From left, Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon, Montecito Association executive director Houghton Hyatt, Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Roy Lee and Beautification Day chairwoman Mindy Denson.
From left, Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon, Montecito Association executive director Houghton Hyatt, Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Roy Lee and Beautification Day chairwoman Mindy Denson. Credit: Montecito Association photo

More than 150 volunteers came out on Saturday, Nov. 7, for Montecito’s annual Beautification Day.

It was a gorgeous morning in the Upper Village, and we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout.

Thank you to everyone who spent part of their Saturday picking up litter, caring for our trails and catching up with neighbors over lunch.

The Rosewood Miramar Beach got the morning off to a delicious start, serving volunteers coffee, tea, pastries and breakfast burritos before everyone headed out to clean up.

This year’s Beautification Day District Challenge brought a little friendly competition to the cleanup. The Montecito Association’s Districts 4 and 5 were neck and neck, but District 5 took home bragging rights for collecting the most bags of trash.

The Montecito Trails Foundation also led two special projects: volunteers, including Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon and his wife, Amber, cleared brush along the Hammonds Beach Trail, and Scouts from the Los Padres Council’s Troop 33 removed graffiti from a local trail.

Back in the Upper Village, we honored Dana Hansen and Michael Edwards, our two Citizens of the Year. Both received resolutions from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in recognition of their service to the community.

First District Supervisor Roy Lee joined us and presented the Beautification Award to the Montecito Water District for its newly replanted garden, designed by Lotusland with funding from the Montecito Community Foundation.

Montecito firefighters made sure everyone was well fed after the cleanup. Montecito Village Grocery provided the hot dogs, San Ysidro Ranch provided the pasta salads, and the firefighters supplied the chili and cooked lunch.

Renaud’s Bakery and Lilac Pâtisserie donated dessert, and Casa Dorinda provided the Coca-Cola.

Thank you to all of them for giving us one more reason to linger and enjoy the afternoon together.

  • Many of the cleanup crews at the Montecito Association’s annual Beautification Day were groups of families and friends.
    Many of the cleanup crews at the Montecito Association’s annual Beautification Day were groups of families and friends. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • From left, Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon, Montecito Association executive director Houghton Hyatt, Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Roy Lee and Beautification Day chairwoman Mindy Denson.
    From left, Montecito Fire Chief Brian Fallon, Montecito Association executive director Houghton Hyatt, Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Roy Lee and Beautification Day chairwoman Mindy Denson. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Scouts from Troop 33 are prepared to head out on graffiti cleanup along a local trail.
    Scouts from Troop 33 are prepared to head out on graffiti cleanup along a local trail. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • California Highway Patrol Officer Jonathan Gutierrez talks to a potential recruit.
    California Highway Patrol Officer Jonathan Gutierrez talks to a potential recruit. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo
  • Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • T-shirts, anyone?
    T-shirts, anyone?
  • Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Montecito Association executive director Houghton Hyatt and board president Bill Macfadyen.
    Montecito Association executive director Houghton Hyatt and board president Bill Macfadyen. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • The Rosewood Miramar Beach team sent cleanup crews off with a delicious breakfast.
    The Rosewood Miramar Beach team sent cleanup crews off with a delicious breakfast. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • From left, Bill Macfadyen, Bill Babbitt, and Rock Rockenbach with his dog, Barrett.
    From left, Bill Macfadyen, Bill Babbitt, and Rock Rockenbach with his dog, Barrett. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Man about Montecito Dana Newquist steers his vintage fire truck through the Upper Village parking lot.
    Man about Montecito Dana Newquist steers his vintage fire truck through the Upper Village parking lot. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo
  • Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • MarBorg Industries provided a dumpster for the debris.
    MarBorg Industries provided a dumpster for the debris. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Before Troop 33.
    Before Troop 33. Credit: Scouting America Troop 33 photo
  • After Troop 33.
    After Troop 33. Credit: Scouting America Troop 33 photo
  • Some of the loot picked up on the side of the roads.
    Some of the loot picked up on the side of the roads. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Montecito Association Citizen of the Year Dana Hansen, left, and Mindy Denson.
    Montecito Association Citizen of the Year Dana Hansen, left, and Mindy Denson. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo
  • Montecito Association Citizen of the Year Michael Edwards, left, and Dana Newquist.
    Montecito Association Citizen of the Year Michael Edwards, left, and Dana Newquist. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo
  • Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Montecito firefighters — and their trucks — were everywhere at Upper Village.
    Montecito firefighters — and their trucks — were everywhere at Upper Village. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Montecito firefighters get cooking at grilling hot dogs for lunch.
    Montecito firefighters get cooking at grilling hot dogs for lunch. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Mindy Denson, left, and Houghton Hyatt.
    Mindy Denson, left, and Houghton Hyatt. Credit: Montecito Association photo
  • Noozhawks Jasmin Frausto, Justin Souza and Scoop the Noozhawk.
    Noozhawks Jasmin Frausto, Justin Souza and Scoop the Noozhawk. Credit: Bill Macfadyen / Noozhawk photo
  • Credit: Houghton Hyatt / Montecito Association photo

We’re grateful to the community partners who spent the day with us: California Highway Patrol, Earthcomb, Friends of the Montecito Library, Los Padres ForestWatch, Lotusland, Montecito Community Foundation, Montecito Fire, Montecito Sanitary District, Montecito Trails Foundation, Montecito Water District, Noozhawk, Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue and UC Master Gardeners of Santa Barbara County. Our partners and sponsors make this tradition possible, and our volunteers bring it to life.

To everyone who filled a trash bag, cleared a trail, cheered for our honorees or shared a meal with a neighbor: thank you for showing up for Montecito.

A special thank you to the Beautification Day Committee, led by Montecito Association board member Mindy Denson. A job well done!

Mark your calendars for next year’s Beautification Day on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2027. We’ll see you in the Upper Village!

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Click here to join or for more information about the Montecito Association, or email info@montecitoassociation.org.

Houghton Hyatt is executive director of the Montecito Association.