Goleta will get a new police chief this month, when Lt. Julie McCammon takes over the position. McCammon grew up in Goleta. She is the child of one of the many Delco engineers who moved here in the 1970s. She attended San Marcos High, SBCC, and UCSB, where she

Alvarez, friends launch ‘Valentine Offensive’
2/6/04
By Margo Kline, Voice Associate Editor

Beth Alvarez, the resolute young wife and mother who is trying to get her husband

admitted to the United States from Mexico, has launched a "Valentine Offensive" letter and telephone campaign.

She and her friends are asking everyone they know to write

Center will care for young and old
2-13-2004
By Jennifer Haake, Special to the Voice

Many families in the Goleta area struggle to provide for their elderly loved ones and young children. Now a new program of day care will be coming to Isla Vista, which will help care take of both groups.

Vista Square will be a community center that

State of the City
2-13-2004
Planners rule on projects
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The Goleta City Council, sitting as the Goleta Planning Agency, met this week to discuss two residential projects that have been controversial because of their size. Mickey Caughey got the approval he wants for a remodel of his home at 397 North Kellogg. That project, which began as a large two-story addition, has been reduce

Airport — where runways and wetlands meet
2-13-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The main east-west runway for commercial flights at Santa Barbara’s airport stretches for over a mile, beginning near former wetlands at Fairview Avenue and ending, also in wetlands, near Los Carneros Road.

As part of its long-planned expansion, the airport

VALENTINE’S DAY ISSUE: V-Day — a whole other meaning
2-13-2004
By Richard Block, Voice Managing Editor

Women all over will receive candy, jewelry, flowers and other tokens of affection this Valentine’s Day. Many of those without lovers will have a good time as well, getting together with un-coupled friends for movies or dinner.

Others aren’t so lucky. Women worldwide are denied rights and safety that men enjoy, and are abused and mistreated — sometimes wi

Livin’ in the Good Land
2-13-2004
Inge Cox: Research and advocacy a way of life

By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

When plans surfaced a few years ago to build a sewer line through a neighborhood park, complete with a manhole in the open space, Ingeborg Cox felt it was time to speak up. Cox, who had not previousl

Eva Inbar – a woman of action
2-20-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

The name Eva Inbar is synonymous with pedestrian and traffic safety to many in the community, and rightly so. In just a few years, Inbar has become a very effective advocate for pedestrian safety and traffic calming in the Goleta area as well as

Goleta winery: A toast of the town
2-20-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

While Central Coast and Santa Ynez Valley wineries deserve the respect they’re gaining in the industry, a little-known Goleta vineyard will celebrate an anniversary next month.

In March of 1984, the Board of Supervisors officially designated San Jose Winery a Santa Barbara County Historical Landmark. Later that year, the Goleta Valley Days Committee chose th

A close-knit class
2-20-2004
These Hollister School fifth-graders prefer making scarves to mastering video games.
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

It’s a rainy day at Hollister Elementary school, and the kids in Rebecca Appel’s fifth-grade class are indoors, indulging in their favorite pastime. No, it

Women’s health in middle age and beyond
2-20-2004
By Erno S. Daniel, M.D., Special to the Voice

A fundamental principle of our society is that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of sex, age, color, creed or other affiliation. Nevertheless, physicians recognize that for biological reasons, the health care of people of different sexes, ages and ethnic extractions may warrant special consideration. A normal biological process which bri

Historical Society honors Price
2-20-2004
Robin Cederlof (right), incoming president of the Goleta Valley Historical Society, and Ron Nye, outgoing president of the society, flank Noreen Price, this year’s recipient of the GVHS Lifetime Achievement Award.

Noreen Price loves children, history, and the Dodgers
2-27-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

With lively brown eyes and a clear, gregarious manner, Goleta resident Noreen Price talks fondly about the 40-plus years she has spent so far in the Good Land.

"This area is remarkable with all of its history, and I feel very privileged to have know

Yeah, baby!
2-27-2004
Over the past several months, the Valley Voice has heard about lots of babies arriving into loving homes. Unfortunately, space doesn’t always permit us to announce their births, but we’ve resolved to catch up on the backlog.

JACKSON ROBERT GREANEY, a boy, was born Aug. 9, 2003, at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. His parents are Jeffrey and Jenny (née Dominguez) of Goleta.

LAILA PRISTINE MACHAR

Around Town
2-27-2004
Tiara Ball sparkles for Cottage Health System
By Rochelle Rose, Special to the Voice

Montecito’s seaside Coral Casino was the location of the Tiara Ball, a benefit for critical care services at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

The dining room looked regal with tall table center

Capps addresses the troop
2-20-2004
Congresswoman Lois Capps met last week with members of Boy Scout Troop 4 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, talking with them about U.S. history and national, regional and local government. The scouts are working toward the rank of First Class, which includes a citizenship component.

Whil

A dozen siblings divvy up chores
3-5-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

With the beginning of spring two weeks away, Goleta Valley residents are already setting aside time to dig into seasonal chores around the homestead.

The Equinox will also herald in a new list of assignments for many of the area’s youngsters in the form of

State of the City: Goleta approves new development rules
3-5-2004

By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The Goleta City Council this week approved development guidelines that may keep major building projects on hold for at least a year while the new city develops its first General Plan to regulate growth.

The General Plan is at least a year away from completion, and it could easily take another year beyond that for it to be debated and adopted.

Until then

Why Mac is so big
3-5-2004
Ronald is grimacing and our kids have become super-sized.

By Daniel R. Brennan, M.D., F.A.A.P., C.L.C., Special to the Voice

Have you heard that one out of every four children in the United States is obese? Ever wonder why kids’ clothes have become so baggy? Could it have anything to do with fast food, Spongebob Squarepants and a lack of exercise? You bet your bottom. Let’s take a loo

Native flowers are peaking
3-5-2004
By John Bury, Voice Garden Columnist

If you have a garden with lots of California natives, now is the time to relax and enjoy it. Plants are responding well to the steady rains we have had so far this season, and even though spring is not quite here, the flowering season is. California popp

Radio man finds ‘family flavor’ in Goleta
3-12-2004
The airwaves brought Les Carroll, an ex-journalist and advertising executive, to the Good Land.
By Jennifer Haake, Special to the Voice

Years of working in radio has left its mark on Les Carroll’s voice. Even though he has never been on the air, Carroll speaks with the friendly, b

San Marcos High team heading to state Academic Decathlon
3-12-2004
An eight-member team from San Marcos High School took first place at the county level of the Academic Decathlon recently and will be one of 50 competing this weekend in the state finals in Sacramento.

The program, an inter-school competition, is designed to encourage and involve a cross-section of students competing in three different academic categories. Competitors are selected based on grade

State of the City
3-12-2004
Stow Canyon home rejected
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

Several neighbors in the Stow Canyon area won a victory on Monday in their effort to stop construction of a large home on one of 13 lots owned by Hersel Mikaelian. The Goleta City Council, sitting as the Planning Agen

Flowers, strawberries — it’s spring!
3-12-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

Spring is in the air at the Farmers Market. Colorful bunches of anemones and ranunculus dot the stalls, the strawberries are getting sweeter and more fragrant with each passing sunny day, the sugar snap peas are bursting with flavor. And the rock crabs I bought last week from fisherman Richard Venegas — a great deal at $2.50 a pound — were incredibly deli

Yeah, baby!
3-12-2004
JOSHUA HARRIS BRENNAN (pictured) was born March 2 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. His parents are Dr. Dan and Yael (née Melsher), and he weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long at birth.

