There's a fight going on down at the Rincon to get some coastal properties to hook up to the Carpinteria sewer system. Presently, the homes are on septic tanks. Some homeowners did not want to convert citing no real evidence, other than a few complaining surfers, to make the plunge. Then Heal the Ocean, that bastion of phonies posing as environmentalists, stepped in. They spread a lot of fear and misinformation to get people to send them money. Hillary Hauser has been known to sneak into wastewater plants and collect samples without observing strict lab protocol, making any results questionable.

There are stories of them harassing folks at the Rincon enclaves who don't want to convert. Now they are claiming voter fraud since the vote may not go their way.

SB Daily Sound has the story..

A homeowner's side

Don't Say Indian, Don't Even Think Indian..

or you may offend someone!

The Chumash Indian village of Mishopshnow, discovered by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo on August 14, 1542, was located one-fourth mile southwest of the monument. Fray Juan Crespí of the Gaspar de Portolá Expedition named it San Roque on August 17, 1769. Portolá's soldiers, observing the Indians building wooden canoes, called the village La Carpinteria-the Carpenter's Shop.
Location: Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, 950 Maple Ave, second plaque located at 1,000 S Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria

To the Carpinteria School Board Members

The Carpinteria school board majority ( Banks and Pulido voted to keep the warrior images, while Salm, Grant and Deardorff voted against) caved to politics and decided to remove the Indian from the front of Carp High..a fixture of warrior pride and spirit since 1970! It has nothing to do with stereotypes as Carpinteria was founded by Indians. Chumash sites are everywhere! The school board should reconsider. The images at the high school are not owned by native Americans, there's no copyright infringement, no disrespect, so what's the problem?

To suggest there were no warriors among the Indians is absurd! Would they rather see a slot machine in place the warrior statue? Then I'd be offended! The students staged a protest on Wednesday and were understandably upset. They showed courage and passion, more than I can say for the school board and superintendent Cordiero who seem to be concerned more with political correctness. To my native American friends, the "victim act" is getting a little old... and if you are going to expend energy being offended, what about America's bombing thousands of Iraqi children? Shouldn't that offend you??

At the very least, the statue should go to the History Museum.

a done deal? Not according to one board member:

"Hi Brian,

Thank you for your email. Please know that the vote was 3-2. The board was split but the 3 carried the majority. In addition, Supt. Cordeiro advocated for the board to delay any action until the issued could be studied thoroughly. Some on the board agree with many of your points."

and another Board member responds (very politically correctly, by the way)

"My husband graduated from Carpinteria High School in 1981 and was active in sports during his tenure there. When I first came home at the beginning of March and told him that a large group had come to our meeting to challenge the use of the Native American images associated with our name "Warriors", he was livid. But, he decided that he needed to understand the issue better. So we spent many hours researching how this has played out across our country. And many more hours discussing how this effects Carpinteria. In the end, although we both hated to admit it, we realized that not only was Carpinteria High School's imagery inconsistent with any particular Native American Tribe, our local native population are not, and never were, warriors. And many of them resent how our Warrior image had been translated to their culture. Also, there has been precedent all over the country (including Stanford University and Cal State Stanislaus in our state) for removing the imagery associated with their mascot or logos that can be considered by members of our nation's population to be stereotypical or racist.

I have always believed that pride and respect was the intention of the Native American icons associated with our imagery. But when a portion of the population questions who we are trying to respect (our images are historically inaccurate) and says to us, "Thanks, but no thanks. We don't need or want to be honored by a publicly funded entity in this manner.", I'm afraid I have to listen.

As a member of the Carpinteria Historical Museum, I will ask if they are interested in having some of our wonderful art pieces that may be retired. I agree that this is a part of our community's history that would be a shame to bury."

To suggest we should follow the lead of Stanford University is just plain hollow.. Stanford is not exactly a bastion of intellect with alumni like Wendy McCaw and Thomas Sowell as proof! Speaking of proof, where's the proof that the Carp high images are racist or stereotypes? NOWHERE! There's is nothing wrong with being a warrior..a warrior for love, peace, winning, music, life....

Again, there's the suggestion that Indians weren't warriors...I beg to differ!

Native Americans - Chief Red Cloud, Oglala Sioux

As a warrior and a statesman, Red Cloud's success in confrontations with the United States government marked him as one of the most important Lakota leaders of the nineteenth century.
Famous Chiefs - Red Cloud - Sitting Bull - Geronimo - Pontiac - Sequoyah

The real problem here is a native American telling me what I'm going to think when I see the warrior statue. He is assuming I'm going to think all Indians are of a certain type.. that is no more true than looking at the Cowboy statue in front of Earl Warren Showgrounds and assuming all white people ride horses!

Lastly, I applaud the young man, Elias Matisz-Cordero, (even though he's wrong) for bringing this up because we are all going to learn something valuable throughout this debate.

Oh, Yes, I'm the Great Offender

So I'm on my way to take a picture of the Indian statue when I spy a bunch of cops hanging out at El Carro Park. I stop, get out of my truck and start taking pictures. An officer was leaving the lot when he stop and asked" can I help you?" I said " no, I 'm just taking pictures" Then he looks at me, actually stares at me, and stays put in the middle of the road. I say " It's not against the law to take pictures, is it?..I thought all the black and whites looked cool... I'm not trying to bust you or diss you" Then he said the cops were staging for the high school rally/protest. I said "ok, sorry to upset you!"

Geez, officer, sorry if I offended you... cops are so touchy! It's not like I was trying to show them wasting time or lollygagging on the taxpayers dime..I wasn't..honest!

Speaking of Offenders:

Dr. Laura displays her vast ignorance and disses Carp High students, calls them wusses!

Perhaps the fake Dr. would volunteer herself as the new mascot? No, she's too much of a phony to understand the folks in Carpinteria. She is pathetic, posing as a moral authority, covering up her son's disgraceful service in the Army, posing for porn pictures, preaching against behavior she herself is guilty of..here's a suggestion Dr. Laura...take this quarter, go downtown and have a rat gnaw off that thing attached to your neck! (your head)

or howz about Travis, whose picture in Sunday's NewsPress was inexplicably redskin!

Oh, sometimes I wish I were a dog!

Oh, there are PLENTY of bees!

I was sitting out on the balcony and suddenly, swarms of bees started buzzing me..whoa! I ran inside and realized there's a new nest in the Sycamore tree right in front of my condo..camera would not get a decent close up, so I "ultra-brited" it...

the next morning my bee friends were calm, orderly and happy on orders from the queen!

So what happened to the bees? I quote Frank Sinatra: " that's life, that's what all the people say, you're flying high in April, shot down in May"....

Jackels ( the IRS and its inbred brethren, the Calif Franchise Tax Board) vs the Coyote (me)

can you relate?

I get a letter from the California FTB saying they want more money from me! According to them, they are disallowing an IRA deduction I took in 2005 and are assessing an extra $1000. After three years, they tell me!

Their explanation is I didn't read the rules like they read the rules. I read the rules and I did what they said. The FTB, when they want more money, can apparently make things up! The federal tax statute of limitations is three years, while California FTB tax code is four years.

I'm already taxed too much, and now they want MORE! I guess I'll have to sell another guitar...

I have two months to protest their decision..here's my letter:

Formal Protest/Assessment/ Tax Year 2005

Taxable Income and California Income Adjustments:

Disallowing of IRA lump sum distribution subtraction

Dear IRS,

California IRA distributions was entered on line 13e and 13g. It states on the tax form to subtract 13g from 12b which is what I did. If the instructions in the tax booklet don't state your reasons for disallowing my subtraction of the IRA distribution, then the instructions in the booklet need to be re-written. I took an IRA lump sum distribution when I retired in Nov 2005 and was taxed on it!

Also, I know of no other entity that discovers a "problem" in an untimely manner, and sees fit to bill me for it three years later when my income dropped due to retirement fixed income. Absurd!

Therefore, I should not be penalized for your poorly written instructions. If I made an honest mistake, then assess me a reasonable penalty, but I was simply following the 540A tax form instructions. Should you not decide in my favor, I will split the payments over two months.

Fondly,

Brian Ehler

PS..why do single people pay more taxes than married or "head of households"..that is discriminatory..hey, I may join the lawsuit frenzy and sue the IRS!

