Revisiting some of the Valley’s most fascinating people
Mary Ann Norbom [email protected]
The great pleasure of being the Lifestyle Editor at the Santa Ynez Valley News is meeting and speaking with so many of the extraordinary people who live in the Valley. Some are inspiring, others are making a difference in ways big and small, some are surprising, and then there’s the hero you’ll never get out of your heart. Sharing their stories with Valley News readers is something we do every week. As 2015 draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of our most remarkable neighbors.
Rona Barrett advocates for seniors:
A pioneering Hollywood correspondent, Rona Barrett moved to the Valley 30 years ago and for a time ran a lavender business. It was her personal experience taking care of her father for a decade that led her to become a senior advocate and to focus on the need for affordable senior housing, she explained.
As a result of her advocacy, construction on the Golden Inn & Village began in March and the senior housing project expects to open in summer 2016. There will be 60 independent living units plus housing for employees and their families, she said at the Rona Barrett Foundation’s inaugural benefit gala in October. Assisted living and memory care units will follow as the campus completes construction.
