Eating My Way: Right, once again I’ll be eating my way through Fiesta. Starting next Wednesday, I’ll be posting daily comments on independent.com. They’ll be on Barney’s Fiesta Blog, together with photos by my wife Sue. I can’t be everywhere, so please feel free to pass on your eating tips to me at barney@independent.com.
When the Santa Barbara News-Press threw a party for me on my 45-year anniversary at the paper, I recited “10 Reasons Why I Stayed So Long.” One was: “I was waiting for an offer from The Independent.”
During the past week, The Independent offices have been inundated with letters, phone calls, and emails, all concerning recent events unfolding at the Santa Barbara News-Press. In this issue, we have printed a few of these, including a most informative letter to that paper’s acting publisher written by one of America’s preeminent journalists, Lou Cannon. A complete posting of all letters and emails can be found on The Indy‘s Web site (independent.com). Nick Welsh has compiled a timeline which will explain the who, what, when, and where of why six of the daily’s most senior editors, including Executive Editor Jerry Roberts, resigned. But the most powerful report is that by Barney Brantingham, perhaps Santa Barbara’s most beloved writer. He explains in great detail why he decided to leave a newspaper where he has worked for almost half a century; it is a great honor for The Independent to publish this moving article. For us, here at The Independent, it is an even greater honor to announce that Barney Brantingham has agreed to become our newest columnist. And everyone in Santa Barbara will be happy to learn that this year’s Grand Marshal of the Old Spanish Days Parade, Mr. Brantingham himself, will be continuing to report on his adventures as he, once again, eats his way through Fiesta.
Another week of the film festival means another week of Barney selecting the most entertaining and most stirring screenings. Overwhelmed by the expansive choices? Leave it to Barney to show you the way.
