Yearly Archives: 2004

Back To School

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Photo by Wokandapix, pixabay.com.

(To the tune of “Can, can, can you do the cancan”)

Can, can, can you pay attention

Do I have to mention

Everything I said I’ll say again

Can you hear me?

Listening is good for you

Pay attention

Maybe you’ll learn something new

– Song played after recess in a third-grade classroom at Santa Barbara Community Academy

If learning, as some experts claim, is about attention and repetition, what happens during the longest recess of all – summer vacation?

While research measuring the effectiveness of year-round schools vs. traditional calendars is inconclusive, parents, students and educators at year-round schools all said they think children learn better when they have shorter breaks.

“I find that they come back refreshed. Having only a couple weeks (off) they pick things up pretty quickly. I really like that,” said Heather Nicolas, who teaches third grade at Santa Barbara Community Academy.

“… Not only just remembering the facts and the educational academic aspects, but remembering how to be in a classroom, how to behave … you have to do your homework and you have to sit and listen for different parts of the day,” said Erin Cavazos, whose son is a third-grader at the academy.

Children, too, think they learn better.

“It’s easier to remember stuff because it’s not such a long break,” said Leo Adame, a fourth-grader at the academy.

They also recognize the behavioral benefits.

“You have to remember how to behave even though it’s only a three-week break, you still have to remember,” said Nayelhi Romerez, an academy sixth-grader.

While most local children won’t be heading back to school until after Labor Day, the academy is well into its summer session. Along with Cleveland School, it’s one of two year-round elementary schools in our area.

“The advantages are mainly for the students,” said academy principal Joan Jamieson. “Especially students that are at risk. They don’t have a chance to forget things. … The very best thing also is for English learners, they get a chance to get continuing reinforcement of that second language without losing it over a long break.”

A school of choice, meaning that any student in the Santa Barbara Elementary District can attend, the academy has other things that distinguish it, along with the year-round curriculum.

“The founding principles were core knowledge, year-round, uniforms, parent participation; those are probably the four cornerstones of the program,” said Jamieson.

While it’s not surprising that parents like the uniforms, some of the kids do, too.

The uniforms are good, said Leo. “Less clothes to wash,” he explained.

But not all of the children were fans of the regular blue and white and plaid outfits.

“I don’t like it,” said fifth-grader Camisha West.

“You don’t get to wear your cool shirts like this shirt,” said third-grader Destin Cavazos, pointing to his after-school dinosaur duds.

Parents are required to work at the school for six hours per quarter, with a variety of activities available to accommodate different schedules.

“I love the parent involvement,” said Valerie Banks, who has twins in the fifth grade. “I think education has to be with parents and teachers and children all together.”

Banks, an Eastside resident, took her children out of Vieja Valley School two years ago to attend the academy.

“I was equally happy with Vieja Valley, but … it was kind of a trek. The academy was more convenient for me and I really like the year round thing,” Banks said. “We have some excellent teachers, they’re great. They’re really consistent with the kids and I really like that. Parents are much more hands-on.”

Even single parents, like Teresa Culhain, who has two children and works two jobs, like the emphasis on parent participation.” I think it’s good,” she said. “Parents should be involved. … It is first and foremost the parents’ responsibility to know what’s going on with the teachers and at school.”

Cavazos agreed. “The parents are part of the school community, which I think makes a parent feel … like your child is wanted and the people there want to teach your children and they want to be a community within the larger community.”

–

So You Think You Know Your ABC’s…

By SALLY CAPPON and LESLIE DINABERG

A — Adams School begins technology education in kindergarten. By the time students leave Adams they have a keyboarding fluency of around 35 words per minute.

B — Backpacks. Studies show the average student carries about 22 percent of his or her weight in a backpack. The recommended maximum: 15 percent.

C — Cell Phones are now a common sight on school campuses.

D — Ding Dongs. Want to be popular at lunchtime? Bring along extras of these chocolate-covered cream-filled treats.