NOAH SEAN PETERS was born Feb. 18 at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. His parents are Holg

Livin' in the Good Land
3-19-2004
Jerry Pearson dances to his own beat
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

Giving up the glamorous life of a choreographer and dancer with a New York dance company to live in the quiet suburbs may not be the stuff most of our dreams are made of, but for Jerry Pearson, it was the

State of the City
3-19-2004
Western Goleta gets all the action
By John Bury, Special to the Voice

"In the interest of fairness and justice" were the words Superior Court Judge William McLafferty used in explaining a decision that could force Goleta to accept a housing development in its far western section.

The Goleta City Council did not agree, voting 4-1 on Monday to appeal the decision.

Jean Blois cast th

LADIES FIRST: Chief finds there’s no place like home
3-19-2004
By Richard Block, Voice Managing Editor

Julie McCammon, Goleta’s new police chief, has had the same employer since she graduated college.

Probably, not many people can say that these days. But when you love your hometown as much as Lieutenant McCammon – who grew up in the Cathedral Oaks area

From the Mayor's Office
3-19-2004
The troubles with Target
By Cynthia Brock

Contrary to some reports, the re-zoning of Santa Barbara’s airport properties in the heart of Goleta to allow big-box retail isn’t off the table yet. Even if Santa Barbara decides on some other use for these properties, retail development issues in Goleta are not going away. An affluent area with lots of open space like Goleta will always tanta

LADIES FIRST: Mayor Brock, a girl in charge
3-19-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

"Are you in charge of everything?" asked an elementary student recently of Cynthia Brock, Goleta’s third mayor.

Brock, who did her best to explain the functions of city government on her recent visit to an elementary school, said she very much enjoy

Livin' in the Good Land: Altstatt is passionate about aquatic adventure
3-26-2004
By Jennifer Haake, Special to the Voice

She’s been bitten by a leopard seal in Antarctica, she’s crashed into the ocean floor of the East Pacific Rise studying underwater volcanoes, and yet biologist Jessie Altstatt finds excitement in smaller things as well.

During this interview, she ran to

State of the City
3-26-2004
Ellwood and Old Town taking giant steps
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

Efforts to save the Ellwood Mesa and nearly two miles of coastal bluffs took a huge step forward this week when a pair of crucial environmental documents were released to the public.

The draft Open Space and Habitat Management Plan (OSHMP) describes in detail the current natural circumstances of the future par

Montessori students learn physics by building
3-26-2004
The Montessori Center School’s fourth and fifth grade students worked long and hard to put together an Architectural/Engineering Fair, which was on display for the public in the school’s multi-purpose building Thursday evening.

Under the supervision of Head Teacher Cydney Miller,

Car break-ins, burglaries rise with temperatures
4-2-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

While daylight savings heralds tidings of joy for beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, a seedier element begins lurking in the shadows this time of year.

Area merchant associations and local law enforcement officials are currently alerting resident

Pediatrics corner
4-2-2004
Glued to the boob tube
By Daniel R. Brennan, M.D., F.A.A.P., C.L.C., Special to the Voice

Strapped in. Restraints secured. Lights dimmed. Eyes wide open and fixed on the rapidly changing images displayed on the screen. Sound like a disturbing scene from the Stanley Kubrick film "A Clockwork Orange"? No, it’s just an infant propped up in his bouncy chair watching a video.

Once focused

Livin' in the Good Land
4-2-2204
‘Something practical’ as a way of life
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Esther Frankel, originally from New York City and later Philadelphia, has successfully made the transition from city girl to suburban girl. Frankel has also made the transition from professional music teac

New housing juggernaut hits Goleta
4-2-2004
County action paves way for higher densities
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The county Board of Supervisors on Monday adopted an important housing document that will open the door for residential rezoning in the eastern Goleta Valley as well as in Santa Ynez and Montecito. The Housing Element is part of the county’s long-term planning process, and the version approved this week def

Donors pledge $210,000 for Community Aquatic Center
4-9-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

A new, 50-meter Olympic-sized pool and community aquatic center for the Goleta area is $210,000 closer to reality now that a local couple has pledged a matching grant of $100,000 and the Santa Barbara Foundation announced a grant of $110,000.

The dono

State of the City
4-9-2004
Sandpiper supporters scold council
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

"Don’t waste taxpayer dollars pursuing something that you’re probably not going to win anyhow," said Ron Brun.

"Sandpiper will not only provide much-needed housing for our area. It is a well designed pedestrian-friendly and environmentally sensitive housing project," said Eva Turenchalk of the Coastal Housing Proje

Livin' in the Good Land
4-9-2004
Balancing work, community, family

By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Tom Caesar has worked hard for years enhancing recreational options for the families of today and the future. Active in many areas, the successful businessman has lent his energy and organizational skills to a variety

Around Town: Mad Hatter tips his chapeau for Transition House
4-9-2004
By Rochelle Rose, Special to the Voice

The 7th Annual Mad Hatter Luncheon was another fun-filled afternoon that helped raise funds for Transition House. Nearly 300 ladies and gents with all manners of chapeaux, hats, caps and berets enjoyed a lovely lunch in the Reagan Room at Fess Parker’s

A life at the edge of the sea
4-16-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Artist Rick Stitch said he always knew he would spend his life creating art, and he has done so in impressive ways.

Not surprisingly, Stitch’s painting style has evolved over his career; currently he is painting abstract impressions of reflections in a

State of the City
4-16-2004
Old Town Inn gets tentative approval
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter
Plans to build a new hotel and condominium project on Hollister Avenue in Old Town Goleta took a big step forward this week when the Goleta City Council (sitting as the Goleta Planning Agency) voted to allow the project to proceed through the permitting process. The project, called the Old Town Inn and Village, in

HOME IMPROVEMENT: Making the most of a little home
4-16-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

With housing costs the way they are in these parts, many of us can afford only a little piece of paradise. Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice style for space. While small spaces like studio apartments, dorms, and one- or two-bedroom homes may

HOME IMPROVEMENT: Honikman home wins Goleta Valley Beautiful award for April
4-16-2004
Jane and Terry Honikman bought their home at 927 N. Kellogg Ave. in 1970. They made the move from student housing in Palo Alto to their new home just after construction was completed.

The front-yard landscaping has evolved over the years from a tidy front lawn bordered by railroad ties to a natur

Cameras in the Council chambers?
4-23-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

"Too many people are being excluded from the decision-making process," said Eva Turenchalk of the Coastal Housing Partnership. She and other housing advocates have long been pressing the Goleta City Council to broadcast public meetings via cable television.

This week the council asked staff to begin gathering information on costs and equipment options. "We ca

Didgeridoos and ultraviolet radiation lead science fair
4-23-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Eighth-grader Karen Hauser, whose Science Fair entry explored the technical properties of didgeridoos, was awarded the grand prize at the county science fair at the County Education Office recently. Hauser’s work earned her top honors in the annual

Breck and Rosenberry win Jr. Miss honors
4-23-2004
Juniors Sarah Breck of Dos Pueblos High School and Katie Rosenberry of Santa Ynez Valley High School were selected to represent southern and northern Santa Barbara County, respectively, at the Santa Barbara Junior Miss Scholarship Program last weekend.

Participants are judged in the areas of

Beauty from the inside out
4-23-2004
Hollywood makeup artist Aimee Pesendian demonstrates her techniques last week on 7th grader Jennaka Raihn, a participant in the La Belle Self Esteem Workshop at Goleta Valley Jr. High. Pesendian, who works on the television series "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," encouraged the students t

Livin' in the Good Land
4-23-2004
Serving up facts as a second career

By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Respected and admired as a gourmet cook, Jean Reiche has had a hand in much more than just delicious ingredients over the years she has lived in the Goleta Valley.

When her children were young and she was i

Good times in the Good Land: Chuck Begg remembers
4-30-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

Buffered from constant traffic by avocado trees and a prized lilac bush, Chuck Begg tended to potted plants and other treasures around his yard last weekend.