Carpinteria Bluffs for Sale

Tranzon Auctions

Description:

BANKRUPTCY AUCTION
in the matter of Summerwind Investors LLC

27.53± Acres of Coastal Land w/PUD Zoning
Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County, California

Minimum Bid: $12,000,000.00

5669 & 5885 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, CA 93013
Santa Barbara County APN: 001-170-010 & 001-170-013

· 27.53± Acres of bluff-top residential land

· Located 13 miles south of city of Santa Barbara in Carpinteria

· Direct access to Highway 101

· Western-most portion of the property borders the Pacific Ocean with bluff-top access

· Property uses under the PUD include residential; hospitality; restaurant; commercial recreational; convenience establishments; and open space

· Property currently operating as a driving range and agricultural farming, subject to (2) month-to-month leases

· All utilities close to site and available for hook-up

· 800’ Street frontage along Carpinteria Ave.

Bids Due: Friday, May 16 by 12 Noon PST
Property Inspections: Friday, April 18th; Friday, May 2nd; Monday, May 12th; 12-3PM

expect a bidding war which will push the price beyond the city of Carp's reach...I bet it goes for 25-30 mil!

Please Lord, don't let Wendy McCaw or Ty Warner buy it..

Instead, let Veneco or Sara Miller McCune buy it..or let me win the lottery and I'll buy it (it's more honest than a divorce settlement!)

Mental Health Cuts Unnecessary!

The budget concerns for the county are real, but cutting mental health services is not the way to go. MHS provides a web of help to those who need it. We should not be a community that turns its back on the most vulnerable citizens. Mental health issues are complex and there is an army of professionals dedicated to the helping profession. I'm not talking about pop psychologists like Dr. Laura or Dr. Phil, but real helpers who deal real issues, from mood and social disorders to dissociative and somatoform disorders...heady stuff indeed.

The county should look at money spent by the ag dept on removing weeds labeled non- native from the landscape: an irrational and money wasting venture. Reduce that spending and send the savings to mental health....

get your priorities right!!

savementalhealth

Don't do what Reagan did to California!!

Camarillo State Hospital

a Ventura County landmark

The Camarillo State Mental Hospital was a psychiatric rehabilitation facility in Camarillo, CA. It is famous for housing musicians Charlie Parker (1940's) and Steve Mann (1960's) during their rehabilitations from drug addiction. Parker wrote Relaxin' at Camarillo in honor of his time there. It's very possible that Camarillo is the Hotel California referred to by The Eagles.

"The campus is a rare architectural find, built in the Mexican colonial style in the 1930's. Featuring buildings constructed around central courtyards, it would more easily be taken for a resort than the mental institution it served as for decades-- until the late 1990's. Indeed, it is rumored to be the 'Hotel California' of the Eagles' famous song. Whitewash and tile abound, as well as distinctive wrought iron work on windows and balconies and a host of other unique touches to delight the eye of the attentive observer. The campus has now been transformed into a fledgling university, but on weekends or during holiday periods the grounds are often peacefully empty, making them perfect for quiet wanderings and contemplation of the buildings or the people who once lived out their lives here. If you pause to watch, you'll be treated to the flights of swallows and possibly the sight of the occasional deer that still roam the grounds at dawn or dusk. "

When you see people in the street, asking for spare change, or shouting at the moon...these are the very same folks that could have been helped or housed at Camarillo..thank gov Pete Wilson and Reagan for shutting it down...Families of the mentally ill and the mentally ill themselves have most bitter memories of a President who put tens of thousands on the street via deinstitutionalization. The Reagan administration’s attack on the welfare system was indiscriminate and encouraged our society to view poverty as evidence of individual moral weakness. Iran-Contra was a furtive and sinister side of Reagan’s anti-communism.

The next time you complain about a panhandler, think of Ronny, bite down hard, and give up a quarter or two..it won't kill you... but..you need to be able to tell the destitute from the punks..and limit hand outs to once in a while..some nut came up to me in Carp and asked for money for lunch..when I said no, he shot back "queer".. and ran away...those guys deserve a kick in the head, figuratively speaking...

Huge Ortega Ridge Hillside Houses Slipping...

Summerland Hillsides Slipping, too

Owners rushing to put in retaining walls and running into permit problems..but why were houses allowed to be built in the first place?

Hillside *Whores Beware!

Santa Barbara Housing Bubble Blog... for ghastly Summerland stories!

* a disclaimer: no disrespect to working girls, whom I fully support!

Save the Bridge!? the bridge is doomed...

over a million dollars..for a little bridge??

update: the city council in a 3-2 vote ( Clark and Armendariz voted "no") approved the "Golden Arch Bridge" to replace the wooden 8th Street bridge. . Not only that, they are going to hook an 8 inch pressurized water main to the new bridge at the request of Charles Hamilton at the Carp Water District! The water main which is presently located under the creek will become airborne when the bridge is finished. Obviously, the whole project was mangled by city engineers, the council and staff as evidenced by the defensive posture Ledbetter and Stein showed during the meeting, and now we have a 1.2 million dollar bridge that nobody wants with a "hot" water line attached to it.

Can you imagine what would happen should the water main break while you are walking across the new foot bridge, a much more likely scenerio than a 100 year flood! Good job, fellas!

Previously:

the Carp city council heard from the public on Monday, March 10th concerning the 8th street bridge. Petitions with 900+ signatures to save the bridge were presented. The council chambers were full of folks trying to talk the city out of a massive steel arched structure across the creek. We like our quaint little wooden bridge. Alternate plans were presented by a few members of the public..a better bridge for less money. In the end, the council decided to explore alternatives for another month, but said time and money has been spent to come up with the present plan. Then, Ledbetter and Stein went on to say the new structure will meet all the safety and building codes the state requires. Their main concern was the 100 year flood and yet they only want a bridge that will last 50 years! What about earthquakes. Councilman Ledbetter was overly concerned about liability issues with the wooden bridge, saying Carpinteria could be sued if someone was hurt while on the bridge. This is an old trick to get development passed..bring up safety issues. The fact is anyone can sue any city for any reason..it is foolish and wasteful to try to mitigate all risks! Then Ledbetter went on to say he and Stein as councilmembes are to be thanked for the small town charm of Carpinteria. I got news for you pal..citizen activism is responsible for Carpinteria's charm.

That small town charm is slowly disappearing as you on the council approve more cutesy development like Lavender Court, Sparrow's Landing and Mission Terrace...and now, encroaching into ag land to build out even more as you & developers overestimate demand..don't delude yourself, Ledbetter..you are losing the trust of the folks who elected you! The council needs to admit they screwed up on the design and must come up with a better plan.

the story:

The city of Carpinteria has plans to replace the 8th Street bridge with a modern structure. These plans were pushed by Public Works director Dale Lipp. However, I don't think Mr. Lipp will be around much longer..the city is looking for a new director.

The planning commission recently denied the city's attempts to replace the bridge.. some folks have questioned the need to replace vs restore... Restoring would be better..less cost and fiddling with the creek habitat. Now, here's the kicker..the city planning staff says for every willow and sycamore removed, the city would plant five..and they would remove "non-native" species and plant native species. That is enough reason to deny this project.. THE NATIVE ONLY CULT STRIKES AGAIN! The stream meanders very nicely, with the music of frogs and birds all about, and doesn'tcare whether the plants are native or non native! All we need to do is make sure people do not throw LITTER (like phone books) in the creeks..leave the plants alone!

Director Ruth Coleman..Stop Spreading the Fear!

Ruth Coleman currently serves as Director of California State Parks.

She was appointed Chief Deputy for California State Parks in January 2002, after having joined the department in December 1999 as Deputy Director for Legislation.

Before coming to State Parks, Ms. Coleman worked as Policy Director for Assemblywoman Helen Thomson for one year, responsible for legislative issues relating to water, agriculture and land use. Prior to that she was Legislative Director for State Senator Mike Thompson, coordinating his legislative agenda and providing staff leadership on major environmental legislation such as a park bond, salmon and steelhead restoration; and the protection of the Headwaters Forest.

Ms. Coleman also has worked for the Air Resources Board in the electric vehicle program and the Office of the Legislative Analyst, focusing on fiscal and policy issues in the natural resources area, particularly the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Fish and Game. Prior to her work in Sacramento, she spent three years teaching mathematics as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Swaziland, Southern Africa.

Ms. Coleman received her Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, and a B.A. in Economics from Occidental College.

"Invasive plants like brooms, Arundo donax and iceplant cause significant harm to parks and natural areas across California," said Ruth Coleman, Director of California State Parks. "They crowd out native plants, insects and animals. Once they take hold, they are expensive to remove or control. Invasions can also lead to flooding and fires."

