Year: 2006

By Indy Staff

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER:

In a major victory for S.B.’s Environmental Defense Center, California Rural Legal Assistance Inc., and the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, a San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled last week that California strawberry growers must limit their use of the poisonous soil fumigant methyl bromide. Effective against hard-to-kill strawberry nematodes, the insecticide also damages the human nervous system and reproductive health. Because it also depletes the ozone layer, signatories to the 1987 Montreal Protocolincluding the U.S.pledged to phase it out entirely. But the U.S. has made repeated exceptions for agricultural uses where no evident alternative exists. The new standard requires agricultural corporations statewide to reduce farm workers’ and children’s exposure to the fumigant by 800 and 900 percent respectively within a year.

Uncategorized By Karen Leigh

This ‘Quality of Mercy’ Is UNPLUGG’D

London Actors Bring Merchant of Venice to the Lobero

Five actors working with no sets, no theatrical costumes, and the words of William Shakespeare-that’s the demanding formula employed by Actors From a London Stage (AFLS) in its touring production of The Merchant of Venice, which is at Lobero Theatre this weekend. Despite the London association, it’s a homecoming of sorts for the company, which was founded here 25 years ago.

Uncategorized By Indy Staff

NO HOPE FOR TRANSFERS:

After months of speculation, the Hope School District’s Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to stop accepting transfer students. Currently, about one-third of the popular elementary district’s 1,400 students are transfers. Mounting financial concerns led to the policy change, which aims to reduce enrollment by about 400 students, thus granting the district a coveted Basic Aid classification and the bonus state funding that entails. The move is music to the ears of administrators in Santa Barbara, as the Hope Districtwith its high test scores and predominantly white racial make-uphas been on the receiving end of many “white flight” student departures from Santa Barbara’s elementary district.

Uncategorized By Indy Staff

BODY ON THE BEACH:

Last week, local resident Chas Sneyers was found dead, floating in the surf along a remote stretch of coastline just north of Summerland Beach. Though authorities have yet to determine an official cause of death, they believe 52-year-old Sneyers drowned in an alcohol-related accident. Sneyers was reportedly living on a boat near Santa Barbara Harbor at the time of his death and was last seen late Monday night leaving a local bar. He was discovered by a man walking his dog late last Wednesday afternoon.

By Karen Leigh

Modern Irish Tragedy

By the Bog of Cats, by Marina Carr

At UCSB’s Hatlen Theatre, Saturday, March 4. Shows through March 11.

You have got to love those Irish accents. Notoriously tricky, the Celtic twang is memorably-and professionally-brought to life by the student actors of UCSB’s winter main-stage production, Marina Carr’s By the Bog of Cats.

Uncategorized By Karen Leigh

Born in Dixie

Tales from the South, presented by Speaking of Stories.

At the Lobero Theatre,Monday, February 27.

All the little boy wants to do is be a girl. It’s the South, it’s the closeted 1950s, and no one knows his secret save a local fortune teller, a legend in his N’Awlins neighborhood. Will she take advantage of him? Truman Capote’s tale, “Dazzle,” is one of four which came to life last Monday at the Lobero, where Santa Barbara’s Speaking of Stories presented its latest offering, Tales from the South.

By Gerald Carpenter

All Heaven Breaks Loose

Masters of Persian Music

At UCSB’s Campbell Hall, Tuesday, February 28.

The scale of this event took me by surprise, especially since the magnitude of it was not immediately apparent. Campbell Hall was full and buzzing, but the lights were already down by the time I got to my seat and I couldn’t really tell who was there-students and faculty, of course, plus various open-minded folks from the community. Still, that is not the kind of crowd to generate the almost religious feeling of expectation I was sensing all around me.

Uncategorized By

Working on the Blues Train

Henry Butler, presented by the Santa Barbara Blues Society.

At Warren Hall, Saturday, March 4.

It was a definitively special night last Saturday at Warren Hall, when Henry Butler came to town for the 29th anniversary of the Santa Barbara Blues Society and showered the crowd with good-vibing New Orleans piano. Some revelers here might have been skeptical seeing a stage adorned with only a piano, which contrasts with the usual full-band model in this hall.

By Indy Staff

ROTC Routed

I doubt that anyone would deny he acquired good characteristics from his service in the military. The Veterans for Peace demonstrate some of the training in collaboration on a worthy mission every Sunday at Stearns Wharf. I don’t think it is reasonable to challenge our school board on the decision to eliminate JROTC.

By Indy Staff

Beyond Bumbling

I understand a teacher is in trouble for referring to Bush as a Hitler. I would beg to differ with that position. Hitler in his insane way was quite brilliant in that he had the world at war for five-plus years and held off the “enemy.” Bush is too dimwitted to achieve that. He has us bogged down in the sands of Iraq and Osama is laughing. Bush is better compared to B. Mussolini, with due apologies to any folks of Italian heritage.

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