Year: 2006

Mobile Home Stability

Several community groups converged at the Santa Maria Public Airport District on Thursday, July 13, united in opposition to the plan to replace the Airport Mobile Home Park with a golf course. Although they were unsuccessful in persuading the district to abandon the plan altogether, district boardmembers did agree to change the rules in their search for a new property manager. The job description will no longer include the responsibility of closing the park and relocating its current residents; the board will also delay the hiring process until an ad hoc committee thoroughly examines biological issues associated with such a change in the property’s use, including its potential affect on the endangered tiger salamander and one variety of fairy shrimp.

Pick It Up

Bitter:Sweet’s The Mating Game

When L.A.’s songstress Shana Halligan answered an ad about someone needing a vocalist, she never guessed it would be Kiran Shahani of the Supreme Beings of Leisure.

Cops Walk From Bargaining Table

Negotiators with the Police Officers Association declared an impasse in their contract negotiations with Santa Barbara city administrators late last week, and by Sunday, had unleashed a new “robo-call” campaign designed to generate public support for their cause. City residents, including City Councilmember Roger Horton, received recorded phone messages from police Sergeant Dave Gonzales contending that without a pay increase, turnover of experienced officers would increase and public safety would be compromised.

Campaign Finance Reform Rebuffed

Those hoping to see the City of Santa Barbara provide public financing for political candidates as part of a package of campaign finance reforms suffered a significant setback last week, when Santa Barbara City Councilmember Roger Horton (pictured)-who serves on the council’s ad hoc reform committee-voiced strong opposition to the idea.

Sublimely Meticulous

Given that last Friday night was destined to be a celebration of popular music, it seemed only fitting that Richie Furay should open the proceedings. Furay was the founder of Buffalo Springfield, the band that not only launched its founder’s career, but also those of Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Jim Messina. And it was even more fitting that the enthusiastic Furay should be joined onstage by a couple of Santa Barbara friends, namely his former Buffalo Springfield and Poco cohort Jim Messina along with Messina’s subsequent musical ally, Kenny Loggins. Backed by Furay’s intimate instrumental cast, which included his daughter, Jessie, on backup vocals, the threesome rollicked their way through energized versions of Buffalo Springfield’s “Kind Woman” and Poco’s “You Better Think Twice.”

Dana Crampton

A Post Office Farewell

Dana Crampton, the postal clerk with the long gray hair and mellow attitude who was a fixture at the downtown Santa Barbara post office counter for almost 22 years, spent his last day at the window on Friday, June 2.
Dana was known for many things: his gray beard and long, gray, braided hair; the interesting array of coins and bills from all over the world that he kept under Plexiglas at his window; but mostly, for his wonderful attitude.

Floral Standards

Making Wee Trees Out of Shrubs and Perennials

Whether you just need an interesting plant to adorn some corner of your terrace or deck or you simply have no room for anything bigger, there is one growing trick designed to fit many situations. The idea is to make a small tree-like form out of a woody shrub or herbaceous perennial that wouldn’t normally take on that shape. There are two basic ways to achieve this result.