Nationally, invasive plants cost more than $35 billion per year in eradication work and economic losses. In California alone, $85 million in taxpayer funds go to fighting invasive species every year. Fortunately, home gardeners and professionals are making smart choices to avoid planting invasive varieties."

my email to her:

[ Dear Ms Coleman,

One of the favorite pastimes of the native-only sect is spreading myths about non-native species. The myths are easily debunked with a little observation as you walk around California, from the roadsides to the hillsides. Dispersal is a fact of life. Butterflies, birds and bees enjoy plants without too much concern of their native status..they don't care! Purple finches use purple thistle for building nests; ladybugs and bees love fennel; hummingbirds love Mexican sage..that's good enough for me.

Here are some buzz words and phrases from the native-only folks….can you relate?

"plant begins to brashly overtake"
"reproduction signals a dangerous potential"
"invasive pests"
"they spread with abandon and create flood/fire hazards"
"they threaten, they degrade"
'pernicious"
'floral beasts"
"Pampas grass is a vagrant that infests"
"ubiquitous pests"
"invasive tendencies"
"rambunctious plants"
"destruction wrought by leafy aggressors"

Such hatred for plants because they are deemed "non-native" is a psychological, not ecological problem. Millions of dollars are wasted removing demonized plants from the California landscape, and yet they always grow back, as nature intends.

The parks should be left wild with weeds and natives in rutted splendor and not tended by over-educated dog walkers..shame on us for wasting taxpayers money demonizing non -native plants.

BTW, ice plant is a great hedge against erosion.]

KVOA TV Tucson

Disclaimer: Information contained on this page is provided by companies featured through PR Newswire. PR Newswire, WorldNow and this Station cannot confirm the accuracy of this information and make no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

STOP FAILING the STUDENTS!!

Arnold!!

while you and Maria are sittin' pretty up at the ranch, planting your native-only garden, you should think long and hard about taking money away from schools, jet-setting around California on the taxpayers dime, showing up at photo-ops with charts that third graders could have done a better job explaining, and how you are failing California. It is long past time to cut funds where it makes sense or raise taxes where it makes sense..tax the things that add least to society ..smokers, drinkers, gamblers, trust fund babies. Tax cell phones, tax alcohol and cigarettes, tax the Indians, tax the big businesses who suck resources from California.

Just do it and stop worrying about what your conservative friends will say.. cut funds from the agriculture commission who is wasting millions removing non native species from California.. and FINE THE REAL POLLUTERS like Greka Oil...and the landowners who provide the lease (Brooks Firestone & COLAB).

It makes no sense to balance a budget on the backs of students or removing programs, like music and art, that will allow them to enrich their lives instead of hanging out at the casino. Geez, man, get a grip.. since we are neighbors now, you are going to hear me howling in the hills within earshot of the ranch....you better help me find a way to save the music and keep the California Parks open!

Welcome to the hood, pal.... and here's some homework for you...

California Progress Report

Wasting Money on Fear...

thank President Clinton for enacting the Invasive Species Council in 1999 enabling madness in government

Florida and California Had the Highest Invasive Species Expenditures

Florida and California each spent considerably more than the other five

states on invasive species activities. In fiscal years 1999 and 2000, Florida

reported spending $94.5 million and $127.6 million, respectively;

Over half ($154.5 million) of the funding for specific categories of invasive species went to terrestrial arthropods (a category of invertebrates—primarily insects—that includes fruit flies and Asian long-horned beetles). The plant category, which includes terrestrial noncrop (such as purple loosestrife), terrestrial crop (crop weeds such as johnsongrass), and aquatic plants, received the second greatest amount of funding—$70.7 million!!!!

the-weeds-of-willapa-bay

....Even so, Fritzi Cohen, owner of the Moby Dick Hotel, does not endorse The Nature Conservancy or Washington State’s rationale or method for eradicating the noxious weed. She also doesn’t think getting rid of the invasive grass will ever help her oyster farm.

“The same mentality that got us into Iraq got us into this Spartina war — propaganda and outright untruths, repeated over and over and over,” declares Cohen. “There has been 25 million wasted to eradicate Spartina. It must stop.”

Inspection fee draws fire

Venturans upset by $99 charge to check for weeds

By Kevin Clerici (Contact)
Monday, April 21, 2008

Photos by James Glover II / Star staff Ventura Fire Marshal Brian Clark talks with property owner Beverly Townsend. Regarding a $99 fee for weed-abatement inspections, Clark said, "We need to recover our costs. We need a sustainable funding source for this program. That's the bottom line."

More..

Rob Lowe's Beach Blanket Bingo

and Wendy McCaw's Porny Friends

UPDATE:

Nanny accuses Rob of whipping it out!!

Rob Lowe Exposed!!

oh that Rob, he's sooo handsome...

santabarabara's blog exposed!

this is the second time Editor Bird has called a guy "handsome"..first the new sports guy on KEYT, and now Rob Lowe..altho he quickly removed the word "handsome" the first time!? What's going on Bird..are you a girl? gay? ( nothing wrong with that)

"Forget the good and the bad… the latest Rob Lowe scandal is just plain ugly.

The Lowe’s former nanny, Jessica Gibson, filed a scathing 18-page sexual-harassment lawsuit against the handsome actor and his wife, Sheryl Berkoff, in Santa Barbara court. Lowe and Berkoff are expected to be deposed in the case on May 19th and 20th."

What’s become of my beloved Padaro Lane….monster beach houses, Jesus freaks at Harley-Davidson (even Jesus would see through that smoke sceen) and a Hollywood has-been are bringing disrepute to the neighborhood! If I had the power, I would evict Rob Lowe! Costner can stay because he's done some good films: "Open Range" and "the Postman"..but Robby.. why did you hire some nutty woman to care for your kids? Why doesn't mommy do that? Maybe Dr. Laura can help??

LOS ANGELES — Rob Lowe and his wife are suing their former nanny, claiming she told secrets and lies about their family.

The complaint filed Monday in a Los Angeles Superior Court asks for at least $1,000,000 in damages and charges Laura Boyce with violating a confidentiality agreement, defamation and infliction of emotional distress on the former "West Wing" star; his wife, Sheryl; and their two sons.

Boyce was hired to take care of their sons for most of 2007 before she quit in November, according to the complaint.

The court papers make no specific reference to what information Boyce passed along, or to whom, only that Boyce had "betrayed their trust and engaged in a scheme to hurt the Lowes by spreading malicious lies" both during and after she served as a nanny.

It wasn't clear whether Boyce had hired an attorney. A message left at a phone number listed in her name wasn't immediately returned.

Lowe, 44, is appearing on ABC's "Brothers and Sisters." His screen credits include "Wayne's World," "St. Elmo's Fire" and "The Outsiders."

RobResponds!

"Everyone knows we live in a time where public figures are targets. But I also know of many people in everyday life who are paying the price of a climate where anyone can accuse anybody of anything, anytime, and hope for a big cash pay-off at the end. "Hush money" to just go away. Well I won't go away. No one intimidates my family. My wife and I have many former and long term employees, all of whom know this woman, who can and will refute any claims of anything inappropriate in our home, or anywhere else. We will defend ourselves with vigor and without fear."

Hey, that's what Bill O'Reilly did when his co-worker accused him of sexual harrassment with loofa..he made the media rounds denying everything but saying he was stupid for saying "men things" to the woman!

Why can't you guys be more like Kevin Costner, who's a real Hollywood icon (except for the wanker episode with a masseuse..)

Kev's ocean side ranch..cool but pricey!

Old Carpinteria Ranches...Walkin' Down a Country Road

protecting and preserving Carpinteria history...Land Trusts

Rancho Monte Alegre

Olive Carey's old pink bungalow..she lived there until she died, then I rented it......the original sign at the entrance..now gone

a ranch cat, Spooky, was the coolest animal I've ever met...my little guru taught me alot about nature and was just too funny for words sometimes!

From 1991 to 1996, I lived on two Carpinteria ranches; Rancho Monte Alegre and the Young Ranch on Foothill Road. These are examples of old Carpinteria..wild, rustic and beautiful. Rancho Monte Alegre was the hideout of Hollywood actors like Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, Harry Carey and his wife, Olive (Ollie) Carey. Ollie starred in the old B movie westerns, which I just love. The eccentric ranch owners told stories of Ollie hosting cocktail parties in her little pink bungalow in Hollywood's heyday..I could just imagine..the ghosts were everywhere in that house! One night, one of the ranch owners, a particularly nutty woman, banged on my front door and told me to turn the lights on, like Ollie used to do! I spent a few years up there but figured the sooner I get away from crazy landlords, the better..a few years later I bought a condo!

