Title Defense
Santa Barbara County’s often overlooked Republican Congressman Elton Gallegly has formalized his decision to seek an 11th term in Congress.
Year: 2006
Caught in an Eddy
Prosecuting attorneys in the trial of local peace activist MacGregor Eddy gained leverage last week when federal Judge Rita Federman threw out Eddy’s main argument justifying her actions at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Ristorante Tiramisu
Arriving in California from Mexico City at age 18, Victor Carranza dove headfirst into a lifetime of culinary dedication. Learning all there was to know about the inner workings of a kitchen, he climbed his way through the ranks, eventually landing at Piatti as chef. During his 13 years in the Piatti kitchen, Carranza developed a deep passion for Italian cooking. But, like most chefs, he always dreamed of having his own place.
Snow Days:
While the South Coast won’t be hosting the Winter Olympics anytime soon, accumulating snowfall did blanket much of the Santa Ynez Range last weekend.
Leadership Tour
Former secretary of state Colin Powell, who presented the Bush administration’s case for war against Iraq to the United Nations, spoke to a full house at the Arlington Theatre last Friday night. As war protesters walked the sidewalk outside, Powell took the Arlington stage to a standing ovation and departed the same way.
Kendra’s Law
Roughly 100 cyclists rallied Monday at a press conference on the Santa Barbara Courthouse steps to support “Kendra’s Law,” a new bill meant to protect bike riders on roads without bike lanes.
From the Pan to the Fire
Surrounded by friends and family, Sheriff’s Lieutenant Butch Arnoldi (pictured) threw his hat into the ring this week as a candidate to replace his boss, Sheriff Jim Anderson. During the Monday morning press event at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Arnoldi, 55, alluded to a recent rash of scandal surrounding the Sheriff’s office and pledged to restore “leadership and integrity” to the position and “trust and respect” to the department.
The Big Little Guy
Gerry Moro grew up watching his family make wine in Italy. So when they immigrated to the U.S., Moro had winemaking in his veins. But he had sports in his blood, too. He trained for the U.S. Olympic team, competing in the 1968 decathlon. Moro didn’t win a gold metal there but has gone on to receive several awards for his wines.
Renters Not Welcome
Beachfront Development Given the Green Light
Despite city housing policy calling for the preservation of existent rental stock and increased density, Santa Barbara’s planning commissioners voted to greenlight a West Beach condo development last Thursday, shedding few tears over 13 rental units to be razed to make way for five upscale condominiums near the corner of West Yanonali and Bath streets. Squeezed into a converted 1940s motel and a two-story Craftsman-style dwelling next door, 11 of the 13 doomed rentals measured below current legal square-foot minimums; the current tenants jockey for seven total parking spaces.
Considering the Cannabis Cure
Santa Barbara to Host National Conference on Medical Marijuana
Twenty years ago, the notion that hundreds of doctors, nurses, patients, lawyers, and curious citizens would gather in a drab conference room to see scientists present research papers and hear physicians discuss the therapeutic benefits of marijuana was little more than a stoner’s fantasy. But in 2006, 10 years after Californians started a national trend by voting to allow sick people to smoke, eat, or otherwise imbibe marijuana to ease their pains, this notion is a reality-and it’s happening this April here in Santa Barbara.