A rowboat rested, upside down, against the trunk of a Haas avocado tree, close to where Begg pi

From the Mayor's Office
4-30-2004
By Cynthia Brock

Recently the Goleta City Council considered (and approved) a major project in Old Town. We received lots of comments on this proposed development, both written and orally, at the hearings. As always, public input was very useful in our decision-making process.

Citizens concerned that this project might be denied told us that they had heard three rumors about dire consequences

State of the City
4-30-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The Goleta Planning Agency hosted a public hearing last Thursday on the Ellwood Mesa Open Space Management Plan and the Comstock Homes development. Draft versions of the environmental impact reports (EIRs) for those projects were released last month, and the public has only until early May to make comments before the documents become final.

Citizens attending

Nancy Hancock, 1947–2004
4-30-2004
Nancy Hancock, a dedicated community activist who worked energetically for years in the nonprofit sector, fell to her death last week from the Cold Spring Canyon Bridge on Highway 154.

Hancock, a passionate advocate for many social causes, was a nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of

Shelter volunteer is the cat's meow
5-7-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

If Jake could talk, he’d say it takes endurance and bravery to find a loving family. And with his cat friends Patience and Courage, Jake, a mix of Australian shepherd and Chow, is now making quite a home in the Forrest family.

"They’re all best buddies," Pa

Ellwood public hearing
5-7-2004
On Monday the City Council will meet as the Goleta Planning Agency. In the evening session, which begins at 6:00 at 401 N. Fairview, citizens will have a last chance to speak about the draft environmental impact reports for Goleta portions of the Ellwood/Devereux land swap project.

Citizens will have a chance to speak their minds about the future of the new 600-plus-acre open space and the 78 ne

State of the City
5-7-2004

New bus service for Old Town?
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter
Buses may soon provide frequent shuttles across 101, connecting Old Town Goleta with the Fairview Shopping Center and the nearby Calle Real business neighborhood. The service would be much appreciated, but it may cos

Strawberry shortcuts
5-7-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

If you drove past Tom Shepherd’s farm in Carpinteria last Sunday, you may have seen an unusual sight: a group of white middle-class people bent over in a field, picking strawberries in the hot sun. Before letting us loose in his field of Chandler berries, Tom had given us instructions: look for berries that are brilliant red from stem to point. If they ar

Summer activity listings, part 1
5-7-2004
Day camps
General interest

BABY BOOT CAMP
Baby Boot Camp offers outdoor strength training classes designed for mom and baby. Pregnant moms, dads and nannies are welcome too! Our classes focus on building strength, improving posture and increasing core strength and flexibility. First class is FREE! Ages 6 weeks-2 years. $12 per class, 6-pack $60, 9-pack $81, 12-pack $96. Check Web site for

Summer activity listings, part 2
5-7-2004
Sports

AIKIDO/KI & JUDO CULTURAL SCHOOL
Teaches skills in the art of falling for safety and self-defense; nonviolent but very effective. Children learn discipline and respect. They will be trained to have a positive attitude and to strive for success while having fun at the same time. One hour each of Aikido/Ki and Judo. We also offer ballroom dancing lessons for pre-teens and teens. Session

Between Goleta and the North Pole
5-14-2004
By Jennifer Haake, Special to the Voice

Over the years, the Bucks have traveled to the North Pole, a French monastery and other far-flung places, but they still call the Goleta Valley their home, and work to make it better.

Manor Buck came to the Goleta Valley as a 12-year-old in 1961, when

Ellwood Bluffs - Open Space Management up for public scrutiny
5-14-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

"Don’t remove so many trails."

"Why don’t we use existing parking at Ellwood School, instead of building new parking lots on the bluffs?"

"The new houses should blend in more."

"The development area crowds a kite’s nest."

These were among the dozens of comments heard Monday as a public hearing continued on the Environmental Impact Reports for parts

Tips on shopping the Farmers Market
5-14-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

Last Sunday, to the great delight of many, a new Farmers Market opened in Goleta, at the Camino Real Marketplace. Almost 40 growers lined up in a colorful display on the cobbled courtyard in front of the Camino Real Theater, selling everything from peaches, cherries, and organic vegetables to cage-free eggs, local honey, and venison. Some shoppers had rea

Groundcovers - too many choices?
5-14-2004
By John Bury, Voice Garden Columnist

The right plant can make your garden perfect. The wrong one can ruin it.

Sometimes a goundcover plant seems just right for its spot. A gentle bank near the drainage bioswale at Girsh Park provides a local example, covered with Myoporum parvifolium — brig

Local boy makes a meaty investment
5-21-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

In the shade on a wooden outdoor deck, Chris Harvey and a bunch of buddies munched on fresh deli sandwiches, garden salads and cold beverages.

With the crystal-clear Santa Ynez Mountains painted against the canvas of an azure sky, it was truly a Goleta Cham

State of the City: Ellwood footprint shrinking
5-21-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

"This is the only place in our city where you can look out and see the ocean and the islands from a major road," said Goleta City Council member Jack Hawxhurst. He was referring to the now-threatened view across the mesa from Hollister Avenue near Ellwood School and the Sandpiper Golf Course. Much of that viewshed, now a city park, is slated for development as

PTA honors outstanding advocates
5-21-2004
At its recent Founders Day celebration, the Santa Barbara Area Council of PTAs honored Joe Brusca, Cmdr. Don Patterson, Sgt. Greg Nordyke, Susan Ham, Bill Cirone and Eva Inbar for their exceptional contributions to children.

The event, which celebrated the origination of the PTA and the orga

Sierra Club
5-21-2004
Curitiba, Brazil - showing the world how it’s done

By Robert Bernstein

Curitiba, Brazil, is an industrial city of about two million people in southern Brazil, far from the beaches and other tourist attractions. Yet it has become a Mecca for those who are interested in environmenta

Twenty local National Merit Scholars chosen
5-21-2004
Twenty students from the Santa Barbara High School District were identified as 2004 National Merit Scholar finalists in the 49th annual academic competition.

Dos Pueblos High School seniors Sara Bastomski, Daniel Beal, Alexander Campbell, Michael Chung, Alexander Colman, Jedidjah d

A lifelong education
5-28-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

Teaching elementary school youngsters reading, writing and arithmetic was challenging enough back in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Most of the techniques were old-school indeed, especially sans computers and other modern educational amenities.

But out

State of the City
5-28-2004
Federal money, General Plan, and cell phone towers keep city busy
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

With a regularly scheduled day off next Monday, when Memorial Day will be observed, the Goleta City Council is getting a bit of a break from meetings. In the past few weeks, the council has been meeting more often than usual, devising a budget for the fiscal year that begins next week,

The Kitchen Table - Summer vegetables on the grill
5-28-2004

By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice
If you want a fun way to cook vegetables this summer, I suggest grilling. It is easy, healthy, and very tasty, because the natural sweetness of the veggies gets concentrated in the process. At our Farmers Market general membership meeting last

Strictly Legal - When is a waiver not a waiver?
5-28-2004
By Heather Georgakis, Special to the Voice

Liability waivers are a fact of life. Whether we want to send Junior to Camp Run-A-Muk for the summer or merely park our car at Big Al’s Garage, we are told that we can do so only if we give up our rights to sue the proprietor for any future damages. Some proprietors demand that we sign a waiver form, while others merely give "notice of waiver" on the

Making the most of a summer garden
5-28-2004
By John Bury, Voice Gardening Columnist

My garden has been thirsty this year. We’ve put in a lot of new plants in the last few weeks, and many of the small ones have needed water every day since they were planted. It has been more than two months since our last soaking rain, and we probably

Paving the way into UCSB
6-4-2004
By Jennifer Haake, Special to the Voice

Few people have ever been accepted back into a college they were asked to leave. It’s even rarer for someone to then earn two degrees, go on to graduate school and make a career of championing admissions for disadvantaged students.