E — E-mail is now the preferred communication method for many teachers.

F — Free Lunch. More than 4,000 low-income students in Santa Barbara County received free lunches last year.

G — Groundhog Job Shadow Day, in which students shadow local professionals in the field of their choice, will kick off Feb. 2.

H — Hollister School students enjoy a fabulous art program, which culminates in an art show and a spring chalk drawing festival.

I — Isla Vista School has 17 different languages spoken in its student body.

J — Junior Highs on the South Coast include Carpinteria Middle School, Goleta Valley Junior High, La Colina Junior High, La Cumbre Junior High, Santa Barbara Charter Middle School and Santa Barbara Junior High.

K — Kellogg School’s playground was resurfaced this summer.

L — Lunch Boxes. Spider-Man, Barbie, the Power Puff Girls and Yu-Gi-Oh are among this year’s most popular designs.

M — McKinley School’s close proximity to Santa Barbara City College helps provide lots of classroom volunteers.

N — No. 2 Pencils. Get them out; we’re going to have a pop quiz.

O — Open Alternative School has its own organic garden.

P — Partners in Education is a group of local businesspeople working together with educators to support our schools.

Q — Quarter. Milk used to be nickel at school, but now it’s a quarter most places.

R — Recess. The highlight of our day.

S — School Supplies. Pee Chee folders, Elmer’s Glue and lined paper are among the list of school supply essentials.

T — Teacher’s Fund, administered by Village Properties, provides grants to teachers for specific school projects.

U — UCSB’s Gervitz Graduate School of Education has credentialed many local teachers, counselors and administrators.

V — Vending Machines. Last year there was a move to put healthier food selections in school vending machines.

W — Westmont College is known, among other things, for having great babysitters.

X — X-ing Guards help students cross streets safely.

Y — Year-Round Schools. There are two on the South Coast, Cleveland School and the Santa Barbara Community Academy.

Z — ZZZZZ … No sleeping in class!

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on August 12, 2004.

Regional coordination sought for challenges

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A new report says jobs, housing and transportation issues need a unified response.

While the jobs-housing-congestion dynamic is hardly new news to anyone who travels Highway 101 during commuter hours, a new report is actually the first official study to tackle the situation on a broad, regional basis and lay out actions to take.

“What really differentiates it is its broader geographic perspective,” said John Jostes, a public policy specialist who led the Santa Barbara County/Ventura County panel that compiled the report, “Taking Action Regionally.”

“What we discovered is that the level of communication between Ventura agencies, communities, nonprofits and government and Santa Barbara’s (counterparts) is almost nonexistent,” Jostes said.

As a result, individual community policies and actions are having unintended detrimental effects, collectively.

The study has a series of recommendations in seven different areas, including advancing housing policy that reflects regional priorities, integrating regional thinking into job creation and economic development, and legislative advocacy for change.

As to the next step, Jostes said he thinks the report was well received by the powers that be.

“But whether anything comes of it is another story,” he said. “That’s where the political leadership and the community leadership comes in.”

The city of Santa Barbara has already initiated work to get some financial resources for the continuation of the effort, said Gregg Hart, a former councilman who is now the spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, one of the key players. “If that is successful, the plan is to then go to the city of Ventura to talk about their interest, etc.

“(Report team member) Jim Youngson has been using the analogy of a campfire,” Hart continued. “Looking for kindling and starting seeds to get a fire going. If the city of Santa Barbara really embraces this sort of a kindling approach … then it will continue.”

Asked if there were state-level funds available to continue the work, Jostes said there might be.

“That’s one of the things I think everybody would like to see, but it’s a regional problem,” he said. “In order to attract the interest and the resources that the state has to offer, it’s crucial that western Ventura and Santa Barbara County start acting like a region. That means talking about the collective problems that face us all.”

The full report, “Taking Action Regionally,” can be viewed online at www.sbcag.org.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on August 12, 2004.

