2006 - Page 223 of 269 - The Santa Barbara Independent

By Indy Staff

Chas Sneyers 1953-2006

by Tom Entwistle
Chas and I had a strong connection. We were as close as brothers, maybe more so. Thirty years of friendship is a significant amount of time to get to know someone. Much of our time together revolved around preparing food, designing menus, setting up an oxygen bar, and marketing healthy lighting. If you believe one’s eyes are the windows to the soul, then Chas’s twinkling blue eyes were a direct reflection of the spirit inside him. Who didn’t feel good being held in his gaze?

Living By Shannon Kelley

Healthy Hoopla

One of the hottest new workouts around is something you’ve probably done before, and probably haven’t done for years. No longer just for kids, Diana Lopez is bringing her vision of hula-hooping for health and well-being to the masses. Several years ago, the former junior high school teacher took a hooping workshop from a Cirque du Soleil-caliber acquaintance, and was “immediately mesmerized.” She introduced the activity to her students, and found that “after we’d do that in the morning, their receptivity to learning, their confidence in themselves, their ease in their own bodies was just amazing.” Lopez also noticed the effects in her own body, which led her to seek out a way to bring the concept to adults. So, in 2003, she quit her day job, secured some investors, and launched her business, Body Hoops.

Living By Alastair Bland

Merit McCrea

Fishing for Science

By Alastair Bland
Merit McCrea began fishing local waters as a teenager in the 1970s, and, since ’79, has made his living as a fisherman. His charter-boat operation was one of the only opportunities for anglers to fish the Channel Islands; for 22 years McCrea connected his clients with kelp bass, halibut, and rockfish. But in 2001 McCrea sold his boat and returned to school, acquiring a degree from UCSB in aquatic biology. He now collects and dissects fish at the university’s Marine Science Institute.

Uncategorized By Indy Staff

Quote of the Week

‘I don’t know what world he comes from, but if Mr. Caldwell could, I think he would put skyscrapers on

Uncategorized By Indy Staff

CAPPED AT EL CAP:

A high-speed police chase that started in San Luis Obispo County ended in gunfire and death last Friday near the El Capitan Ranch in Goleta. Both southbound lanes of Highway 101 were closed for more than five hours as 41-year-old Jose Cabreraa parolee from San Jose with several warrants out for his arrestdrove a hijacked jeep with hostages into the 805. When the jeep ran out of gas, Cabrera abandoned the hostages, stole a delivery truck near the Tajiguas landfill, and continued south. After hitting a spike strip, Cabrera ran across the freeway toward two vehicles parked near the northbound off-ramp of the El Capitan Ranch exit. He opened fire on the cars without knowing they belonged to two off-duty narcotics officers from San Luis Obispo County who were helping a broken-down motorist. One of the officers returned fire, striking Cabrera three times and killing him.

Living By Virginia Hayes

Gardening Tips

Check out blooming roses in pots; plant now or order bare-root next winter.
Thin stone (peaches, nectarines, etc.) and pome fruit trees (apples and pears) as soon fruits develop.

By Ethan Stewart

Teachers Need Houses Too

A series of public forums discussing the Santa Barbara School District’s tentative plans to develop employee housing-for teachers-drew small crowds at La Cumbre Junior High but sparked plenty of tension on Monday. Faced with significant teacher turnover in a region boasting some of the highest housing costs in the nation, the district contracted the Maryland-based development firm UniDev late last year to conduct an economic feasibility study on its Hidden Valley property near Veronica Springs and the Tatum property in the eastern Goleta Valley.

By Indy Staff

TEENAGE STABBING II:

Another teenage gang-related stabbing took place in broad daylight on State Street last Wednesday. A 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the back, stitched up, and released, according to spokesperson Paul McCaffrey, while two additional teens were arrested for disturbing the peacespecifically for fighting or challenging to fight. The combatants were students at San Marcos High School and Santa Barbara High School. The previous Thursday, a 14-year-old El Puente student was stabbed in the stomach without serious injury; six other teenagers including the suspected stabber were eventually arrested.

Angry Poodle By Nick Welsh

D Is for Dogzilla

MERCURY IN RETROGRADE: The great tragedy of our times is that Karl Rove doesn’t make house calls. Late last week we learned that Rove, George Bush’s beloved political hatchet man, can affect long-distance medical miracles simply by picking up the phone and “touching” someone electronically. I’m referring to the dramatic improvement reported by Republican Congressmember Elton Gallegly, the Simi Valley arch-conservative who also represents much of inland Santa Barbara County, after taking a call from Bush’s chief plotter and schemer.

Uncategorized By Gerald Carpenter

an embarrassment of riches

Once again the combined efforts of the various wonderful organizations programming classical music in Santa Barbara have come through with a dazzling array of worldclass talent for the spring season. Rejoice in the majesty of Beethoven’s Ninth with Gisle and the Santa Barbara Symphony, or prepare to be spellbound by such modern virtuosos as the redoubtable Andre Watts or the soontobehuge prodigy Yundi Li.

Year: 2006