By that standard, Bri

State of the City: California Cities rally behind Goleta
6-4-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The proposed 109-unit Residences at Sandpiper project has been on hold for more than two years as the developer and the city wrangle over permits, vesting maps and particularly over state laws governing projects in brand new cities.

This spring, the Chadmar Group — the developer — sued the city of Goleta for $32 million and asked the court to force the approv

Summer cobblers
6-4-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

I am always so tempted by the gorgeous fresh fruit at the farmers market that I routinely bring home more than can be eaten before it becomes overripe. Thankfully, nothing is easier to make, or a more delightful dessert, than a summer cobbler. They are an

Pediatric Corner: Nothing to whoop about
6-4-2004
By Daniel R. Brennan, M.D., F.A.A.P., C.L.C., Special to the Voice

"Cough-cough-cough-cough-cough. W-H-O-O-O-O-P! Cough-cough-cough-cough-GASP!" The baby’s face turns purple. She can’t catch her breath. She is in distress. Sound scary? It is. What’s going on? It’s another un-immunized baby suffering from a potentially deadly, completely preventable case of whooping cough.

Pertussis, commonly k

State of the City: Storm building over Haskell’s
6-11-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

People in Goleta are more than a little upset about the access situation at Haskell’s Beach. The popular beach is the only place in the city of Goleta where the public can get to the ocean by car, and for the past several months that access has been severely li

Volunteerism alive and well at Antioch
6-11-2004
A recent zoo trip with special-ed kids is just one of Hymon Johnson’s many volunteer projects.

By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

Antioch University’s Hymon Johnson quickly learned survival growing up on Chicago’s South Side in the 1960s. Back then, he lived in a cramped, concrete-fl

Livin' in the Good Land: Surprise award proves academic excellence pays
6-11-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

As a graduating senior at UCSB, Sarah Mayer was working on the last assignments of her undergraduate career when she got a call from her mother about a letter from the provost’s office.

"At first," said her mom Beverly, "I wondered if everything was in

News briefs
6-11-2004
Veterans gather at Normandy rites

Ceremonies in France were attended by thousands of World War II veterans last Sunday in commemoration of the historic storming of the Normandy beaches that led to Germany’s defeat.

U.S. President George W. Bush was among world leaders who attended the ceremonies. Ships from Britain sailed to Caen on the Normandy coast with veterans on board who had surv

Sheriff's blotter
6-11-2004
Targeting tobacco

A handful of Goleta businesses, including gas stations and grocery stores, were cited for selling tobacco to minors. Using an underage decoy on June 4, the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department spent the afternoon cracking down on illegal tobacco sellers in the area.

Grand theft at a grand spa

Before it could be deposited into a bank account, a bag

Livin' in the good land: Lemons and life insurance, family style
6-18-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

To call Tammy Dobrotin a busy woman would be an understatement.

"I say that I’ve scaled back what I’m doing, but I’m probably doing way too much," she said, joking.

In her office at the State Farm insurance agency at 160 N. Fairview Ave., evidence of

The Kitchen Table: How sweet it is
6-18-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

I have long been hooked on the fresh sweet corn Goleta farmer John Lane raises every year. It is so tender and juicy, you hardy need to cook it. "My favorite way to eat it is raw right out of the field," said James, who often tends the Lane Farms stand at the Farmers Market. "The farther corn has to travel, the more it has to be bred for storage, the star

State of the city: Ellwood rooflines shrink again
6-18-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

There has been some unusual shrinkage at the 76-home Ali D’Oro development proposed for western Goleta, as the developer suggests cutting into the ground in order to lower the roofs of some of the new houses. The 36-acre project is located on the ocean side of

Around town: German Club open to all
6-18-2004
By Rochelle Rose, Special to the Voice

I joined members of the German-American Club recently at an outdoor picnic outing at beautiful Goleta Beach. The hospitable members welcomed me by cracking open a bottle of champagne and serenading me with songs. Small groups spontaneously burst into s

Flag Day at the courthouse
6-18-2004
Awaiting the command to move forward at Monday’s Flag Day ceremony, on the grounds of the Santa Barbara Courthouse, are retired Navy Commander George Obern, left, carrying the Santa Barbara County flag, and Marine Sergeant Cardinell, holding the California State flag.

The ceremony included a

News briefs
6-18-2004
Sea otter increase is hailed

The annual spring census of California sea otters shows 2,825 of the creatures alive and well along the coast, the second year in a row that the figure has increased.

The conservation group Defenders of Wildlife announced the positive news, but cautioned that biologists are still analyzing the long-term prospects for the state’s sea otters.

"The 2004 resul

Fun in the sun, mahn
6-18-2004
By Jeff Jones, Special to the Voice

With Summer Solstice celebrations coming up next week, the best way to tune up the senses and get into the spirit of frivolity is right among the trees tomorrow at Oak Park.

Entering its fourth year, the Caribbean Festival is one fete in a long lineup a

Sheriff's blotter
6-18-2004
Breach of security

While a student took her final exam earlier this month, her home was burglarized. When she returned home around 3 p.m., the young woman, a UCSB student, discovered her laptop computer, backpack, and "furry purple blanket" among the missing items.

She estimates that the items were worth over $1,500.

Witness helps in whereabouts

A witness helped authoriti

State of the city: Ellwood homes keep city busy
6-25-2004
By John Bury, Special to the Voice

The Goleta City Council this week officially endorsed an environmental impact report for the Comstock Homes development called "Ali D’Oro" on a 36-acre portion of park land between Hollister Avenue and the coastal bluffs in Ellwood.

The project has been rela

News briefs
6-25-2004
Elings makes $500,000 DP pool pledge

A pledge of $500,000 from Dr. Virgil Elings to the campaign for building an Olympic-sized community swimming pool in Goleta was announced Tuesday by the board of the South Coast Community Aquatic Center (SCCAC).

The 50-meter pool will be built on the Dos Pueblos High School campus in Goleta beginning this winter, and is expected to be a nine- to 12-

The sun will come out tomorrow
6-25-2004
By Jeff Jones,Voice Staff Reporter

Tomorrow at noon, when the sun hits its zenith high over State Street, somewhere in art heaven a smiling Michael Gonzales will be looking down on the Summer Solstice parade.

Thirty years ago, the celebration began with a birthday party for Gonzales that

The kitchen table: Summer peaches equal chutney
6-25-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

To the Westerner, chutney most often brings to mind the jars of Major Grey’s mango chutney. But in India, chutney (from the Hindi word chatni) is more often raw than cooked, and can be made from herbs or vegetables, as well as from fruits. Chutney can be sweet, sour, or terrifically spicy, thin or chunky — the variations are limited only by the cook’s ima

Fairview Center deli shoots for high marks
6-25-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

It takes a loving son to put in 20-hour days toward his mother’s future security. But family and a generous spirit are a big part of what 1990 Dos Pueblos graduate Andre Neumann is all about.

He’d settle for nothing less than to follow through on Gisela Neum

To your health: Total body scans have limitations in medical diagnosis
6-25-2004
By Erno S. Daniel, M.D., Special to the Voice

High-tech full-body scans are widely promoted these days to those who desire more than the customary information about the state of their health. However, because routine use of these scans is not endorsed by public health agencies such as the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology and the Food and Drug Administration, and not cov

Figs, wasps and a sigh of relief
6-25-2004
By John Bury, Voice Gardening Columnist

Fresh figs used to be one of my favorite foods. For the past several years, though, I have found them hard to swallow. The co-evolution of these ancient fruits and the wasps that pollinate them makes one of the most interesting garden stories that I have

Sheriff's blotter
6-25-2004
Water fight
A water balloon thrown from a car full of teenagers along Foothill Road broke the windshield of a passing car. Using the suspect vehicle’s license plate number, deputies were able to locate the San Marcos High School students sometime after 11:45 p.m. on June 11.
Four teenagers were cited for lobbing the water balloon.