Cottage housing plan causes conflicts

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While some neighbors are still leery, city planners last week praised Cottage Health System‘s plan to build workforce housing on the site of the old St. Francis Medical Center, which it purchased for about $18 million last year.

The purpose of the three-hour plus meeting was to outline which environmental impacts should be studied, but comments from the public were much further reaching, with equally passionate opponents and proponents of the project.

Neighbor Frank Hernandez offered praise for both the project itself and the public review process. “This is one of the better experiences I’ve had in Santa Barbara,” he said. “This is an excellent way to use seven acres.”

Cottage plans to build 115 units for its workers, with 81 of them sold at below-market rates. The remaining 34 market rate units are required in order for us to be able to afford construction of the project, said Cottage’s Chief Executive Officer Ron Werft in his presentation of the project.

These market rate units were of some concern to neighbor Jennifer Miller. “If it was 100 percent Cottage, I’d feel a lot more comfortable supporting it,” she said.

Traffic and parking are also big issues in the neighborhood and many urged the environmental report to take the County Bowl into consideration, as well as the unique situation of having at least 81 Cottage employees living in the same place. While a shuttle service is being planned for the development, the city and the hospital have not yet come up with a way to enforce its use by employees.

Throughout the meeting, the six planning commissioners expressed that they thought the project was a good one, but that the environmental report should look at impacts related to construction, noise, traffic, parking and circulation.

“The general concept of a major employer taking advantage of an opportunity like this is just phenomenal,” said commissioner Grant House. “It’s a way to take a bite out of it (the housing crisis) instead of just a nibble.”

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on August 5, 2005.

Some do want to get away for Fiesta

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Old Spanish Days Fiesta Parade, photo by Damian Gadal, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta Parade, photo by Damian Gadal, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

There are plenty of sanctuaries within driving distance.

Santa Barbarans have a love/hate relationship with Fiesta. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of people and a lot of festivities to deal with for four days straight. If you start to feel like one more chorus of “La Bamba” will put you over the edge, read on for some cures for Fiesta fever.

The charms of Los Olivos are just a short drive away. For those who haven’t visited lately, Grand Avenue is indeed grand. Stop by the always delightful Persnickity (2900 Grand Ave.; 686.8955) for a wonderful selection of gift items, including vintage linens, birdhouses, ladies dresses and more.

Also worth a look are the Gallery Los Olivos (2920 Grand Ave.; 688.7517), which represents more than 40 regional artists, and the two Judith Hale Galleries (north at 2890 Grand Ave.; 688.1222, and south at 2884 Grand Ave.; 693.1233), an eclectic mix of Western and traditional artwork in all media, including bronze and stone sculpture, woodcarvings and jewelry.

Featuring the works of Santa Barbara artist Merv Corning, among others, is Young’s Gallery (2920 Grand Ave.; 688.9745), which specializes in original watercolors, oils and calligraphy.

A must for wine aficionados is the Arthur Earl tasting room (2921 Grand Ave.; 693.1771). Winner of the South Coast Beacon’s Savor Santa Barbara “people’s choice” tasting, this small winery produces only about 2500 cases a year.

Another small-yield vintner worth checking out is Andrew Murray Vineyards Tasting Room (2901 Grand Ave.; 686.9604), the only exclusively Rhone estate in Santa Barbara County.

Los Olivos Cafe & Wine Merchant (2879 Grand Ave.; 688.7265) is great. The food is excellent and there’s also a nice selection of local wines by the glass and bottles to purchase.

Grand Avenue even has a four-star restaurant, the Vintage Room at Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa (2860 Grand Ave.; 688.7788.

After a visit to Los Olivos, you might want to go north to the Chumash Casino (3400 E. Highway 246), where there’s free live music every Friday and Saturday night, as well as a new resort hotel and spa.