The entrance to the ranch was gorgeous, but the new owners destroyed it (par for the course!)

OH NO!!

guess who just bought into the ranch.. my new neighbor the governator! Well, there goes the 'hood... more security, more media..thanks alot Arnold! Hey, wait a minute..now's my chance to steal Maria away from you..or how about an interview!

The Young Ranch

After Rancho Monte Alegre, I went to the Young Ranch and lived there for a few years. The ranch was owned by John and June Young.. a couple of nicer folks you couldn't find. I found out after I left that June was the lady who invented Santa Claus Lane and the Big Yellow House! She was a big, tough, creative woman who didn't take crap from anybody. Her house was warm, ornate and colorful and she'd hold a dinner party every year for all the ranch residents! She died a few years ago and now a few parcels of the ranch are for sale. It's a quiet, beautiful, rustic place!

What an opportunity to see how the soul of Carpinteria was formed!! Thanks John and June!!

Attention: Carpinteria Shoppers!

New on Linden: Corktree Cellars Wine Bar and Bistro..bringing in a more upscale drunk to the downtown area..just what we need!

Albertson's lease extended thru 2009; Rite Aid loses liquor license, can't even buy a bottle of Ripple! Lavender Court having trouble selling condo units; gas at $3.79 per gallon..a new station is opening up at the old Carrows spot..it's called Bend Over Oil & Gas

The city of Brentwood: the total cost per gallon of treated water is $3.39. I don't know what a gallon of water costs from the Carp Water District because they keep changing the calculations and assumptions, recalculating, reworking, redistributing, reinventing..and basically re-confusing me everytime...my hats off to them!

Buyer Beware!

if the City of Carp keeps approving these condo projects, they won't be able to give them away.. and it dilutes the market driving other property values down... now the broker is using gimmicks from Countrywide to sell them..

*********************************

Career Opportunity!

uh oh..a Greka spotted in Carp at McCormix

Hey Greka...

didya ever find that phantom saboteur??

The Union and the Pacific...

the good ol' days!!

the good new days!

Actually, the new fence on Santa Claus Lane, between the beach and the railroad tracks looks nice. There are openings about every 100 yards so you can slip through. However, if you get caught on the mountain/track side of the fence and a train goes by, it's a pretty tight squeeze.

Union Pacific, who owns the land between the devil and the deep blue sea says the fence is a sand barrier, not a people barrier. But those of us who weren't born yesterday know better!

The fence will help regulate the people using the beach who can't follow simple leash laws ( sometimes with sad results) and keep it safer for dogs and kids. You don't want to mess with physics when an Amtrack comes barreling at you..SPLAT!!

Point Reyes Anti-Deer Campaign

Keep a sharp lookout or the Point Reyes National Seashore Park Service may just pull a fast one on you! On the other hand, Park officials' attempts to vilify the axis and fallow deer are striking locals as so lame that it would be funny if the stakes weren't so life-threatening.

"I don't want to typecast them, but they are considered a very aggressive species."

"They also tend to attack from the rear."

"When you see these large herds out there, it's just daunting."

Fallow and Axis Deer, Point Reyes, CA To the right, you will see a piece of documentary evidence. In the background, a quiet herd of some dozen fallow deer bask in the gentle, sunlit meadow. In the foreground, you will see a horse. Unlike Park biologist Gates, the horse does not appear to feel daunted, and seems to be utterly without a proper sense of fear about being attacked from the rear. All joking aside, it is idyllic scenes like these that form part of the daily life of the people of West Marin, and it is their experience of living amongst the deer for the past 60 years that makes statements like the above quotes so absurd to them.

"The Point Reyes National Park Service has taught the people of Marin that they are willing to twist facts, run smear campaigns, and tell outright lies in order to accomplish their aims. This is not the Smokey the Bear you were raised to respect. It is time for us to withdraw our trust in these self-proclaimed stewards of our lands."

City of Carp Plans to Remove Tamarisk grove at Bluffs..

and jumps on the politically- correct -native -only bandwagon..teaching intolerance!

butterflies enjoying natives and non natives

the coastal oak is fine...living peacefully with the tamarisk

The City of Carpinteria prides itself on being a tree city, yet plans are underway to remove Salt Cedars on the bluffs. According to Carpinteria Beautiful, the cedars are "blocking" a coastal oak tree. The Salt Cedar is also demonized as "invasive" by self appointed "experts". Matt Roberts of the Parks Dept has been planting oak seedlings in the area and is behind the cedar removal project. Yet, there is no evidence that the cedars are having any negative impact on the bluffs...quite the opposite!

this is a beautiful tamarisk grove..before they chop, they should read:

Benefits: In addition to the aesthetic beauty of the saltcedar as an ornamental landscaping plant, the tamarisk can provide the following important benefits:

nesting areas for local and endemic birds: whitewing and mourning doves, Southwestern Bell's vireo, black-throated sparrow, and Willow Flycatcher (an endangered species that preferentially nests in saltcedar; populations have shown a significant increase over the last 6 years that is strongly correlated with its preference for saltcedar as nesting habitat)

a source of pollen and nectar for European honeybees, and food source for Black-tailed jackrabbit and beavers

rehabilitation of disturbed sites when very carefully monitored - it is one of few species that can aggressively colonize and stabilize extremely saline soils. Under very special and controlled circumstances, land managers might consider using saltcedar for land stabilization purposes.

stabilizing salty soils will HELP the oaks!

invasive species hysteria..salt cedar

Pampass grass removed ..for no good reason!!

Schwarzenegger's Parks Proposals Despicable..

why are we spending millions removing weeds in California instead of saving our state parks? How can the governor even consider closing parks like

La Purisima

Mission in Lompoc?

It is ANTI- CALIFORNIA!! Of course, there are those who don't support the missions due to the alleged abuse of the Indians, but history, like the bible, is a funny thing..it is open to interpretation. Whether you love or hate the missions, emotions do not make them less historically significant...

California Missions..the Good, the Bad and the Coyote Ugly

Clint Eastwood

Parks and education..that's where Schwarzenegger wants to reduce spending. Now, he removes Eastwood, a guy who has done a great deal to promote California's Parks in an odd attempt to take focus off California's natural beauty!! RECALL THIS JOKER!

SACRAMENTO -- After Clint Eastwood learned last week that his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger no longer wanted him on the state parks commission, he spoke with Bobby Shriver, the governor's brother-in-law, who had also been dropped. Somewhat incredulous, they joked about it, each saying the other should be more offended.

"I talked to him the day we were not reappointed, or as Donald Trump would say, 'You're fired,' " Eastwood said in an interview, his gravelly impression of Schwarzenegger's Austrian accent producing a kind of Dirty Harry-meets-the Terminator...

more

Budget Crisis, What Budget Crisis?

Arnold, STOP THIS......

10 Million in tax money to remove Weeds!!

Ag Wins! Ag Wins!

People's Self Help Housing has gone back to the drawing board to resubmit plans for the Camper Park, which they bought a few years ago. The park is an historical resource and was a stop- over for travelers in the 40's and 50's...a little slice of Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath". Nowadays, it is a place for low income housing in the form of trailers. Folks who work on the ranches and farms around Carpinteria live there. PSHH wants to build permanent housing, have an educational/social center and use ag land for worker apartments. According to PSHH's Jeanette Duncan, who spoke at the city council meeting Monday, they are not going to use agriculture land to build, citing the political climate and other factors. Instead, another plan has come to them...expand Dalia Court! For now, ag land will remain undeveloped! PSHH needs to focus on the land they own, and not let the eye wander to ag land, which would have to be rezoned and annexed..a bad idea. Build on the land you have and be happy. I support all the PSHH programs to help the homeless and poor, just don't let the tentacles of development spread to ag land..real simple..

Way to go, Carpinteria!

Ag Loses! Ag Loses!

Carpinteria flower growers and avocado ranches are under quarantine, possibly until October because TWO light brown apple MOTHS were found in traps. Invasive species hysteria strikes again!

The question is: if a moth does not get trapped, does it still exist????????? Do moths fly around Carpinteria if no one sees them; or do they only exist, and are only a threat, when caught and seen by an agriculture official. Are ag officials the only ones who can see apple moths? I've never seen one, maybe if I see one, I'll become scared...well. I'm gonna look and see if I can photograph one..then, dum dum dum dum...I'll know...

the job of the State Ag Commission is to protect the billion dollar agriculture industry and to keep people afraid of insects...insects do more good than harm and spraying poison on the landscape to control "invasives" kills everything..it's madness! the fact is moths are eaten by birds and other animals. Do you really think a bird is going to discriminate between moths if it is hungry?