Cinderella! Cinderella!
Too drunk to wa

Coming right up
6-25-2004
Virginia Felcher, organizer of the Caribbean Festival last weekend in Oak Park, serves some tasty island cuisine. The festival’s entertainment highlights included the Susie Hansen Salsa and Latin Jazz Band and the Caribbean Jems Limbo Dancers.

State of the city : Ellwood homes will come before council again Tuesday
07-02-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

Because of the Independence Day holiday, the Goleta City Council will meet next week on Tuesday instead of Monday.

Construction in Ellwood will once again be the main topic of discussion, and the public will have one more chance to comment on the Comstock Homes project proposed for the fields along Hollister Avenue next to the Sandpiper Golf Course.

The mee

Livin' in the Good Land: Looking back on 50 years of Goleta
07-02-2004
By Martha LannanVoice Community Editor

Jan and Tony Bisol, residents of Goleta since the 1950s, have a lot to say about living the good life in Goleta and the changes they’ve seen over the past 50 years.

Married in Santa Barbara after Tony returned from a National Guard tour of duty in Korea,

News briefs
07-02-2004
Sinco is new president of Legal Aid

Philip Sinco, deputy city attorney in Santa Maria, has been appointed president of the board of directors of the Santa Barbara County Legal Aid Foundation.

Sinco has served on the Board since 2002. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.

Stow House 4th of July
07-02-2004
The hot dogs will be plumping, the burgers sizzling, and the bands strumming country-western-flavored tunes at Sunday’s old-fashioned 4th of July hoedown at the historic Stow House on Rancho La Patera.

Bring your blankets, bonnets and bountiful appetites to this year’s 30th annual Independence Day celebration featuring the finest fixin’s and entertainment this side of Lake Los Carneros.

Sponso

Flickering lights on the green
07-02-2004
By Erynn Im, Special to the Voice

The sweet taste of good ol’ small-town life made its way over to Goleta’s Mountain View Ranch development, when resident Clay Dickens organized a movie night for his community last Friday evening.

A 25-by-30 screen was placed on the community green, an

DRI packs a toothbrush, sends medicine to Haiti
07-02-2004
By Richard Block, Voice Managing Editor

Kelsey McGrath is on summer vacation. In the fall, she’ll start seventh grade at Goleta Valley Junior High, but she’s got a couple of months before going back to school. Tuesday, however, she chose to spend the morning at the Direct Relief International (DRI) warehouse, filling up plastic bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss for low-income county r

The kitchen table: Summer pies
07-02-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

We say "American as apple pie," and no celebration is more American than the Fourth of July. There is one catch, though: Independence Day is not exactly the heart of apple season. Sure, you can find apples in July, but they are from last year’s harvest. So if you want to make pies for your Fourth of July parties — and your guests will love it if you do —

Pediatric corner: Don’t be in denial, learn about West Nile
07-02-2004
By Daniel R. Brennan, MD, FAAP, CLC, Special to the Voice

Summer has arrived. Long days at the beach, followed by the evening aroma of barbecue. Cravings start for that juicy and tender meat, so rare that it looks like it could bleed. It is feasting time, indeed, for Mr. Mosquito as he flies around, licking his chops, looking for his next scrumptious meal. Let’s hope he doesn’t offer you a side

Boys camp might close
07-02-2004
By Jeff Jones,. Voice Staff Reporter

Los Prietos Boys Camp, a safety net for wayward youth in Santa Barbara County, may be forced to shut its doors due to state budget cuts.

Created as a "last chance" camp sixty years ago, Los Prietos provides treatment, counseling and education services t

Not just horsing around
7-2-2004
Meghan McAdams, 9, rode Prince Philip, a 7-year-old Welsh pony, to a show championship in the new USDF Pony Class division in a recent four-star dressage competition at Earl Warren Showgrounds. McAdams was introduced to the sport by her grandmother, Leacy O’Hanlon, and trainer Julie Willett. Th

Dedicated to your health
07-09-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

Making a positive impact on people’s health is what Dawn O’Bar is all about. Whether as a health educator, as a fitness instructor, or in her most recent job as coordinator for Sansum-Santa Barbara Medical Foundation’s newly opened Health Resource Ce

State of the city: The ‘pod’ is history
07-09-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter
The Comstock Homes project proposed near the beach in Ellwood has now shrunk to 62 units with the removal of a controversial "pod" of six homes that, had they been constructed, would have blocked ocean views from Hollister Avenue.
Originally proposed as 78 homes, the project has been steadily shrinking over the last few months as the developer negotiates w

Seniors resource guide: Goleta seniors are in love with Amy
07-09-2004
By Margo Kline, Voice Associate Editor

If growing old is, as the saying goes, "not for sissies," it can be a time of personal growth and friendship and fun. Just ask Amy Mallett.

Mallett herself is just 37 years old, but she knows seniors and has quite a rapport with them. "I’m very close

Eat well and stay young
07-09-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

There is a lot of talk these days about the healthful virtues of anti-oxidants, bioflavonoids, lycopenes, and other micronutrients plentiful in fresh produce. Scientists are telling us: eat a rainbow diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, they will keep you young and healthy, they are good for you. They are right, of course, only I am no scientist, just an

Around town
07-09-2004
By Rochelle Rose, Special to the Voice

The Summer Gala Benefit Reception and Screening of "The Door on the Floor" brought the movie’s stars, promoters, and Santa Barbara’s film aficionados to Nu Restaurant on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Foisting loads of oysters on the half shell, cold shrimp along with wines and pink martinis courtesy of Grey Goose Vodka, the well-dressed crowd was having a load

To your health: Animal or human bites are all potentially hazardous
07-09-2004
By Erno S. Daniel, M.D., Special to the Voice

A rare but real potential hazard of summer vacation is being bitten by an animal, often the family dog or cat. Children are usually out of school, and spend more time outdoors and with their pets. This is when most animal bites are likely to occur. In fact, half of all Americans will be bitten during their lifetime. One percent of visits to emergenc

Summer 2004: Fruit, flowers, and unheard-of comfort
07-09-2004
By John Bury, Voice Garden Columnist

Summer is the season for green grass and hammocks. Most Goleta gardens are quiet now. In my own garden, vegetables are growing without much help, and summer flowers are only slowly beginning to open. About six weeks ago, my wife scattered hundreds of zinnia seeds that she collected in the garden last fall. The new plants are thriving in the vegetable plot an

Livin' in the good land : Bringing doughnuts to the less fortunate
07-16-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

What do recovering alcoholics in Santa Barbara, the homeless in Isla Vista, and the less-fortunate in Goleta have in common? The little extra perk, courtesy of Ellie and Bob Cassels and company, that comes in the form of a pastry or a good cup of coff

State of the City: Second story denied
07-16-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

Until this week, Diane Brocklesby and her family had been planning a major remodel of their home at 274 Salisbury Drive. Their plans were stifled on Monday when the City Council, sitting as the Goleta Planning Agency, granted an appeal by neighbors who said that the second story would make the house too big for the area.

In a nearly three-hour-long session, t

From the desk of Bill Cirone…Keeping skills sharp over the summer
07-16-2004
By Bill Cirone

There are many ways to help your children have a good summer and prevent their academic skills from getting rusty.

