Local Heroes 2022
The Independent’s Annual Nod
to Our Incredible Neighbors
By Ryan P. Cruz, Leslie Dinaberg, Callie Fausey, Tyler Hayden, Matt Kettmann, Nick Welsh, and Jean Yamamura | Photos by Ingrid Bostrom
A sea captain who untangles whales. A lawyer who supports mothers in need. A woman who offers comfort to those suffering from loss and despair. A boy who sells rubber ducks to save abandoned animals. These are just some of the Local Heroes of 2022. Their stories are tales of compassion, neighborliness, philanthropy, and kindness.
Every Thanksgiving, since our first issue 36 years ago, the Independent has celebrated outstanding people such as those we are honoring this year. And every year, our readers send us nominations of people whose work makes Santa Barbara County such an amazing place to live. Many of these heroes have never received recognition until today.
The staff of the Independent thanks all our Local Heroes past and present for their work, and our readers for nominating them. We are grateful to all who make Santa Barbara County such an amazing place to live.
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