Eric Kelley Celebrating 35 years as Owner of venerable 112 year old establishment
The Book Den is “the bookstore everyone loves” and you can show your love during the month of April, as Book Den owner, Eric Kelley is celebrating his 35th year as head ‘Denizen’ of Santa Barbara’s downtown bookstore that stocks new, used collectible and hard-to-find. It’s also California’s “oldest used book store” – now 112 years old. Cruise into the long-narrow store with that special ‘book’ aroma and you’ll also find brand new books – hardback and paper – to choose from in the inventory and people who know their stock & trade to help you find the perfect book.
Taking over the store in 1979, Kelley has ridden the highs and lows of the book market through it all - from the big bookstore chains to the internet and back – The Book Den survived. No small feat considering the tsunami of competition. In 2010, when big box bookstores failed, it made The Book Den the largest bookstore downtown. Kelley actively added new books to the inventory. Now the store sells an equal amount of old and new books. “It’s around 50/50,” said Kelley. “I’m so glad to still be in business 35 years later and really want to let everyone in town know we stock the latest best-sellers now as well as new books in paperback.” Kelley noted, “Under 10% of all books sold are sold in independent bookstores like this” – given those odds it’s even more impressive and a testament to his tenacity The Book Den is still serving book fans.
The Book Den will be part of First Thursday on April 3, from 5 – 8 pm put on by the Downtown Organization. We invite you to join us and discover why the oldest used bookstore in California is still around and why it is “the bookstore everyone loves” – it’s the people who make the store special.
for art show/fundraiser at Bacara Resort on Easter Weekend
SANTA BARBARA, CA:The Gaviota Coast Conservancy (GCC) and the Naples Coalition along with Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment (SCAPE) and Reeve Woolpert, fine art photographer, will hold an art exhibition/fundraiser on Friday & Saturday, April 18 & 19, 2014 at the Bacara Resort & Spa. This two-day exhibit of more than 100 works of art, painted and photographed on the Gaviota Coast, will assist both the Naples Coalition and GCC to raise funds and awareness in their ongoing efforts to preserve and maintain the beautiful rural character of our rare and open coastline. Last year’s show was tremendously successful with more than $14,000 raised for the two conservation non-profits. Admission is free to the exhibition. Everyone is welcome, and those who do RSVP will get a free glass of wine at the reception. (Contact gavcoast@silcom.com to RSVP). SCAPE artists will donate 40% of the sale price of their art to the GCC and Naples Coalition to assist in these efforts. This is the second year for this exhibition and is unique for SCAPE in that photographer Reeve Woolpert and his fine art photography is included in the show.
An auction will be part of the first day – from 1 pm till 7:30 pm you can bid on a host of wonderful items with values from $60 to $900 to priceless. Live music from Susan & Sierra Reeves, Bruce Goldish and Paull E. Rubin & Guinness Brothers will entertain during the reception. This is a ‘Juried Show” with well-known and respected plein air artist John Iwerks serving as juror. Prizes will be awarded for Best Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, and Pastel along with a Beneficiary’s Choice picked by Save Naples/GCC and the Bacara General Manager Award chosen by Kathleen Cochran who will choose a painting as well as a photograph. Last year Bacara purchased one of the larger canvases, artist Nancy Davidson’s “Bacara at Haskell’s Beach” and is on display in the lobby of the exclusive resort. Raffle tickets for an overnight stay and spa treatment at Bacara with a bottle of fine wine, are only $5 and will be sold both days. Drawing is on Saturday @ 3:30pm (you need not be present to win). Kathleen Cochran, general manager of Bacara Resort & Spa, added, “Bacara is honored to call the Gaviota Coast our home. We have pledged our full support to organizations such as the Gaviota Coast Conservancy for the important work they do to preserve the beautiful rural character of this coastline."
