Santa Barbara Judge Thomas Anderle rejected City Hall arguments to set aside a $431,000 verdict awarded to former Santa Barbara city cop Ruben Lino, who claimed he was retaliated against for complaining about homophobic remarks by fellow officers.
For many, sangr-a conjures up painful memories of “trash can” punch made with cheap wine and a few sad-looking apples, and usually an even more painful hangover. The traditional summer refreshment in Spain, sangr-a became popular in America after it was featured in the 1964 World’s Fair, giving people a new excuse to buy jug wine. So it isn’t too surprising that in the sweeping Spanish culinary trend (tapas), sangr-a has been left to languish as frat party fare.
–David Millstein, the San Francisco-based attorney representing the News-Press, responding to reports that the News-Press was examining the disc drives and phone records of its employees.
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is falling prey to noise pollution, according to the Conservation Working Group (CWG), which monitors the wildlife park. In its comments to the sanctuary’s advisory council, the CWG also urged the sanctuary to beef up enforcement against air and water polluters, claiming the $2.5 million enforcement budget is not equal to the task. Most of the noise, chemicals, smog, and sewage comes from freighters along the shipping lanes between the Channel Islands and the mainland-traffic that increases tenfold about every 10 years, according to the Environmental Defense Center’s Shiva Polefka, who sits on the CWG.
Though the investigation is still being conducted, it appears hundreds of seabirds may have died on a barge that served as the staging area for the Independence Day fireworks extravaganza in Santa Barbara. The mystery began a couple of hundred miles to the south in the days leading up to the Fourth when hundreds of dead baby terns washed up on the shores of Long Beach near Island White. According to sources at the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), approximately 2,000 adult terns and their chicks had been nesting in recent months on two barges moored off Long Beach.
The genius who came up with the idea for Curves-a women’s-only fitness chain-knew what she was doing. Gym-going men, please take note: No woman likes being hit on while she’s covered in sweat. Period. And, in another stroke of genius, Curves has broken down the ideal workout-one that combines strength work and cardio-into easily manageable, bite-sized chunks, also known as “circuits.”
The Prids’ :Until the World Is Beautiful: What do you get when two wayward, lovestruck Midwesterners get married, divorce, and then finally find their musical calling in Portland, Oregon?
Move over, olive; there’s new oil in town. True, walnut oil is nothing new-the French have been producing it since the 18th century-but in the last year, two raw walnut vendors at the Santa Barbara Farmers Markets have started producing 100 percent pure, cold-pressed oil from their crops. Unlike commercially produced oils, cold-pressed products do not use heat, which extracts more oil, but breaks down the flavor compounds and diminishes the nutritive properties of the nut. Commercial oils also often contain water, which is used to thin the oil, diluting the taste.
During the past week, The Independent offices have been inundated with letters, phone calls, and emails, all concerning recent events unfolding at the Santa Barbara News-Press. In this issue, we have printed a few of these, including a most informative letter to that paper’s acting publisher written by one of America’s preeminent journalists, Lou Cannon. A complete posting of all letters and emails can be found on The Indy‘s Web site (independent.com). Nick Welsh has compiled a timeline which will explain the who, what, when, and where of why six of the daily’s most senior editors, including Executive Editor Jerry Roberts, resigned. But the most powerful report is that by Barney Brantingham, perhaps Santa Barbara’s most beloved writer. He explains in great detail why he decided to leave a newspaper where he has worked for almost half a century; it is a great honor for The Independent to publish this moving article. For us, here at The Independent, it is an even greater honor to announce that Barney Brantingham has agreed to become our newest columnist. And everyone in Santa Barbara will be happy to learn that this year’s Grand Marshal of the Old Spanish Days Parade, Mr. Brantingham himself, will be continuing to report on his adventures as he, once again, eats his way through Fiesta.
The S.B. Maritime Museum in the harbor is seeking people interested in the region’s seafaring history-from the Chumash to the unique innovations developed here-to become docents and lead tours. The eight-week training must be prefaced by attendance at a mandatory orientation meeting, which is on either Tuesday, July 25, from 10-11 a.m. or on Saturday, August 26, from 2-3 p.m. For more info, call 962-8404 x111 or email achamberlain@sbmm.org.