Santa Cruz study dismissed by state

Afraid of a little moth!

BUGGED!

County AG Commissioner's job security..PESTS!

Signs of the Times...

Pretty Disturbing Signs..MeasureV

Adult Education is a good thing. Well, it used to be anyway. A while back there was a controversy about a housing series that SBCC Adult Ed had planned to host. At the last minute, they pulled the class. They claimed that it had nothing to do with the News-Press objections to the alleged bias of the sponsers. I emailed SBCC president Romo and Adult Ed chief Pablo Buckelew who assured me that they don't design classes to please the NewsPress. However, it looks like they lied!

Two new classes address Personal Appearance..one entitled " The Magic Makeover" that promises to teach you 30 tricks for looking thinner and younger. The other one is "No More Bad Hair days" where they will teach you to find a hairstyle that is uniquely you..according to Da Vinci's code of balance and proportion! These classes must have been requested by Wendy McCaw and Dr. Laura.

Shame on SBCC Adult Education for offering such frivolous fare. Maybe next time they can investigate why Americans are so fearful of the aging process; why they don't understand basic biology; and why self-esteem will not rise with a facelift....unbelievable.

Measure V is a property tax to "upgrade" SBCC and the related Adult Ed centers. The measure will be on the June 3 ballot...SBCC needs to

practice preventive maintenance instead of a massive facilities facelift because of maintenance deferred...VOTE NO!

IRS..Spend and Tax

Why did the IRS spend millions to mail taxpayers this stupid letter? They know I'm a taxpayer, just mail me the check. Or if I owe more than $600, credit it to my return!

and..if I make a bunch of bad investment decisions, I have to live with the consequences. If Bears Stearns does it, the gov't bails them out... with my tax money!

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the Bush administration on Thursday defended the decision to rescue Bear Stearns amid questions by lawmakers about why the government was helping Wall Street investment houses but not people on Main Street.

YEAH!!

Santa Barbara's Number One Drug Problem..ALCOHOL

"I don't have a drinking problem, "cept when I can't get a drink" Tom Waits

Bars, Liquor Stores, Wine-Tasting Rooms, Brewery Companies, TV and magazine ads, college frat parties..and on and on

Back in the old days of Santa Barbara, I worked the graveyard shift at the upper State Street Sambo's as a fry cook..eveynight we'd get a bar rush, when all the folks from local bars would come in and continue the party..mostly it was a good crowd, but I did see a few scary drunks..they would sit at the counter for hours, some face down, others laughing and talking to no one in particular, except the demons they saw through an alcoholic glare...the waitress would sometimes call the cops or a cab, but mostly we would allow the guy to sit for hours drinking coffee..better that than being out on the street..alcoholics all have a certain look as if possessed..everything about them changes when drunk..

UCSB Extension offered a Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate program a few years back, but it was discontinued. That's too bad. It was a great program and I met all types of folks going for the certificate..some with alcohol problems who were fighting to stay sober, others who just wanted to help, and others who were interested in the psychology of addiction.

Alcohol is a very powerful drug. Addiction is a complex issue. One of the many things I gained from the course is a respect for those who are seeking awareness about drug abuse... their own and others they seek to help.

Alcohol and Adults

Alcohol is the most widely abused drug among adults, especially among young adults. According to the 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, one in three adults aged 18 to 25 are binge drinkers (at least five drinks at a time). Rates of binge drinking and heavy drinking (binging at least five times a month) are consistently higher among men than women. For example, 43 percent of men aged 18 to 25 are binge drinkers, compared to 21 percent of women. However, this gap may be closing; drinking rates are increasing much faster for teenage girls than for boys.

Problems on the Job
Eighty-five percent of heavy drinkers in the United States are employed—about 10 million people. 35 Many more employees drink to a lesser degree. A common misconception among employers is that alcoholics are responsible for most of the workplace problems related to alcohol.36 However, according to the 1998 Corporate Alcohol Study by the Harvard School of Public Health, light and moderate drinkers cause 60 percent of alcohol-related incidents of absenteeism, tardiness and poor quality of work, while dependent drinkers cause 40 percent. 37The impact of even small amounts of alcohol on work performance is well-known. For example, commercial airlines prohibit their pilots from flying within 24 hours of consuming any alcohol.

widespread abuse

Is the school board drunk??

The Surge is Working!!

an Iraqi family terrorized by American troops, who go door to door, guns drawn looking for "insurgents"..disgusting!!

Pentagon hides damning report

By Libby

A new report reveals that the only reason there are in AQ in Iraq today is because we drew them there. Not that you'll hear this from the White House, but thanks to ABC you can read the full report based a full scale analysis of "600,000 official Iraqi documents seized by US forces after the invasion and thousands of hours of interrogations of former officials in Saddam's government now in US custody" at their website. It unequivocally showed there was no connection whatsoever between Saddam and al Qaeda prior to the ill fated invasion of Iraq.

Yesterday McClathy reported that in light of this damning evidence, the Pentagon revised its plan to make the report available on its website. It will not be released directly to the public and Pentagon officials will not be made available to answer questions from the press about it. It's only being made available on CD by specific request of the press.

Do We Have a Conscience?

WARNING: Reality Ahead...

watch the war!!!

more war!!

Army, Marines Enlist More Felons

Military Branches Under Pressure To Raise Their Numbers

Data released by a congressional committee show that the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.

The bulk of the crimes involved were burglaries, other thefts, and drug offenses, but nine involved sex crimes and six involved manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions. more

who better to fight the evil-doers!

Lake Cachuma..silt or quagga mussels

What would you rather have, a water reservoir with some mussels in it, or a water reservoir with silt? For years, Lake Cachuma has been filling with silt, reducing capapcity, but not much has been done about it. City residents and water folks have been sounding the warning. Now, the Cachuma officials are worried about a mussel, that if allowed to proliferate, could attach to pipes, water control gates and other structures, similar to barnacles on a boat. If mussels are a big problem, I suppose they should be dealt with..rationally, not with measures that result from invasive species hysteria.

So what is a bigger threat..silt or non-native mussels? As a a matter of fact, if non native ice plant were surrounding the lake, there wouldn't be the silt problem there is today. Here's a look:

SILT

Storage Issues

The County Board of Supervisors in 1941 entered into a cost sharing contract with the United States (Bureau of Reclamation) for an investigational survey of a long range water program conforming with the area's needs and capacity to pay. This investigation eventually led to the authorization of the Cachuma Project (as described below), and the establishment of the Santa Barbara County Water Agency by the State Legislature (September 15, 1945). The Cachuma Project was authorized for construction by the Secretary of the Interior, March 24, 1948, and in 1949 the Santa Barbara County Water Agency entered into an agreement with the United States to design and construct the Cachuma Project. The Cachuma Project was completed on February 26, 1956. The dry cycle from 1945-49 and the decrease in storage due to silt at Gibraltar Reservoir led to a special bond election on December 17, 1946, which provided funds to raise Gibraltar Dam to restore it to its original capacity. The enlargement of the Gibraltar Dam was completed in February 1949.

Cachuma Project..The region's aridity causes Cachuma to lose an estimated 16,000 ac-ft of water to evaporation annually.

The same arid, barren landscape that was so susceptible to natural disaster also lent itself to a another problem causing particular frustration among dam managers in the region - that of sedimentation. The chaparral flora, rainstorms, landslides, and wildfires all resulted in prodigious amounts of silt washing into Lake Cachuma and backing up behind Bradbury Dam. Managers have tried a series of mitigating measures, none of which has made much of a dent in silt build-up. Managers are left pondering ways to combat a process that has robbed Cachuma of an estimated ten percent of its capacity.

Daily Sound Article...Cathy Taylor, the city's water system manager, said heavy rains will likely intensify the siltation effect due to the impacts of the Zaca Fire, which scorched 60 percent of the watershed. Erosional rates could be 40 times greater than normal and could fill half of the current capacity with sediment, she said.
"This is a real concern for us, because Gibraltar is currently at half its normal capacity," Taylor said.