Teaching good citizenship is a good way to start. Check the newspaper for volunteer activities. Make a weekly visit, for instance, to an elderly person in a nursing home. Visit the animal shelter, the fire station, or a hospital to show children what goes on at the

Don’t play with your food
07-16-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

I read cookbooks for inspiration, but hardly ever do I follow a recipe to the letter. That would be about as much fun as having every moment of a vacation pre-planned, with no room left for adventure. To me, recipes are a point of departure, an invitation to explore the possibilities offered by the ingredients at hand. This is why shopping the Farmers Mar

Around town: Arts Fund’s Canvas Project Auction brings in funds
07-16-2004
By Rochelle Rose, Special to the Voice

For the fourth year, the Arts Fund’s Canvas Project has raised program money for this nonprofit organization that supports programs and projects that foster the arts for the people of Santa Barbara County.

Each of 60 member artists contributed one c

A special teacher for special education
07-23-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Goleta resident Jan Ross is a wife, mom, teacher of visually impaired students, and longtime advocate for the developmentally disabled.

Ross, who moved to the area with her husband Jim in 1978, is chairman of the region’s program for visually impaired

State of the City: City ponders ranger vacancy, new overpass
07-23-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

Nearby residents made it clear on Monday that they liked having a ranger living in a house, now vacant, in the popular Stow Grove park in North Goleta.

The city of Goleta now owns the 11-acre park and the three-bedroom house that has been occupied for the past 16 years by county park ranger Valerie Smith. Smith retired from her job and moved out in June.

No

From the mayor's office: The future of Goleta farming
07-23-2004
By Cynthia Brock

"Goleta, The Good Land" is the title of Walter Tompkins’ classic history of Goleta, but it is still a popular catch-phrase that is used often, in such unlikely places as furniture advertising and license-plate frames. This description of the place in which we are fortunate to live could refer to the beautiful ocean and mountain scenery or to the pleasant climate and the abundanc

The Kitchen Table: Aguas Frescas
07-23-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

For an attractive, healthy alternative to soda, treat your family to aguas frescas. A delicious drink popular in Mexico, aguas frescas means refreshing waters, and that is exactly how they feel — deliciously thirst-quenching, sweet but not cloying, and full of vitamins to boot. Instead of empty calories and chemicals, you’ll know that your children are ge

To Your Health: Macular degeneration is a cause of deteriorating vision
07-23-2004
By Erno S. Daniel, Special to the Voice

One of our most treasured senses is our sight. Most of us don’t realize that one of the first "medical treatments" of our life, administered routinely upon birth, is a vision-saving intervention. This is the instillation of an antibiotic onto the eyelids of the newborn to save the eyes from potentially sight-destroying bacteria picked up while passing thro

She doesn’t horse around with equestrian training
07-30-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

It’s a sunny, breezy Friday afternoon at Glen Annie Ranch, and Amber Aslin is gearing up to take Everest, a tall gray horse, for a ride in the ring. At 26, Aslin is probably the youngest horse trainer in the area, but one only needs a few moments to n

State of the City: City glides past budget crisis
07-30-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The financial condition of the state has a huge impact on cities and counties throughout California, so when the legislature finally settled on a budget this week, it came as a relief to local agencies, including the city of Goleta.

"We’re a new city, so we’ve been a little bit insulated from some of the horror stories that other cities have faced over the ye

Delco reunion marks milestones in space
07-30-2004

Alumni from the Apollo space missions — designers of the Lunar Rover (LRV) and guidance systems for the Apollo projects — got together last week locally to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Apollo 11 and to reminisce and catch up with longtime friends. Celebrants came from all over the United States: Wisconsin, Indiana, Florida and seven or eight other states, said Dick Kraemer, webmaster for t

The Kitchen Table: Preserving summer
07-30-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

There is a wonderful scene in Laurel and Hardy’s classic movie, "Sons of the Desert," where Stan Laurel chews his way through a wax apple, then goes back for seconds. That’s about how tasty winter peaches, plums and other summer fruit — imported rock hard from the Southern Hemisphere — are. Yet we have become so used to seeing the same display of produce

Farmers Market grand opening
07-30-2004

Photo credit: Martha Lannan

Caption: Shoppers Jenny Myungh and Christophe Hoarau conduct taste tests and consider their options at the grand opening of the Sunday Farmers Market at the Camino Real Marketplace. Benjamin Reder of Tutti Frutti Farm in Lompoc describes the characteristics of s

On the other side of the fire line
07-30-2004
By Tony Biegen

On a recent Tuesday, the fourth day of a five-day backpacking trip beyond Mission Pine Basin, I looked up and saw a strange cloud.

The cloud had a dark secret that was shown by a slight brown tint to it. I pointed it out to my buddy Jim and asked him if he thought it was a cloud or smoke. He thought it was smoke too. Since we were out in the middle of nowhere I said, "Let me get

Around town: Cabaret evening entices Summerdance supporters
07-30-2004
By Rochelle Rose, Special to the Voice

The finale to several weeks of dance performances, plus choreographers in residence in Santa Barbara, was the "Dinner, Cabaret & Dancing" celebration for Summerdance Santa Barbara.

Now in its eighth season, Summerdance Santa Barbara is a two-week fes

Strictly legal: Crimes against clarity?
07-30-2004
By Heather Georgakis, Special to the Voice

The language of the law has a rap sheet a mile long. On a good day, it stands accused of being wordy, stilted, repetitive, boring, and confusing. At its worst, it can be a three-strikes nightmare of arcane words in English, Latin and French. When you add in bizarre concepts ("unborn widow"), confusing references ("assignee" and "assignor"), and double-

Livin' in the good land: ‘Secretary’ doesn’t begin to describe her work - Woman who raised six boys would be hard to rattle.
08-03-2004

By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Raising six boys would seem likely to equip a woman to deal with just about anything, wouldn’t it?

Judy Sarena, who moved to the Goleta Valley with her family in 1974, is a good example. For Sarena, raising Francis, Marcus, Matthew, Johnny, Josh, a

State of the City: Old Town bus service to improve
08-06-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The Metropolitan Transit District and the City of Goleta have come to an agreement on new bus services for the city, including a new route (to be called the Goleta Shuttle) that will connect Old Town Goleta with the Fairview Shopping Center and the Calle Real business area. Residents of Old Town currently have no easy way to get across the freeway to the norths

The PANA perspective: The reality of real estate pricing
08-06-2004
By Tim Schmidt

When nostalgia confronts the real-estate market, there is no contest. As longtime residents of this area witness ever escalating housing prices, many bemoan the loss of a time when the price of housing was within nearly everyone’s reach. How, they wonder, can we find a way for the children we raise in this community to live here when they become adults?

As a result, there are ef

The Kitchen Table: Step away from the recipe!
08-06-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

"Step away from the recipe," said the chef, actually Sanford winemaker Bruno D’Alfonso, who had stepped in to teach a pizza-making class at The Chef’s Touch in Solvang. "It’s not about how many teaspoons of this or that, it’s about tasting, and looking, and feeling, and coming up with combinations that interest you."

Before long, he had the group membe

Pediatric corner: Are you on the move?
08-06-2004
By Daniel R. Brennan, MD, FAAP, CLC, Special to the Voice

Are you trying to lose weight or become more active? Is it too hard or too expensive to make it to the gym? Have you tried to make big lifestyle changes only to see them fall by the wayside? For many adults and teens the answer is yes, yes and YES!
What if I told you that taking a few more steps and cutting out 100 calories a day could

Medical hazards of the sea and surf
08-06-2004
By Erno S. Daniel, M.D., Special to the Voice

We are fortunate to live in Santa Barbara. We have the full spectrum of geography from the ocean to the foothills, and from the creeks to the mountains. For an area this varied, we are fortunate to be threatened by relatively few living organisms that pose serious danger to us. However, many of us also travel to distant places, seeking the endles

Butterflies are in town for the summer
08-06-2004
By John Bury, Voice Garden Columnist

This is the time of year when butterflies make local gardens look truly animated. My own garden has dozens of them on any August afternoon, attracted by bright, pollen-rich flowers. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has an even better display

Livin' in the good land: It’s the food that’s super
08-13-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

Despite the Superman references in his graphics, Deli Planet co-owner John Quick’s progress up the restaurant ladder has been steady and gradual.