Solvang, “the Danish capital of America,” is certainly an alternative to Old Spanish Days. No visit is complete without an aebleskiver — the Danish equivalent of the ubiquitous churro — available at any of the many bakeries in town. For theater fans, the PCPA features Bullshot Crummond, a takeoff on old “B” movies, running through Sunday. Call 922.8313 for ticket information and showtimes.

Nearby is Trattoria Grappalo (3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez; 688.6899) with its mouth-watering pastas and extensive wine list. If you’re feeling like a different kind of dining experience, the Chef’s Touch’s cooking class Saturday is “Married and Bored … Go to Dinner!” which features Thai food preparation and a meal. The cost is $45. Call 686.1040 for reservations.

For those looking to escape south, rather than north, there’s the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp in Oxnard (at the River Ridge Athletic Field on the corner of Ventura Road and Vineyard Avenue) from 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.

The Ventura County Fair is going on through Aug. 15 at Seaside Park (10 W. Harbor Blvd., 648.3376). There are arts and crafts, food, farm animals, carnival rides and games, a petting zoo and more. Events in the grandstand arena are free with admission and include Motorsports at 6 p.m. today; Brad Paisley, at 7:30 p.m. Friday; the Village People at 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and … guess you can’t truly escape it … Fiesta Day at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on August 5, 2004.

History On Parade

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Old Spanish Days Fiesta Parade, photo by Damian Gadal, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta Parade, photo by Damian Gadal, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Along a route of less than three miles, El Desfile Histórico makes a colorful connection to Santa Barbara’s past.

Friday’s Old Spanish Days parade is always one of the highlights of Santa Barbara’s annual Fiesta festivities.

El Desfile Histórico, themed as “a celebration of early Santa Barbara,” will be the fruit of hundreds of hours of volunteer labor. About 800 horses, 30 carriages and as many as 20 floats will line up for the parade this year, according Kelly Magne, vice presidente of pageantry.

Because it’s Fiesta’s 80th anniversary, the parade will be a re-creation of the 1924 event, with every float either representing a 1924 float or something that existed in Santa Barbara in that year, said float chairman Marc Martinez. There will be floats depicting the 1924 Courthouse (which was later destroyed in an earthquake), City Hall, the Arlington Hotel, El Patio Restaurant (the precursor to El Paseo) and other historic buildings, events and figures.

Creating the Boys & Girls Club

Club of Santa Barbara’s Chumash village float was both fun and educational for the young art camp participants who researched the different elements of Chumash life, then designed and built the float from the ground up. One end of the elaborate float will feature two Chumash huts.

“We started with bamboo poles, but it didn’t work,” said Mitchell Cunningham, a Notre Dame School seventh-grader who helped build the float. “The bamboo looked good but it burst.”

“So we used authentic Chumash PVC pipe,” laughed Ingrid Bodnar, lead teacher for the project.

Fellow art teacher Lise Lange also contributed leaves from her yard to build the authentic-looking huts. The finished project will portray a seaside village, complete with sand, waves and Chumash grinding maize and going about their daily lives.

Also featured will be the club’s flamenco dancers, said executive director Erin Cavazos. They have new costumes this year, she noted, thanks to money donated by the alumni association.

St. Barbara is also getting a new look this year, said Dolores Hartnett of Reina Del Mar Parlor No. 126, Native Daughters of the Golden West, who’s been involved with the parade for “50 years at least.”

“We just rebuilt our float from the ground up … it’s going to be great for St. Barbara (portrayed by Marisol Cabrera) to ride,” said Hartnett. While all of the floats were drawn by horses at one time, St. Barbara is the only float drawn by horses now.

A new addition to the parade is the Fiesta Queen and her court, said Martinez. In the 1924 parade they held a queen competition as a fundraiser, where the girl who raised the most money won and had the honor of being led to the float by flower boys, a tradition that will be re-created this year, he said.

The queen will be portrayed by Diana Vandervoort, with princesses Thea Vandervoort, Jazz and Paisley Moralez, Marianne Freeman, Cari Kendric and Donna Egeberg.

