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Yahoo!There’s no doubt about it: 2007 was one of the more photograph-friendly years in recent memory here in Santa Barbara.
The perilous Zaca Fire cast a symbolic shadow on the county all summer long, and a very real one, too, such as during those many times when the blaze’s plume towered over town (pictured above). It afforded some of the more dramatic scenes ever in our backcountry as the firefighters worked hard to save the forest and put many mountain dwellers on edge when it threatened to crest the ridgeline and explode into town.
Then there was the stabbing murder in broad daylight of a teenager by teens in the middle of town, perhaps the most shocking crime of the 21st century in Santa Barbara. A teenage lineup on State Street? A cop pulling a knife from a trashcan? Police tape blocking off the swanky Saks Fifth Avenue? Albeit a tragic afternoon, you couldn’t design a more camera-ready scene.
Meanwhile, the directionless Iraq War continued to affect us here on the South Coast, with the Arlington West memorial maxing out at 3,000 crosses and one Carpinteria son coming home in a coffin. Perhaps more distressing is the very real impacts of global warming, and Santa Barbara played host to many speakers and community debates on that controversial topic.
But it wasn’t all mayhem and murder. The Santa Barbara Bowl packed in the crowds for some of rock music’s biggest stars and UCSB’s Arts & Lectures continued to wow audiences with speakers and performances of the highest caliber. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival brought Hollywood to State Street for a couple winter weeks, presenting the opportunity to catch superstars cavorting on our very own red carpets.
And who was there to take it all in and give it back to us in the form of crisp ’n’ clean photographs? The Indy’s tireless staff photographer Paul Wellman, whose work graces the following pages.
So take a look as the year comes to a close and reflect on the news we all shared together. It’s been quite a busy 12 months, and there’s no sign of it slowing up in 2008.
Happy New Year.
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Politics
Santa Barbara’s usually energized election cycle was rather slow this year — save, of course, for the surprise City Council victory in November of challenger and political newbie Dale Francisco.
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Courts and Crime
No crime has rocked Santa Barbara’s psyche in recent years more than the stabbing murder of a teenager by high schoolers in broad daylight at the corner of State and Carrillo streets, the true heart of town.
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Sports
With John Zant batting clean-up for The Independent’s sports department this year, we kept our eyes on all the bouncing balls in 2007. That included the championship run of Bishop Diego’s football team, led by running back Aaron Skinner.
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Environment
Ever since the infamous Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969, the South Coast has been an undeniable force in the environmental movement.
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News-Press
The ongoing saga of the once beloved Santa Barbara News-Press continued its downward spiral in 2007. The twists and turns included more firings of award-winning reporters; protests by the employees and community across town, from the front door of the News-Press building to the overpasses on the 101 freeway.
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Performing Arts
UCSB’s Department of Theater and Dance tackled Part One of Tony Kushner’s new classic, Angels in America with great success.
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War
Simultaneously showing support for troops and demanding the end of U.S. military operations in Iraq, thousands of Santa Barbarans commemorated the four-year anniversary of the start of the war by taking to the streets.
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Fire
Burning from July 4 through September, the Zaca Fire charred more than 200,000 acres and put the South Coast on edge all summer long.
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Famous Faces
More than ever before, 2007’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival in January and February brought actors of high critical acclaim to town, not to mention global heroes.
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Music
The ladies were out in full force this year, with the Santa Barbara Bowl and the more intimate Lobero Theatre playing host to a fine smattering of hard-rockin’ and power-poppin’ megastars of the female persuasion.
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Newsmakers
Health and social justice were front-page stories this year, whether that meant the immigrants’ rights march through Santa Barbara on May Day or treating the homeless people who roam the streets sick with diseases of all sorts.
Double-clicking on any word or phrase in this story will open a reference window with definitions and links to other reference material.
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