MUSSELS

Overview
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are small, fingernail-sized mussels native to the Caspian Sea region of Asia. They are believed to have been transported to the Great Lakes via ballast water from a transoceanic vessel. The ballast water, taken on in a freshwater European port was subsequently discharged into Lake St. Clair, near Detroit, where the mussel was discovered in 1988. Since that time, they have spread rapidly to all of the Great Lakes and waterways in many states, as well as Ontario and Quebec.

Diving ducks and freshwater drum eat zebra mussels, but will not significantly control them.

Likely means of spread: Microscopic larvae may be carried in livewells or bilgewater. Adults can attach to boats or boating equipment that is in the water

Zebra Mussels..pretty!!

Can mussels survive in silted reservoir??

Mussels living in our lakes and rivers filter oxygen and particles from the water, cleansing the water in the process and absorbing what they consume into their bodies and shells. It is for these reasons that mussels, often spending their entire life in a small area of the stream bed, are sensitive to changes in their environment and serve as indicators of the health of our lakes and streams.

Degradation of our lakes and rivers from runoff of silt and chemicals as well as physical changes from damming, channelization, and dredging, have taken their toll on native mussels in North America.

Won't you let me in, immigration man...

this is America, speak any language you wish!

I almost never agree with Dan Walters, a columnist for the Sacramento Bee..but he was right on about immigration...California needs to expose racists for what they are: FOXNEWS, Lou Dobbs, Glen Beck, the minutemen hillbillies and the other right wing zealots disguising themselves as Americans..

Dan Walters: Immigrant facts vs. myths

To hear some folks describe it - including some folks who have daily access to a radio microphone - California is under attack by crazed, rapacious and thieving hordes that are pouring across the southern border, bent on occupying the state.

These illegal immigrants - or "aliens" or "invaders," in the vernacular of those who complain incessantly about them - are described as consuming vast sums of welfare and health-care funds, committing countless crimes, clogging the prisons and in other ways ruining what would otherwise be an idyllic paradise. And during an election year, of course, the anti-immigrant rhetoric escalates to an even higher level.

more...

for an eye-opening look at old California, check out "CALIFORNIA, A HISTORY" by Andrew Rolle.

For What It's Worth...

Ever since a group of folks tried to save the Santa statue on Santa Claus Lane in Carp, it seems everyone now is trying to save a piece of Santa Barbara. From Coast Village Road to the Botanic Gardens to De La Guerra Plaza, the fight is on between developers and preservationists. That's good...you may win you may lose, but you should always fight for what you believe in. I was always afraid that developing Santa Claus Lane would ruin my neighborhood. Too many upscale phonies tends to draw the wrong element. More fussy folks means more sidewalks, lights, bling. Well, Santa is gone but the lane is still funky..and the businesses there are thriving without over-development. Two new stores have moved in: Reeds Floors and the Kayak place. Great!! Any changes to special places should be slow and thoughtful, otherwise you will get the new Summerland..very upscale and flashy...and sterile.

I see that even the News-Press has jumped on the bandwagon to preserve. Back in the "save Santa" days, they were staunchly against preservation claiming property rights were absolute and that the statue was made of plaster and worth nothing. Now, for some reason, they want to save everything, no matter who owns it or what it's worth. De La Guerra Plaza is just a bunch of dirt..why do they care if the city updates the area. They are concerned because it affects them and disses the history of Santa Barbara. The City of SB should nix plans to remake the plaza. Instead, they should put in some benches for folks to sit and relax..the benches were there before, but were removed.

It is a never ending fight between old and new, history and the future...we must respect our past as we move to the future....

************************

News-Press Sues City of Santa Barbara.. and files TEN against the union, which are promptly thrown out!

a silly retaliatory lawsuit, not for justice, but for revenge...

"When in delusion,, sue" seems to be the SBNP motto. The paper stated today that Wendy has filed a lawsuit against the city through former city employee and current SBNP lawyer Barry Capello.. Capello hasn't won a case yet, so maybe this will be it! However, the suit is full of nonsense..Wendy is miffed that local activist and Transportation Committee member David Pritchett was exercising his constitutional rights by protesting her in De La Guerra. The conspiracy theory states that Pritchett wants to redesign De La Guerra Plaza to facilitate more rallies and the City of SB is trying to "punish" the News-Press for editorials....How goofy is that?

Let justice prevail; let the judge throw the case out and stop wasting people's time...

BAD FORM...

NewsPress receives complaint about business practices

"So I place a classified (employment) ad in the News Press and noticed that after the first couple weeks in print I still have no tear sheet. I call my News Press rep last week to ask that the ad continue to run for another week and at the same time I ask for the tear sheet. BTW a tear sheet is an actual copy of your ad from the printed publication as proof that the ad ran, used to be customary for the media to provide this. Anyway I am told that it is not "policy" to send the tear sheet. Why, I ask and was told that if I live in a distribution area they will not send the tear sheet because the NP wants me to buy the paper. Is the $140/Sunday only ad that is the size of my big toe not spending enough to have a tear sheet sent? Poor form indeed!"

the water log...

	water more precious than gold!
	Dam It!
	Zaca Fire Aftermath..love (to treat) that dirty water...oh, oh Boston, you're my home....

You don't miss your water...'til your well runs dry...

...the Eastern district may be the first in the region to cite water as the reason for delaying approval of a large project because of the laws.

Developers and water officials worry that more agencies may do the same, further weakening a building market already crippled by the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Although Inland Empire business leaders hope Eastern will ease its restrictions as early as March, the district is offering no guarantees.

"No water. No construction. It's a bad combination," said Borre Winckel, executive director of the Riverside County Building Industry Assn., which has seen a dramatic decrease in requests for building permits.....

actually, it's a good combination...slowing growth will save California from people who don't get that this state's natural resources are limited...every new development project should be subject to water supply analysis.. IT SHOULD BE THE LAW!!

quagga Mussel Fear spreads like california wildfire...

and other fishy stories...

"On another note, almost ALL the waters I fish have Zebra mussels, gobys, and Eurasian Milfoil,all exotic, invasive species, and none of them are doing too bad. Lake Erie, Western Finger lakes, and Onedia lake are as good as they have ever been if not better, I think people are WAY over reacting to this."

"This Zebra Mussels hysteria broke out in Virginia in the early 90's. At the NI river reservior in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, they did boat hull inspections and lectured everyone about transplanting mussels. I read about them in Bassmasters and in newspaper articles. Well the hysteria died down and they gave up doing inspections after a few years."

"But here's the real kicker to this whole thing;
EBMUD would like everyone to believe that all of their actions are simply because "they care about the general public and their water supply sytems"..... But in reality, EBMUD has always resented the fact that they "were forced" to let the general public use these waters for recreational purposes, in the first place.
You have to understand that in California, water sales are a HUGE multi-million dollar business, where recreational fishing is just a little, almost worthless thing that happens as a consequence, in a healthy body of water.
Their has been many years of fueding and resentment, between EBMUD, and the the fishing concessionaires. {they have always taken out their frustrations on the people who run the fishing operations}

And now, in the minds of EBMUD, they "finally" they have a reason that will resonate with the general public, which is, "We are doing this to protect YOU, and to save YOU millions of dollars" !
So, where before, the general public protected us, it's likely that they will now stomp us right out"

Lake Casistas to be Closed? Is Cachuma next?? Invasive species hysteria strikes AGAIN!! Is the quagga mussel a real problem or is the brain conjuring up more exotic demons?

The SB County board of supes minus Wolf and Carbajal, voted to delay any action to close Lake Cachuma to outside boats. There was a lot of public comment..the folks from the Goleta water board were most concerned, almost hysterical, about the quagga mussel. Their lawyer stated we are under attack from a foreign invader..a freshwater mussel!! This is the same mindset that sanctioned the killing of thousands of plants and animals on the Channel Islands..in the name of bionativism..how much more money is going to be wasted on this phony science?? You simply cannot remove all the species that frighten you..NATURE WILL NOT ALLOW IT! Rational approaches to control are needed, not fear-mongering...

UPDATE:

Cachuma decision... the Santa Barbara County BOS decided to take a measured instead of hysterical approach to the quagga mussel "threat"..instead of shutting down the lake to outside boats, the board outlined a few rules that boaters must follow before recreating in the lake...Casitas Water Board, are you listening??

The board of the Casitas Municipal Water voted 3-2 to close Lake Casitas for one year to outside boats. This in an attempt to control the alleged threat from Quagga mussels...a fear based reaction... UPDATE: after some consideration, they will allow outside boats, but will have an entry protocol, much like SB County...good!

CARP VALLEY WATER DISTRICT

"the bottom line is the ranch would not have sold unless water was available for the multimillion dollar ranchettes"

was the water tank in the foothills installed for development, or water quality purposes?