The coming together of the whole parade is a work of art, said Magne, especially the horses.

“We have a full team of equestrians there that are making sure all the horses are under control and prepared. … It’s been an amazingly safe parade because of the skill of our team,” she said, giving special kudos to equestrian director Wayne Powers.

Besides being one of the country’s largest equestrian parades, it is also a qualifying parade to ride a horse in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day, said Magne.

“Riding a horse in a parade is no easy task,” she said. “You need a lot of training and lot of years of experience to ride in noisy crowds.”

The equestrians are definitely big supporters of Fiesta and Old Spanish Days thanks them with a party, the Horsemen’s Rendezvous, said Magne, adding, “They usually stay one or two nights. It’s great because they spend their money here. We like that.”

“This is probably the best parade we’ve had in at least 20 years,” said Martinez, whose father, Abe, was the former float master. “I used his hammer to build many of the floats this year. It feels like he’s still with me.”

As directors, we’re only the caretakers, continued Martinez.

“It’s been the people, the families, that have kept it (Fiesta) alive to make this 80th anniversary,” he said.

“The parade is the signature event that makes everything work.”

The Fiesta Parade begins at the corner of Cabrillo Boulevard and Castillo Street at noon Friday and will continue for two-and-a-half miles, ending at the corner of State and Sola streets.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on August 5, 2004.

McMansions cause McConflicts

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A "McMansion" being built in Louisville, Kentucky. From https://flickr.com/photos/merfam/174212265/ courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

A “McMansion” being built in Louisville, Kentucky. From https://flickr.com/photos/merfam/174212265/ courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

“Good fences make good neighbors.”

Robert Frost’s well-known line from “Mending Wall,” written about his 1913 England neighborhood, still holds up in 21st century Santa Barbara, where the City Council approved a plan on Tuesday to almost triple the size of an 806-square-foot home on the Mesa, thrilling one family and devastating another.

Although the debate centered around Hans and Ginny Miller’s request to remodel their home at 221 San Clemente Drive, at the core of the discussion was a larger community dilemma that both neighbors and city leaders are struggling with — mansionization or expansionization of once modest tract homes.

Often selling for over $1 million, one-bathroom houses built in the 1950s are being converted into two-story contemporary homes with multiple bedrooms and baths. Some see this type of change as inevitable. “It’s a natural occurrence that people who can now afford lots on the Mesa want bigger homes,” said Arlie Skov, who lives on Shoreline Drive.

Other neighbors spoke of buying their small homes with the intention of growing their houses. “Families need room to grow,” that Roger Moore, a neighbor who spoke in support of the project.

While one of the arguments against second story expansions is the infringement on neighbors’ privacy, Jennifer Moore spoke of the charms of close proximity. “My neighbor to the right has a two-story house that looks down into our backyard. She comments on how quickly our puppy is growing. Children of other neighbors ride bikes and trikes up and down our sidewalk, none of this infringes on our privacy. This defines the neighborhood.”

However, not everyone supports the changes. While the Miller’s next-door neighbors, Jason and Sarah Dodds, brought the appeal to the Council, they had the support of several neighbors and neighborhood groups.

“As difficult as it is for the Millers, it’s equally difficult for those of us trying to preserve our Santa Barbara lifestyle,” said Eric Schott, a neighbor and one of the members of the Marine Terrace Preservation Group, which is working to “stop the mansionization of the Mesa.”

The Allied Neighborhood Association, which represents a consortium of neighborhood groups from all over the city, was also against the project. The board of directors sent a letter to the city stating, “If the proposed project is constructed, it could establish a bad precedent for Marine Terrace that would result in further adverse impacts. … The proposed project would destroy the intactness and integrity of San Clemente Drive.”

Ultimately the majority of the City Council supported the project because of the extensive review process — which started in March 2003 — rather than the merits of the design itself.

