to fill out Bob Collectors MA term

Darlene Bierig appointed to fill out Andy Arnold’s MA term

A report on Barry Siegel’s memorial service

Kay (standing in tan jacket) and Dave Peterson (standing next to flag) plan to appeal the Largura project.
J'Amy Brown

October 3, 2007

Largura approved by MBAR, action appealed to MPC by Dave and Kay Peterson

Montecito’s T.C. Boyle receives Ross Macdonald Literary Award

Roger Durling toasts Brian Barnwell

Rudy Giuliani’s visit causes less security fuss than Barack Obama’s stay

Lighthouse restored atop Coral Casino

MA Prez Bill Palladini goes to Italy to participate in his family’s World War II honor

Heal the Ocean holds annual fundraiser, sans top donor Rick Caruso

Here's the tacky tacked-up sign telling neighbors what was up.
J'Amy Brown

October 4, 2007 (also in print)

The story of O-O-O: the correlation between Oprah, Obama and O.J

October 9, 2007

County Public Works hosting community meetings to unveil safe school routes study

MPC to review San Ysidro Ranch trail re-alignment

Montecito Water District holds water pricing and conservation workshop;

“Americans Who Tell the Truth” art exhibit opens

Monica Brock Peterson fills Deanna Wassom’s vacant MA Board seat

Andy Granatelli honored as “Automotive Personality of the Year”

October 10, 2007

Extra: Largura team makes courtesy presentation to MA; no action taken

October 11, 2007 (also in print)

Cooking lessons in Montecito with a private chef

Supervisor Salud Carbajal
J'Amy Brown

October 17, 2007

Salud Carbajal attends role out of “Montecito Walk to School Project Initial Study”

James Carville spices up Montecito as Planned Parenthood speaker

Direct Relief hosts Montecito Fall Friend-Fest

Judge rules Jack Maxwell can get one more house on his Summit Road property

October 18, 2007 (also in print)

Former Fire Chief Herb McElwee helps fire agencies south of the border

October 23, 2007

Montecito Fire District and MERRAG named Montecito’s Citizens of the Year

Australian astronomer Martin George leads star-search at Westmont ‘s Keck telescope

Bob Short, Michael Cook, Dave Kent and Dave Carpenter nominated for MA’s 2008 slate

A tombstone gets swallowed by one of the cemetery's trees.
J'Amy Brown

October 30, 2007

Author David Petry leads tours at Santa Barbara cemetery

Coast Village Road Merchant’s Association to host “Great Halloween Walk” on Oct. 31

Cold Spring School honors Pedro Nava at annual fall festival

Dana Newquist elected president of Antique Automobile Club of American, SB Region

“Storytellers: Children’s Book Illustrations” exhibit opens at Westmont’s Gallery

Montecito residents Carol Burnett and John Cleese perform in Love Letters

November 1 (also in print)

Chainsaw Don Miller concerned over locked gate at Hyw. 144 and Sycamore Canyon landslide

November 6, 2007

Caruso gears up for November 13 MBAR reveal of Miramar II

Michele Gibbs and Anne Almy become P&D’s lead Miramar planning team

Montecito related P&D changes post June Pujo as new MBAR liaison

Jason Moore takes over from David Villalobos as MBAR secretary

Montecito Water District starts conservation message flowing; Bob Roebuck to retire

Tour bus gets hung up on East Mountain Drive

Community Kitchens hosts Montecito home tour

Montecito kids rehearse for Peter Pan performance at SB High

Marc Chytilo takes home COAST Barry Seigel Award

An overview depiction of the future Miramar.

November 14, 2007

Miramar changes unveiled by Rick Caruso at MA monthly meeting

Water District says Montecito may soon thirst for water

Community getting interested in proposed development 76 station at Coast Village Road

La Casa de Maria invites the community to enjoy their Montecito sanctuary

November 15, 2007 (also in print)

When it comes to dolls, Montecito doesn’t toy around

November 21, 2007

John Price, owner of the CVR 76 station, considers pulling his development plans

Lots of “ice” at SBIFF’s tribute to John Travolta

Carbajal is raising the green for his upcoming political bash

November 27, 2007

Westmont lights up 150-foot Christmas tree

Hackers break into Westmont website, in traffic boosting scheme

Coral Casino beach stairs open after three-year closure, but memberships still closed

Montecito’s Jill Schulz produces second annual Snoopy on Ice

November 29, 2007 (also in print)

Montage finds gifts galore in Montecito for under $100

A rendering of the new Westmont campus.

December 5, 2007

Undaunted by lawsuit, Westmont moves ahead with MBAR review of expansion plan

Montecito’s Susan Keller produces holiday show, “Revels”

Biltmore valet get sporty new garb

76 Station’s John Price continues to weigh options for his gateway CVR property

Surfboards snap in high Montecito surf

MA Land Use committee support Peterson’s appeal against Largura development

Coast Village Road businesses deck the halls for December 6 open houses

December 12, 2007:

MA Supports Largura Appeal

Winters Wins Award

Carbajal Raises $300K

Miramar’s New Story Poles

December 13, 2007 (also in print)

MERRAGE recalls a year of accomplishments and offers free public disaster preparedness course

December 18, 2007

Westmont development master plan gets favorable ruling from Judge Thomas Anderle

Rick Caruso arrives at MBAR review with 75 pages of new Miramar plans

Bill Palladini nominated again as prxy of MA

Andrew Firestone

December 20, 2007

Extra: Peterson’s appeal is upheld by MPC and Largura project hits another wall

Andrew Firestone, the Bachelor and the Supe’s kid, signs on with Team Ty Warner

December 25, 2007

The Montage Year in Review, from January to June

January 1, 2007

What you’re reading right now!!

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