About

Santa Barbara Family Life (SBFL) is a free monthly magazine serving Santa Barbara county, parts of Ventura county and surrounding areas with a readership of 60,000+. Launched in June of 1998, the publication has become known throughout the area as one of the best magazines for finding out what’s happening in the community. Our digital flip-page magazine allows our readers and visitors from out of the area to view the entire magazine online and link right to our advertisers for additional information.

The original idea for the magazine is the creation of Nansie Chapman, who published a successful children’s magazine for several years in Los Angeles called the Howee Mouse Gazette in addition to partnering in a graphic design business. When she, and her husband at the time, Bob Chapman, decided to move back to her hometown in Santa Barbara, publishing another magazine seemed like the perfect way to utilize Nansie’s psychology and writing background, and the graphics experience she and Bob had, allowed them to do the production. This time she wanted to include the entire family. As soon as Nansie’s childhood friend, Marty Zicherman, heard about the idea, she jumped in and helped with advertising sales and took on the role of Advertising Director.

In 1999 Michael Vizzolini joined the SBFL family becoming the Associate Editor and bringing with him an interest in developing an entertainment section and contributing his expertise and background in marketing and editing. Thanks to Michael, our entertainment section makes what’s happening on the local scene easy to decipher as it summarizes what we feel are the “hottest” things happening in the area.

Numerous writers and professionals from various fields have contributed to the magazine since it’s conception, with local author Jack Canfield providing a monthly column of extracts from the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. However, the heart of the magazine is still created every month by the core members – Nansie, Marty and Michael.

In addition to the core staff, Susan Allan provides a monthly column on love and relationships and Rod Peason creates a column each month on a variety of issues around home improvements. Andrea Huebner proofs the pages and freelance writers contribute numerous articles through out the year.

So what is the philosophy behind the magazine? Our families form our most basic and important relationships and help mold our views of the world. We believe educational information, which can assist family members with creating healthy, happy relationships, benefits all of us. So, that’s what we are all about. a resource that not only educates and entertains its readers, but also connects families to other members, events, activities and businesses within our community. We focus on the “good things” happening around us all the time. We want you to have a continual experience that Central and Southern California is a pretty great place to live!

So whether you are single living alone with your pet, a married couple with children, a senior sharing an apartment, or any other combination of “family,” you will find the material in this magazine uplifting, entertaining, educational and just plain old fun! SBFL has something for everyone!

We hope you will enjoy our efforts and continue to return each month to discover what’s new in our community.