"The upcoming SCAPE Art Show will expose our community to the beauty of the Gaviota Coast, and Naples in particular, as seen through the eyes of artists," says Phil McKenna, President of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy. "These talented artists are adept at capturing the emotions of being there, and their inspiring works will offer us the opportunity to own beautiful representations of the places which make our community worth living in. Through their art we see what is at stake. Purchasing this art not only furthers the cause of conservation, it enriches the buyer with a reminder of the beauty of this place. Will we preserve this priceless treasure we call the Gaviota Coast, or allow it to become just another commodity in the marketplace, sold to the highest bidder?"
Reeve Woolpert, adds, "My photography is not about me. It is not about roaming from one distant corner of the planet to another to show off my experiences. It is not about bagging the coolest perspectives of exotic places. It is about earnestly discovering the essences and poetry of nearby, familiar subjects returned to time and time again. In the case of threatened Gaviota, is about being moved by the spirit of the place, tripping out on her nature, and having as egoless a creative response as I can. My photography is also about activism and embracing home ground."
Donna Moser, President of SCAPE, describes the motivation of SCAPE artists for helping preserve the Gaviota Coast, "As many of our natural and beautiful landscapes and seascapes are on the verge of disappearing, SCAPE is dedicated to sharing the beauty of these areas through their art with the hope of preserving them. It is important to keep a place where the original California can still be seen by preserving it for the public."
Visions of the Gaviota Coast will also include live music on Friday, and on Saturday screenings of a film by Beezhan Tulu “Selma Rubin and Community Life” and Shaw Leonard’s trailer of his newest film “Gaviota, the End of Southern California.” Q+A with the filmmakers will follow the screenings at 11 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.
SYNOPSIS of films: “Selma Rubin and Community Life” When Selma Rubin, the environmental legend in Santa Barbara California, finds out a developer is planning to build 1500 homes in one of the most pristine areas on our planet, she decides to stop him using the power of community and saves the Gaviota Coast. Gaviota Coast by Channel Islands is considered a hot spot and crucial to the overall health of our planet. She activated thousands of responses and put a halt to the developer’s plans. Also screening, the newest trailer of Shaw Leonard’s film “Gaviota, the End of Southern California” which focuses on the Gaviota Coast and it’s importance to the community and the world.
Bacara Resort & Spa is located at 8301 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117 (855) 817-9782 www.bacararesort.com/
"Visions Of The Gaviota Coast" Some of the Auction items include:
Island Packers & Aquasports Kayak Adventure Package for two to Santa Cruz Island
Original art Leigh Sparks, Dan Chrynko and Jake Early
One night stay at El Capitan Canyon Resort
Guided hike at Naples for up to 20 people and “Santa Barbara’s Royal Ranchos” book
One session of ‘Owling’ with world class expert Mark Holmgren
Four month subscription to Ellwood Canyon Farms CSA program (Organic produce)…….and many more great auction items
VISIONS OF THE GAVIOTA COAST: Events Schedule:
Friday, April 18
1:00 to 8:00pm– SCAPE Art Show hours
5:00 to 8:00pm – Special Artists Reception with refreshments and live music
Saturday, April 19
10:00am to 5:00pm – SCAPE Art Show Hours
3:30 pm Raffle Drawing
Screenings @ 11am, 1 pm and 4 pm
Q&A with the filmmakers after each screening.