It’s been a fun and fortunate ride for all eight in the Quick family, especially for John and Jocelyn. They

State of the City: Traffic modeling pays off
08-13-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

As the City of Goleta moves forward with its state-mandated General Plan for growth, it seems that every detail of the plan carries controversy. This week the Goleta City Council, sitting as the Planning Agency, took a long look at the traffic modeling procedures that will help them determine the impacts of various growth alternatives. Robert Shull, a consulta

Old Town starting to clean up its act
08-13-2004
By Jeff Jones, Voice Staff Reporter

After a somewhat protracted period of planning and analysis, the city is moving ahead on refurbishing Old Town—though not quickly enough to satisfy some residents.

Critics say the City Council has had enough time to fill a key redevelopment administrative vacancy left open when Matt Dobberteen’s contract expired last summer.

Others remain miffed over what

Dos Pueblos junior meets national leaders
08-13-2004

Caitlin York, a junior at Dos Pueblos High School, recently returned from a leadership conference in the nation’s capital, in which she and other high school students from around the country interacted with elected officials, presidential appointees, and a panel of journalists from Wash

Behind-the-wheel instruction
08-13-2004

Danielle Keshtkar, 6, and her sister Kendall, 8, get pointers about operating a specially marked patrol vehicle from Officer Jim Hoskins of the California Highway Patrol at the agency’s Goleta headquarters last week. The girls, who live in Palos Verdes Estates, were in Goleta visiting

The Kitchen Table: Summer tomatoes
08-13-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

Everywhere I turn at the Farmers Market right now, tomatoes beckon: sweet little cherry ones to eat like candy, pretty plum-sized ones, meaty Roma for sauces and roasting, jewel-toned Heirloom varieties almost too beautiful to eat if they didn’t taste so good, low-acid yellow ones for sensitive stomachs, and classic beefsteak tomatoes for great sandwiches

Around town: Black & Blue benefit ball rocks out
08-13-2004
By Rochelle Rose, Special to the Voice

The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s 12th annual Black & Blue Ball took place outdoors in the beautiful rotunda of Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara. Dubbed "Santa Barbara’s Best Charity Event," it drew a crowd of young professionals fr

Livin' in the Good Land: Bill and Kelly Graves - making the Good Land better
08-20-20040
by Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

One would think that, after spending busy years spanning the globe, Bill and Kelly Graves would be content to settle down and live quiet lives in their tranquil suburban neighborhood in the Good Land.

Not so.

"I don’t see how people can not be

The Kitchen Table: Farewell to the Markets’ best friend
08-20-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

Julia Child was the best friend our Farmers Markets ever had. Almost until the very end, she came every Saturday morning, before the bell, to take in the sights and smells. She may have been too weak to cook, but her capacity for joy was undimmed. Her eyes sparkled as she lifted a fragrant bunch of basil or a basket of raspberries to her face, breathi

Lifestyle & Living: Garden water: Cash-flow to make the plants grow
08-20-20040
By John Bury, Voice Garden Columnist

Some fifteen years ago I accidentally left a garden hose running in the yard while I was away for several days. This was in a garden with extremely low water pressure and slow flow, but the bill for my offense was over $700. It would have been worse if

On the other side of the fire line (part 2)
08-20-2004
By Tony Biegin

(In the first part, which ran a month ago, Tony and his friend were on a five-day backpacking trip, when a wildfire now known as the Cachuma Incident began, trapping them.)

Blocked on three sides by fire and unmanageable terrain, we retreated. As we left, a borate bomber came in for a run. The pilot must have seen us, since he suddenly changed direction and dumped

Back to school: New school gadgets - not your daddy’s data storage
08-20-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

Gone are the days when back-to-school shopping meant a new pencil case, a couple of cool erasers, a notebook or two, and a handful of brand-new Pee-chee folders. These days it’s all about the gadgets—and whether they’re for study or play, they’re po

Back to school: Getting students off to a good start
08-20-2004
From the desk of Bill Cirone, County Superintendent of Schools

Special to the Voice

We are in the exciting period for young families when everyone thinks about the start of a new school year. Parents can play a major role in helping the new routine start smoothly by preparing their children for the rigors of homework and class work.

For first-time students it’s important to make sure all th

The newest thing in school transport
08-20-2004
By Olivia Kienzel, Special to the Voice

Anyone who has sat in school traffic, only to coax their drowsy child out of the car and into the exhaust-filled air, will appreciate the newest innovation in transportation: the foot. More specifically, many feet, walking in a coordinated route, and with parental supervision, make up the very latest thing in getting children to school safely. It’s called

Livin' in the Good Land: Recycling a family tradition
08-27-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Kathy Gumtow grew up going camping with her family, an experience she says gave her an appreciation for the environment and a determination help maintain its beauty and vitality.

"Being connected to the environment and loving it was something, I think,

Growing business : Goleta’s bigger farms send organic produce all over the nation.
08-27-2004
By John Bury , Voice Staff Reporter

This article is second in a series on Goleta and agriculture.

Upon making a phone call to the larger Goleta farmers, the first thing you usually hear is a voicemail greeting giving driving directions to truck drivers. "If you’re coming from O

Solter, Mallen honored
08-27-2004

Goleta native Sarah Solter, a graduate of Dos Pueblos High School, was recently honored as a recipient of Stanford University’s Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Award for her distinguished academic performance. The award is reserved for the top five percent of seniors in the engineering de

Special health section: The Beginning of a new you
08-27-2004
by Henry Schulte, Special to the Voice

How to get started

We’re being inundated on a daily basis with new diets, old diets, pills and machines that promise guaranteed weight loss with unrealistic results—some in a matter of days. It can’t happen. If you’re overweight, even by a few pounds, you know it took a while to accumulate those pounds. What makes us think we can shed them overnigh

Local woman held on 54 fraud charges
08-27-2004
by Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Harriet Lyons, a resident of Goleta for several years, was ordered last week to stand trial on 54 felony counts of defrauding 13 people out of more than $1 million. The order followed a preliminary hearing before Superior Court Judge Thomas Adams.

Lyons, 57, allegedly convinced most of those who "invested" with her that they would see a short-term, 20%

Around Town: ‘Anything Goes!’ for New Beginnings Counseling Center
08-27-2004
By Rochelle Rose, Special to the Voice

The Romantic 1930s was the theme of ‘Anything Goes,’ a benefit for New Beginnings Counseling Center held at Arcady, the Knapp Estate in Montecito. The setting was simply splendid (and rarely granted)—the exclusive and private property in the heart of

The Kitchen Table: Value vs. price - food worth paying for
08-27-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

A new resident to our area approached me at the Farmers Market the other day: "Thank you for all this beautiful, healthy food!" she exclaimed. "We are so lucky here. I can’t believe how tasty and fresh everything is, and how gorgeous the market looks." An

The once and future San José Creek
08-27-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

During winter storms, the water in San José Creek rushes through the heart of Goleta at alarming speeds. It scrapes the bottoms of bridges and sometimes overflows onto streets before entering a wide concrete channel that tames its flow for the last few miles

Living in the Good Land: A destination worth the journey
09-03-2004
By Martha Lannan, Voice Community Editor

Kathy Gregory has lived in Goleta for three decades, and that suits her just fine, she says.