Cater Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Will Affect Carpinteria..

Cathy Taylor, from the City of Santa Barbara, gave an excellent presentation to the CVWD board. The special meeting was held at city hall and televised. Cathy outlined the possible options for the future of water treatment in our area. Since the City SB and Carp draw from the same source, Lake Cahuma, we have to share the cost burden of upgrades at the Cater Water Treatment plant. It looks as though Cater will be switching to an ozone disinfection process in the future.

Currently, chlorine is used but has a habit of combining with water constituents to form by-products, one of which is trihalomethanes, an alleged carcinogen. The principal source in our drinking water supply is the reaction of chlorine added for disinfection with the natural humic substances usually present in surface water. Water treatment plants do their best to remove the substances by various processes, but the EPA says enough remain to be problematic... but is it really a significant problem?

what is OZONE?

The EPA is attempting to insure safe and reliable drinking water. They make laws and regulations that the water agencies have to abide by. However, some regulation quality standards are nearly impossible to meet. When the board tells the citizens it needs to comply with a rule that requires water to have no more that 80 parts per billion of a certain constituent, most folks eyes glaze over.

It seems to me the water agencies need to band together and question some of these regs instead of obediently following the EPA mandates..it is getting TOO EXPENSIVE to treat water!

Altho I'm often a critic of some of the Board decisions, things seem to be getting better, communication-wise. However, it seems whenever a public meeting is held, a rate increase is bound to follow!

The three biggest mysteries of life:

Gas prices
Carp Valley water rates
Carpinteria weather

WHAT?! LOWER WATER RATES!?!?

The Carpinteria Valley Water District will hold a public meeting regarding new, lower water rates! Wednesday, March 5th/7:00pm at city hall. Apparently, the district is getting the message about our over the top water rates. They have come up with a new calculation plan to shift the cost burden to heavier users..this should be interesting...

Well, it wasn't that interesting. Charles Hamilton explained the new proposed rate structure, but it 's still got a lot of twists and turns...SIMPLIFY PLEASE! The CVWD has a huge debt, and we all have to pay for it. The staff is working on ways to reduce the debt. One solution is to get rid of some of our state water obligation...they are still working on that. The rate structure change will reduce water bills on condos and mobile home parks and shift costs to hotels and motels. We should have a letter concerning all this in about a month. Is it time for the City of Carpinteria and the Carp Water district to consolidate? Does that idea have any economic benefit to the ratepayers?

more later...

CARP WATER BOARD LATEST:

When all was said and done, the board voted to raise our water rates...again. Some of the things we are paying for:

	a steelhead recovery scam at Lake Cachuma/Bradbury Dam...Carpinteria is paying for fish ladders at Lake Cachuma??!! an entity called Cachuma Conservation Release Board CCRB is a bunch of scientists and biologists sitting around figuring out ways to spend your money!!
	an unneeded water tank at Rancho Monte Alegre
	the state water project

**************************************

MWD Starts Fluoridation of Water Supply

Uh Oh..the tooth Nazis have struck again..using the water supply to forcibly treat dental problems! Using that outdated logic, why not throw in vitamins and prozac, too?

We can keep people happy, healthy and they'll have nice teeth!

more

*********************

Refilling and reusing plastic bottles can release toxic cancer-causing chemicals

Dear EarthTalk: Are the rumors true that refilling and reusing some types of plastic bottles can cause health problems?
-- Regina Fujan, Lincoln, NE

Most types of plastic bottles are safe to reuse at least a few times if properly washed with hot soapy water. But recent revelations about chemicals in Lexan (plastic #7) bottles are enough to scare even the most committed environmentalists from reusing them (or buying them in the first place).

Pot vs Booze

I'm no pothead, but, the feds need to stay out of the state's business....

It seems you can't pick up a newspaper without reading about another death from drunk driving. Yet, the feds are busy killing marijuana plants in the back country and trying to snuff out pot dispensaries, completely ignoring the bigger problem..ALCOHOL! The barrage of ads touting the wonders of being drunk and cool are helping sell a very dangerous drug to the masses. But it's ok because it is legal to drink..that's the wisdom espoused by our so-called leaders.

Growing up, I had my share of alcohol mixed with youth and stupidity, but there comes a point where you just have to grow up! Drinking doesn't solve A THING..in fact, if you rely on booze for dulling the pain or reality, you will never be able to evolve into an adult who can manage, soberly, everything life throws your way. Of course, once you realize this, life becomes a joyous thing, even with all the BS!

Pot is another matter..it should be legal. It should be dispensed by prescription in a pharmacy like a million other drugs we take to "help" us..however, the neocon feds have politicized it as an evil outgrowth from the 1960s..even though the hilarious movie "Reefer Madness" was produce in the 1930s! folks have been smoking pot long before the 1960s.

If pot reduces pain in someone with cancer, then it is LEGAL in my book.

Drug education should be started from day one, that is, if mommy and daddy can put down the martini glass long enough....

and start investigating all those drug ads on TV...

$$$

Congress Probes Doctor's Role in Drug Ad

By STEPHANIE SAUL,

The New York Times

Posted: 2008-02-07 14:05:03

(Feb. 7) - Dr. Robert Jarvik is best known for the artificial heart he pioneered more than a quarter-century ago. Since then he had toiled in relative obscurity -- until he began appearing in television ads two years ago for the Pfizer cholesterol drug Lipitor.

The ads have depicted him, among other outdoorsy pursuits, rowing a one-man racing shell swiftly across a mountain lake. "When diet and exercise aren't enough, adding Lipitor significantly lowers cholesterol," Dr. Jarvik says in the ad.

more

Other Drug Facts

*********************************************************

Mary Easley coordinated a program to teach young teens.

A real educator in North Carolina gets serious about drug education:

It's About Time!!

Fear-Based Environmentalism

effluent to the ocean..nothing to fear

Heal the Ocean at best wants to protect the ocean environment. At worst, it seeks money from private sources to do redundant water quality tests. Case in point: HTO received nearly half a million dollars to test the Montecito Wastewater plant's outfall discharge. Nevermind that the effluent is already tested as part of the state discharge permit. HTO is looking for a smoking pollution gun. The fact is they think it is harmful to discharge treated wastewater into the ocean.

If there were no treatment plants, then they would be right. However, the reason the beaches are safe for swimming is BECAUSE of the treatment plants. Treatment plants,

thru various mechanical and biological steps, render sewage into recycleable byproducts..that is a biological fact. The problem is the stigma. Wastewater professionals have been working for years to end the misconception that waste is bad or unnatural. Waste is what it is! There is a definite psychological barrier that can't accept that fact. People treat it to render it harmless to the environment..that's what hard science has given us. Excreta NEEDS to be treated, and it is. The emotional response is to demonize and fear OUR OWN BODILY FUNCTIONS..thus, groups like Heal the Ocean are created....the water, my friends, is fine!!

surfers at Santa Claus beach

The houses around the Carpinteria Salt Marsh to Santa Claus Lane to Padaro Lane are on septic tanks..there are no beach water quality issues here! No surfers getting sick, no dolphins washing up on shore dead..the very idea of septic tanks scares Heal the Ocean! A properly maintained tank should cause no fear... the problem is there are too many monster beach houses being developed here!!

rincon septic to sewer poop hits fan

down to the wire...vote set for annexation

and these keep cropping up...

HEALTH ADVISORY: Pismo State Beach in Oceano

Posted: Nov 14, 2007 05:27 PM PST

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Reported by: Tina Leonard

OCEANO

A local beach is under a health advisory.

The San Luis Obispo County Health Department is warning folks to stay out of the waters at Pismo State Beach in Oceano, at Pier Avenue.

A high level of bacteria is present.

The water will be re-tested tomorrow.

and what will the tests reveal? a low level of bacteria? how about some questions to the folks running these tests? why do the bacteria levels fluctuate daily? aren't bacteria everywhere, always? what happens if I swim on a "high bacteria" day? Isn't this all overkill? Is the local wastewater plant violating its discharge permit? If not, where are the bacteria coming from? perhaps the ocean community (fish, sharks, mammals) are causing the high numbers?

Two Trees...

a Eucalyptus and Sycamore living together peacefully..positive proof that bionativism is a psychological rather than ecological problem!

thank god for tree huggers!

Do Trees have Hearts?

Water, Water, Everywhere

Beach Report Cards?? Grade School Environmental Alarmists Spread the FEAR!

don't forget to ASK WHAT THE NUMBERS REALLY MEAN!!