About the Gaviota Coast and the Gaviota Coast Conservancy (GCC):
The Gaviota Coast, located in southern Santa Barbara County, includes the coastal watersheds between Coal Oil Point in Goleta, to Point Arguello on Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the remainder of Vandenberg's coast to Point Sal. The portion down-coast of Point Conception constitutes about 15% of Southern California's coast, yet contains approximately 50% of its remaining rural coastline. Expanding urbanization has displaced agriculture on fertile coastal plains along Southern California's coastline, reduced public beach access, and stressed coastal watersheds and marine ecosystems. Rapid population growth in the region has led to dramatic loss of native biological diversity, and a general decline in the health of ecosystems we depend on. To meet these challenges and preserve our coastal heritage, the Gaviota Coast Conservancy is dedicated to long-term strategies to permanently protect the Gaviota Coast. Call for more info:(805) 683-3381 http://gaviotacoastconservancy.org/
About SCAPE: SCAPE—Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment—was founded in 2002 and has grown to over 200 members, a diverse group including nationally known and local artists, students, patrons and even gallery owners. Membership is open to everyone who wants to participate. SCAPE’s goals are to have Exhibitions to help raise money to protect open spaces, to Increase public awareness of environmental and conservation issues, to promote camaraderie and provide education for artists. Among the non-profits SCAPE has helped raise money for are Environmental Defense Center, Community Environmental Council, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, UCSB’s Sedgwick Reserve, Coal Oil Point Reserve, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Channelkeeper and Phoenix of Santa Barbara Creek Habitat Restoration program. To date, more than $125,000 has been raised for our local organizations through the end of 2013. GCC and Naples are now added to this list. Nationally known artists are invited to come to Santa Barbara to teach workshops. Averaging 200 members who participate in the Paint-Outs, workshops and exhibitions, members also volunteer as Board Members or Chair positions. SCAPE has three or four exhibits every year and each is juried. Membership is open year-round. Call (805) 570-9195 for info. www.s-c-a-p-e.org
About The Naples Coalition:
The Naples Coalition is a Santa Barbara, California-based public benefit, tax exempt corporation that includes leadership from a number of local non-profit groups including the Gaviota Coast Conservancy, Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club, Santa Barbara Chapter of Surfrider Foundation, Santa Barbara Chapter of the Audubon Society, Citizens Planning Association of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara County Action Network, and the League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara. The Naples Coalition is dedicated to the preservation of the rural character of the Naples property on the Gaviota coast. Call (805) 683- 3381 for more info. www.SaveNaples.org
About the Bacara's "Hearts of Bacara" community partnership program:
Bacara believes hospitality and community service go hand-in-hand. In that spirit, Bacara has instituted “Hearts of Bacara,” a comprehensive program comprised of community partnerships, in-kind donations, cash contributions and volunteered time and talent. To this effect, the Bacara has included the Gaviota Coast Conservancyas one of its community partners to support by hosting this SCAPE fundraising event.Bacara supports the Gaviota Coast Conservancy through educational outreach, fundraisers, art exhibitions, beach clean-ups and the resort’s annual holiday tree that pays homage to the beautiful coastline. For more information on this program, call (855) 817-9782 or visit:www.BacaraResort.com
INFO:Call (805) 683-6631 (Naples) or (805) 689-5053 (SCAPE) (use websites below as well)
WHY: Second Annual show devoted to art focusing on the Gaviota & Naples coastline. SCAPE artists & Woolpert will donate 40% of all sales to benefit the Naples Coalition and Gaviota Coast Conservancy. The Gaviota Coast is the jewel in our backyard. Irreplaceable and endangered, it is the landscape of our ancestors and has much to teach us. The SCAPE artists and photographer Reeve Woolpert are its ambassadors. Don’t miss their vision.
PICKLE ROOM PLANS CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION WITH LOCAL ART EXHIBITION
The Pickle Room is the newest vintage cocktail lounge on the scene in downtown Santa Barbara and it’s getting ready for a sentimental journey into the past with an exhibition of paintings done by local artists using the landmark Chinese restaurant Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens (1947-2006) as the subject. The owners of the Pickle Room, Bob & Clay Lovejoy want to honor the longtime legacy of the Chung Family as well as the neighborhood, which was once a bustling Chinatown. Join us on Friday, January 31, 2014 from 4:30 to 7:30pm for the opening of the exhibit and meet the artists. Exhibit will be up through May 1st. On the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Horse is 4711.
The Pickle Room presents “Jimmy’s Chinatown” Art Show
WHEN: Friday, Jan 31 through Sat., May 31, 2014 - Open Monday – Wed. 4:30 to 11 and till 1 am Thurs – Sat.
COST: Free – do have a classic cocktail to toast the art
ABOUT: An exhibition of paintings done by local artists using the landmark Chinese restaurantJimmy’s Oriental Gardens (1947-2006) as the subject. The owners of the Pickle Room, Bob & Clay Lovejoy will honor the longtime legacy of Jimmy Chung and his family as well as the neighborhood, which was once a bustling Chinatown. Opening reception with the artists will take place Friday, Jan 31 from 4:30 – 7:30 pm. It’s 4711, Year of the Horse.