"I’ve thought before, ‘Gee, maybe I’ll live down by the beach, and I’ve looked in other areas, but I’m convinced that living here, close to where I coach, the

State of City: Hollister Avenue in for big changes
09-03-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The five members of the Goleta City Council are also serving temporarily as the Goleta Planning Agency and as the only members of the Redevelopment Agency board, which oversees major projects in Old Town. All three agencies will be meeting this Tuesday as the city moves forward on several important projects.

Hollister Avenue redesign

The Redevel

From the Mayor's office: The whole (2nd) story
09-03-2004

The issue of appropriate regulation of remodels and additions in existing city neighborhoods has proven to be a contentious one in our city’s brief history. The desire of some homeowners to add significant square footage or even an additional story to their houses often directly conflicts with the desire of surrounding homeowners to preserve their privacy, views, or access to sunlight. Other co

The Kitchen Table: Restoring a local food web
09-03-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

It may seem like reinventing the wheel, and in some ways it is. The idea of neighbors supporting each other’s businesses, creating a community network of resources, is as old as human society itself. And yet, in the past couple of generations, this mutually supportive community has become frayed, tattered even, to the point that it is easier today for a G

September in Goleta gardens: Planting time and a couple of important chores
09-03-2004
By John Bury, Voice Garden Columnist

It is unusual for September to go by without at least one local hot spell to make gardening difficult. Autumn is the best time to plant many garden favorites; perennials and shrubs that go into the ground now have a chance to build a good relationship with

Pediatric Corner: Diggin’ Dax
09-03-2004
By Daniel R. Brennan, MD, FAAP, CLC, Special to the Voice

In the heat of the Athens sun, he prepares to receive a serve. It could have been an ace, but he dives and digs, gets back on his feet, leaps up and spikes the ball. Another scrappy point earned by our local, leaping lefty Olympic hero, Dax Holdren. Years of preparation, hard work and participation in local youth sports have helped make

Showing our boys and girls a better way
9-10-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

"I used to have a lot of hair," said Sal Rodriguez, pointing to a photo in his office, of a young man with a mane of thick black hair. "Working here made me bald."

He’s joking, of course. But what he is serious about is the time he’s spent as part

State of the City: Bishop Ranch and the General Plan
9-10-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

Goleta City Council members sat somewhat stunned at Tuesday’s regular meeting as about a dozen speakers, using the public forum opportunity that begins each meeting, urged the council to rezone the Bishop Ranch property to allow for new housing.

The council listened quietly as Urban McLellan, who represents the prospective developers of Bishop Ranch, asked th

Channeling the Bard
9-10-2004
Local author pens Shakespearean ‘memoir’
By Melinda Palacio, Special to the Voice

It takes an audacious poet or novelist to take on the task of penning Shakespeare’s memoirs. One brave writer, Goleta resident Leonard Tourney, has taken up the gauntlet.

The UCSB professor has publi

Yeah, baby
9-10-2004
What better place to start down the road of life than Goleta? Every once in a while, we get to congratulate a lucky family on a new addition, and it’s our pleasure to do so. We at the Voice give our best wishes to all the area’s new parents. May the joys be many and the colic short-lived.

SOPHIA GRACE CURRAN-MOORE was born ro her parents, Kim and Melissa Curran-Moore of Santa Barbara, on Feb.

The Kitchen Table: Back-to-school breakfasts
9-10-2004
By Lauyrence Hauben, Special to the Voice

It is back-to-school time, back to schedules and homework after the wonderfully lazy days of summer. And for parents, it is back to figuring out what to put in the kids’ school lunches. But since it is hard to guarantee that junior won’t trade his healthy lunch for a candy bar, and many kids come home with their lunch uneaten anyway, a good part of the a

To Your Health: Painful gout is sure to catch your attention
9-10-2004
By Erno S. Daniel, M.D., Special to the Voice

"If you drink wine, you have the gout. If you do not drink wine, the gout has you," wrote Thomas Sydenham, "that soldier who taught doctors how to treat gout," in 1683. The trooper-turned-physician concluded that the "gross" drinking habit of the wealthy was probably one of the causes of their gout. His recommendations of diet, rest, fresh air, ho

Livin in the Good Land: A civilian for peace
09-17-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

Sit down to chat with Sheila Cassidy Federman, and time will fly. Lively and articulate, Federman has an expressiveness that comes through especially when she talks about her membership and, up until very recently, her position as secretary in the San

State of the City: Old Town will get a new hotel
09-17-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

The lot on Hollister Avenue just east of the Goleta Community Center may soon have a new hotel and new condominium apartments. The project, called the Old Town Inn and Village, includes a 98-room, three-story hotel and 37 new condominiums. It will be built on

Cool and minty
09-17-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

Well, summer is still here. It’s too hot to cook, and just about too hot for anything but going to the beach. I don’t have much of an appetite when temperatures hover in the 90s. Chilled watermelon takes care of lunch, and a salad is enough for dinner. But for immediate cooling effect, nothing beats fresh mint. There is something about menthol — the essen

Lifestyle and living: Kapok trees — autumn scene-stealers
09-17-2004
By John Bury, Voice Garden Columnist

Yanonali Street near the harbor in Santa Barbara has one block (just east of Bath Street) that is lined with spectacular pink-flowering kapok trees, also known as floss silk trees. Over the next few weeks the pink flowers will dominate the street complet

Livin' in the Goodland: It’s never too late to sing out
09-24-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

If you’ve always wanted to sing but thought that you couldn’t, it’s time to meet Julia Williams. A voice teacher with a warm and engaging personality, Williams has just recently moved to Isla Vista from Ojai, and before that, the Los Angeles area. "Th

Police and fire departments give themselves good report cards
09-24-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

Goleta’s police chief is quite happy with the state of law enforcement in the city.

"Tickets are up, and accidents are down. That’s the way traffic enforcement is supposed to work, and that’s the way it’s going in Goleta," said Sheriff’s Lt. Julie McCammo

Sweet basil
09-24-2004
By Laurence Hauben, Special to the Voice

One of my favorite things about shopping at the Farmers Market is the variety of fresh herbs available, many of which just cannot be found anywhere else.

I was chatting with farmer Bill Coleman last week, and the topic of basil came up. Coleman, a gourmet cook, grows at least eight different types of basil on his farm in Carpinteria. "Lemon basil is wo

Sierra club: Condors survive, but lead bullets prevent true recovery
09-24-2004
By Andy Abate, Special to the Voice

Lead is well-acknowledged as a deadly and debilitating toxin. As such, legislation has been enacted which bans or restricts its use in items such as gasoline, paint and water pipes. Severe consequences resulting from human uses of this toxic metal are not just recent developments. In fact, lead poisoning is historically infamous. For example, it has been impl

Livin' in the Good Land: Playing a Middle Eastern tune
10-1-2004
By Sonia Fernandez, Voice Staff Reporter

Had it not been for a stroke of bad luck in his college days, Dr. Scott Marcus may not have landed where he is now.

"When I was going to do a year abroad, I was going to go to France," he said. Unfortunately, the program roster was already full. Instea

State of the City: Land-use mapping is city’s top priority
10-1-2004
By John Bury, Voice Staff Reporter

Do we need a transit center in Goleta? If so, where should it be?

How much housing should be built, and where should it go?

What level of environmental protection should we strive for?

How much should developers be asked to contribute to local infrastructure when a project is approved?

These are only a few of hundreds of questions that the city must fin

Historical Society launches restoration campaign
10-1-2004
By Ron Nye

The Goleta Valley Historical Society was founded in 1966 to promote local history by collecting and making available historical resources. In 1967, the all-volunteer society assumed stewardship of one of Goleta’s most significant and treasured landmarks: the headquarters of historic R

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