The best way to tell if the ocean is unsafe to swim in is to use YOUR senses...

	sight..how does it look? is there trash, needles, doodoo washing up on shore? How are the pelicans, shorebirds, crabs, fish and dolphins reacting. Are they dying and washing up on shore in huge numbers No? then proceed to have fun in the surf! A few dolphins and whales washing up on shore is normal..we all die!! If no dolphins die, then I could walk to the Channel Islands on their backs!
	smell..does it smell like an ocean? Good!
	Sound....waves breaking on the shoreline is the most wonderful sound you'll ever hear!
	touch..walk into the water and touch it..is there anything better?

So there you have it: be a real environmentalist and not an alarmist! Take care of the sea and it will take care of you...

The Birds and the dogs..who's responsible for those high bacteria numbers? Not leaky sewer pipes!

************

Heal the Bay...

Does HTB exaggerate their self-importance with claims of "essential water quality information" they provide to " millions of Californians..sounds like a good way to keep donations coming in.

Heal the Bay's 17th Annual Beach Report Card^SM provides essential water quality information to the millions of people who swim, surf, or dive in California coastal waters. Essential reading for ocean users, the report card grades over 350 locations year-round (492 locations in dry weather from April to October) on an A–F scale based on the risk of adverse health effects to beachgoers. The grades are based on daily and weekly fecal bacteria pollution levels in the surfzone. The program has evolved from an annual review of beaches in Santa Monica Bay to weekly updates of all monitored beaches throughout California.

What do the high bacteria numbers actually mean?? Whatever you think they mean! It's a battle between psychology and science!

Due to the testing procedures, irregularities are common, esp in the coliform tests..samples can be contaminated in a number of ways giving false results.

If someone from Heal the Bay is walking up and down the beach warning you not to go in the water, view him with extreme skepticism!

Water quality tests are done all the time. They are required as a permit function by the State Water Quality Resources Control Board for water and wastewater treatment plants. The results of the tests are available on monthly and yearly reports. There is no grading system. However, if a plant consistently violates a condition of the permit, it is $$fined$$ until violations cease.

Some tests are more meaningful than others. A very simple test to detect chlorine in your tap water is to SMELL IT! Also, you can get a test kit and drop a reagent in a sample of water..if the water turns pink or purple, then a CL2 residual is present. Instead of drinking then water, you can use it to bleach out stains in your laundry!

Now, what are these tests by Heal the Ocean, Heal the Bay and other environmental alarmists?? COLIFORM BACTERIA COUNT!! The scariest little bugger to creep into the mind of a pseudo-environmentalist. Theoretically, if the coliform in your beach water sample is "high", then pollution is indicated. You see, the coliform bacteria hangs out in the intestine of warm blooded creatures, like me and you. They also hang out almost EVERYWHERE ELSE! Fecal coliform is a more focused test that indicates doo doo pollution. Now, think of all the waste in the ocean. From birds, dogs, ships, whales, fish, man, rivers, etc.

what does all this mean?? It means "let's go swimmin!"

Let me illustrate with some science-speak from some monitoring websites:

These results suggest that total and fecal coliform levels are controlled principally by the phase of the tide. Enterococci seem to be controlled more by the day-night cycle. However, we cannot definitively separate the two effects because the hourly sampling programs were separated by about two weeks. Hence, night samples always are taken on the larger ebb tide. Also, without reliable information as to the die-off rate of the different bacterial indicators under the prevailing light, temperature, and salinity conditions, we cannot say how the temporal patterns are influenced by the bacterial life span.

From 2000 through 2003, these beaches were monitored for three types of fecal indicator bacteria: fecal coliform, E. coli, and enterococci. Analysis of the bacteria data from these four years indicated that fecal coliform and E. coli in waters are closely related, with E. coli being approximately 94% of fecal coliform. For this reason, fecal coliform was dropped from the monitoring program in 2004 and the state-owned beach samples were monitored for E.

A single sample above the guidelines does not prove that your health is at risk. There are many factors, such as heavy rain, dogs, birds, or even seaweed that can affect a single result. The median for the whole bathing season is a sustained and more reliable test.

The tests that "Heal the Bay" do are overkill and notorious for bad results and lab errors! Watch out for the Environmental Nannies who ask you for money! The biggest threat to the beach is litter and too many neurotic dogs crapping on the sand and in the water!

fact: The waters of the Pacific Ocean are already grossly unsuitable for human consumption. They contain highly toxic (to humans) amounts of salt and smaller quantities of almost every element and compound — hazardous and beneficial — known to man. Also present are an untold number of bacteria, including various dangerous ones from the intestinal tracts of land and sea animals. In fact, if it’s poisonous and exists anywhere on Earth, it’s in the ocean. SO STOP THIS SILLY TALK ABOUT "PRISTINE OCEANS"..

Now

A beach front community with septics in Santa Barbara is being pressured to hook up to sewers, because a study found about 80 human fecal coliforms per 100 ml in the lagoon water. Sounds awful, whatever it means. But what it means is there was a half-teaspoon of human feces in the 30,000 or so gallons of the lagoon. All the feces for the duration of the study could have come from one disposable diaper, and not from the septics at all. Millions of dollars might be spent on sewer connections for no benefit.

A study which turned up 84,000 fecal coliform bacteria per 100 ml of kitchen sink water did not consider the possibility that indicators were multiplying and there wasn't really that much feces (or pathogens) in the water. If they realized this equates to about a teaspoon a day of feces down the kitchen sink, they might have paused to consider if this much poop was really being dumped in the kitchen sink. But based on this study, the law did not allow kitchen sink water greywater systems, but it might be OK in reality.

Santa Ynez Valley Vintners Killing Deer??

hunting is fine, killing to save grapes is not

I heard a rumor that the SYV vintners are poisoning or shooting deer that mess with their grapes! I hope not. The vintners understand the benefits of weeds ( weeds can also provide some benefits if carefully managed. They can provide erosion control on steep hillsides. Weeds can keep the dust down, especially along roadsides, and can also improve soil structure by adding organic matter, providing root channels and exuding soil stabilizing gums, all of which can improve water infiltration.)

So that's good! Maybe they will discover the benefits of wildlife before too long. Unfortunately, wine growing is a big money maker and grapes have a long list of enemies that farmers want to control with poison.

Wildlife is part of the California landscape..plants and animals are not nuisances or afterthoughts..be very careful when you try to control them as unintended consequences are often the result of man's misguided approach

Let's see how this unfolds..........

Spill the wine...

practicing alcoholics "sip" wine with other practicing and performing alcoholics in little wine tasting rooms scattered about the county..some come by car, some by bus to drink..what a silly way to spend time!

How much extra does that cost taxpayers to patrol the affected roadways?

Grant to Help CHP Battle Wine Tasting Drunks

'The government grants $750 Billion in free government grants each year. Free is an interesting and ignorant choice of words, of course. This money is not free. Take a look at your paycheck stub and you will see who pays for these 'free' handouts. The winos are merely facilitating the exchange of money from your pocket into the pockets of others, via the government.

Arlington West

Arlington west drives it home..this war invasion has been a disaster! Visit just once and you will be changed for the better.... some folks claim the crosses are anti-war propaganda...the USS Reagan, therefore, must be pro war propaganda... of course it is... Dennis Miller said as he entertained the ship's troops at the Bacara.."I like Bush and Cheney 'cos they go after the bad guys and keep me safe"..simplistic nonsense as we've killed thousands of innocent Iraqis in a wild goose chase for "terrorists", something our military should never be used for... bottom line..war is all about destruction and ignorance. Real threats to America should be met with deadly force..no problem with that...

Since the invasion, we've got nothing to be proud of....

9 Iraqi Civilians Accidentally Killed

By LAUREN FRAYER,

Posted: 2008-02-04 11:02:55

Filed Under: Iraq News, World News

BAGHDAD (Feb. 4) - The U.S. military said Monday it accidentally killed nine Iraqi civilians during an operation targeting al-Qaida in Iraq — the deadliest known case of mistaken identity in recent months.

In northern Iraq, Turkish warplanes on Monday bombed some 70 Kurdish rebel targets, the Turkish military said. It was the fifth aerial attack against Kurdish rebel bases there in two months.

The Iraqi civilians were killed Saturday near Iskandariyah, 30 miles south of the Iraqi capital, Navy Lt. Patrick Evans told The Associated Press. Three wounded civilians were taken to U.S. military hospitals nearby, he said.