Artists included (at press time): Gary Chafe, Cyndi Burt, Larry Iwerks, Judith Geiger, Augie Ortiz, John Klippenstein and David Diamant.
(Santa Barbara, CA) It was a full house at the Yacht Club for the annual Holiday Evening dinner Meeting of the local MOWW – The Military Order of the World Wars (12.12.13). Commander of the local chapter, Brig Gen Fred Lopez welcomed everyone and introduced Col. Ed Dewey (USArmy/Retired) for the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an Invocation recited by Carol Fritz. And ending with the preamble of the MOWW by Col. Mike Maloco (USAF/Aux).
LTC George Davis (US Army) gave the gathering a status report on the UCSB ROTC Surfrider Battalion, which he heads up. Currently the ROTC has 68 students enrolled in the program and ten of those will be commissioned in June 2014. He noted the Junior class is the largest they’ve had since the mid 1980’s with 17 young men & women. More than a dozen students from the program mixed in with the MOWW members giving the new guard a chance to meet and mingle with the old guard. Lt Col Davis introduced the ROTC students in the house and each got a nice round of applause.
After this, BG Lopez presented the awards. Unable to attend due to illness, Lt. Bernard Drury, USN (Fmr), a 13-year member of MOWW received the “Outstanding Service Award” for his exceptional work on behalf of the Chapter. His responsibilities have included Chapter Surgeon for ten years and Chapter Staff Officer for more than five years. Lt. Druryhas assisted the Commander and staff by serving on various committees. He provided helpful medical advice to Companions via the Chapter’s monthly newsletter.
Dr. Frank Cox was recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation and honorary membership in the MOWW for his dedication to documenting the men & women who have served our country in a series of more than 70 stories he did for the Santa Barbara News Press over the last three years. The former SBCC professor in psychology & sociology and author, Cox said, “It is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.” He handed out packet to all those in attendance which noted the names of all of the service men & women he wrote up.
The Silver Patrick Henry Medallion and miniature medal was presented to Dr. Kirsten Olson, PhD who Chairs the USCB Veterans Resource Team, recognized for her significant contribution to the cause of Patriotism in our community. As a clinical psychologist working in Counseling and Psychological Services at UCSB she has made a significant difference in the care of our student veterans. Dr. Olsonhas distinguished herself by developing assistance and training programs such as "Boots to Books," "Troops to College," and "Understanding Trauma and PTSD." In presenting the award, Gen Lopez said, “We sincerely appreciate her dedication and service on behalf of our student veterans and is in keeping with goals and precepts of The Military Order of the World Wars.” Dr. Olsonhas truly made a difference.
She was overcome with emotion noting, “This is such a great honor.” Although she never served in the military, she thanked those who taught her about war and it’s aftermath. She thanked her father and grandfather who served in the Navy, as well as her husband Dustin, a colleague on UCSB’s VRT Master Sergeant Jon Parra (US Army/Retired) and John and Hazel Blankenship, co-founders of the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Museum & Library Foundation. “Those people taught me how the experience of war builds resilience and I learned what it’s like to climb back after the experience of war. They helped me to grow.” Dr. Olson's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Herman Trabbic werepresent and beaming at the dinner meeting.
The MOWW was established in 1919 to promote the welfare of this nation and provides an opportunity for Officers of all uniformed services to unite in a strong program to promote national security, patriotism, good citizenship and service to country. MOWW has more than 11,000 members in 155 chapters across the U.S. Membership is open to all recognized Commissioned Officers and is also open to spouses and descendants of officers. Going into it’s tenth decade the MOWW has strong ties to the Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts recognizing each youth who attains the rank of Eagle Scout or earns the Gold Award, respectively. If you’re interested and eligible to become a member of the MOWW, please contact Major Jose Ramirez at (805)965-5839 or BG Fred Lopez at (805)964-9546. Monthly meetings are held at the Elks Club in Goleta on the third Tuesday of the month.