“The applicants have been through too much,” said Councilman Brian Barnwell. “I support denying of the appeal but recognize the merits.”

Councilman Dr. Dan Secord agreed, saying at this point it would be inappropriate to ask the homeowners to do anything more because they had worked through the city process.

“This project kind of reminds me of the kid who got passed through school year after year, and, the next thing you know, he’s 18 and can’t read,” said Dr. Secord. Still, he was comfortable with it. “This is not a mansion.”

With Mayor Marty Blum absent, Councilman Das Williams cast the lone dissent, urging his colleagues to look at the bigger picture and the social costs of changing the character of the Mesa from working class to middle and upper class houses.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on June 29, 2004.

This is not your father’s homebuying crowd

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Generation Xers open a gap when it comes to real estate market trends

Once pigeonholed as “slackers,” members of Generation X are now in their mid-20s to mid-30s and having a significant impact on home buying and building trends. Although the high cost of housing on the South Coast makes it difficult for Gen Xers to break into the market, when they are able to buy — through IPO bonuses, good old fashioned savings, 100 percent financing, or help from mom and dad — they want different things than their parents did.

Quality is important. “They are happier with one good thing rather than three average things,” said Greg Nester, owner of Greg Nester Construction & Development and president of the Home Builders Association of the Central Coast.

Their dream house might be smaller than their parents’ house, but not necessarily less expensive.

“They want the best product they can get for the money they spend,” he said.

It’s all about value. This is a generation that has seen dot bombs and the stock market roller coaster. That uncertainty leads to more cautious spending.

“Where wealthy boomers might brag about how much they pay for something, Gen Xers relish talking about how much they managed to save — and that applies even to those in the top income brackets,” concluded a recent survey by marketing-strategy firm Reach Advisors.

Kara Rocque seems to agree.

“We started to think that maybe we don’t want something that’s too nice to have something that we can kind of fix up and make our own,” said the new Goleta homeowner.

Homes should fit their lifestyles. “Gen X are goers, they’re not sitting at home,” Nester said. “They come home in the evening and would prefer to have less of a burden as far as maintenance goes.” For example, they don’t’ want elaborate kitchens because they say they don’t cook that often, he said.

And when they are entertaining on the South Coast, it’s more often in the backyard than in a formal dining room.

“We want to have people come over and have barbeques,” Rocque said.

Flexible interior spaces. “They want media rooms and functional areas that replace the classic dining room and formal living rooms. Secondary to home theater and media rooms are rooms that are more computer and study oriented,” said Nester.

They’re also not afraid to embrace new styles like concrete countertops instead of traditional tile. Stained and glazed concrete floors are becoming more common as well as more modern plumbing fixtures. Xers like to be able to customize their living spaces, said Nester.

They’re not running to the ‘burbs. “Many Xers prefer inner city living. … They are purchasing properties that may have mixed use with retail below and a condo above for residential,” said Nester.

Being just blocks away from La Cumbre Plaza and Upper State Street stores is part of what made her new condominium in San Roque appealing to Cari Thomas. “Being able to walk places in the neighborhood is great,” she said

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on July 8, 2004.

Movies to make you feel good about America

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Once you’ve had your fill of fireworks this Fourth of July weekend, what better time to enjoy another one of America’s favorite traditions: the movies. While Hollywood has a long history of paying tribute to the nation’s glory, my personal list of feel-good favorites is about a lot more than just war and politics. Here is a completely subjective list of movies to get your patriotic juices flowing:


Baseball, the great American pastime, has inspired some fabulous films. I dare you not to get teary watching Field of Dreams, not to laugh out loud watching Bull Durham (written and directed by Santa Barbara son Ron Shelton) and not to feel inspired by A League of Their Own.

Baseball isn’t the only sport to inspire great movies. Until someone makes a movie about Bruin football, Notre Dame-set Rudy will certainly tug at your heartstrings. Almost a decade before joining the starting lineup in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sean Astin brought great spirit and drive to the role of Rudy, another vertically challenged hero.

