Local Heroes 2008

On Thanksgiving Day in 1986, we published our first issue of The Santa Barbara Independent. It was also our first honor roll of Local Heroes, with stories of men and women who truly deserved our thanks for making Santa Barbara such an amazing place to live. They included people from all walks of life: a soccer coach and a science teacher, a traffic court commissioner and a philanthropist, a theater director and a human rights advocate, research librarians and a UCSB gatekeeper to name just a few. But what they all shared in common was the willingness to do the very best they could with whatever fate put before them. Many were honored for expanding the life of Santa Barbara-activists who took on great causes-but others functioned in the normal toil of their lives with such grace and energy that all our lives were enriched without ever knowing why.

So we began a tradition, now in its 23rd year, of honoring our Local Heroes. The 2008 list is made up of people every bit as fabulous as our first. We all know we are blessed to live in a place rich in such natural beauties-our little paradise-but we are even more blessed to live with neighbors who truly are Local Heroes.

Justin Bosio

Benevolent Avocado Farmer