I would also put Rocky in the major league of great sports films. Sylvester Stallone has never been more compelling than he was in this classic underdog story. A more recent contender is last summer’s Seabiscuit. I never imagined I could be so enthralled by a movie (or a book) about horseracing, but Seabiscuit is really a wonderful snapshot of American history.

Another favorite piece of U.S. history in the movies is Apollo 13. I also loved The Last of the Mohicans, though I’ll readily admit it had more to do with Daniel Day Lewis than the story itself.

In the political arena, there’s no better film than Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. In fact, for warm and fuzzy feelings about America’s ability to make great films, it’s hard to go wrong with anything directed by Frank Capra or starring Jimmy Stewart.

Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite war movies, along with From Here to Eternity. Great military performances include George C. Scott in Patton, Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July and of course, Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, where even if you don’t like the politics, you can revel in the wonder of free speech.

Not everyone is a fan of war movies. Pastor Denny Wayman, co-author of the Cinema in Focus column, had this to say: “Rather than films showing military courage, the films that bring me the greatest joy about my fellow Americans are those that reveal moral courage. One such film is the true story of the Amistad Africans with President John Quincy Adams defending the humanity of these people who were illegally captured and forced into slavery in the days before the Civil War. Another film is the true story of Sister Helen Prejean as she helped a young man confess his atrocious crimes and find peace with God moments before his death by lethal ejection in Dead Man Walking. Standing together to do what is morally and spiritually right is the best of American culture.”

Speaking of American culture, check out Walt Disney’s Fantasia, then marvel at the fact that it was made in 1940. Or revisit Toy Story, Star Wars and The Matrix for their artistic and technical merits. For a great overview of musicals, another favorite America genre, there’s always That’s Entertainment, parts one, two and three.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon

 

Gay marriage issue hits home

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Despite some initial reluctance by the Santa Barbara City Council to take the plunge into the national gay marriage debate, on Tuesday night they voted to adopt a resolution expressing opposition to President Bush’s proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting lesbian and gay couples from the right to marry.

“In a nation where it’s legal for Brittney Spears to get married as a joke in Vegas, and when Fox has shows like Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire, we should celebrate anytime two people get together who want to share that love and commitment under the institution of marriage,” said Councilwoman Helene Schneider, who voted 6-0 with her colleagues in favor of the resolution.

Councilman Dr. Dan Secord abstained from voting, having earlier expressed his opinion that the matter was out of the jurisdiction of the City Council.

Mayor Marty Blum initially said she agreed with Secord that the matter was not related to City Council business and suggested that it should be brought instead before the County, which has the authority to issue marriage licenses.

However, later in the discussion Blum said she supported freedom of choice and opposed any attempt to write discrimination into our constitution. “We need more commitments in this world, not less,” she added, eventually supporting the majority.

The issue of taking a stand on gay marriage was brought before the council at the request of the Pacific Pride Foundation, GaySantaBarbara.org and the Santa Barbara Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

“I don’t want this generation to be the first to see an amendment to the constitution that takes rights away,” said Mark Quinn, a board member of GaySantaBarbara.Org who recently married his partner.

We support same sex marriage and equal access, said Linda Tuomi, a board member of the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee.

The issue of same-sex marriage sparked national debate after counties in California, Massachusetts and other communities around the country began performing same-sex marriages.

There was also some debate at Tuesday’s meeting. Both Dr. Patricia Stewart, a local dermatologist, and Dave Bramson, who said he represented “the majority of citizens who were at high school graduations and other activities that night” spoke against the resolution.

Bramson said he believed marriage is a “hallowed and very important tradition” and that if people of the same sex are allowed to marry, there is no reason why a brother and sister shouldn’t marry or any other two adults. He asked the council to back off from taking a position.

“It is incumbent upon us to take a stand,” said Councilman Brian Barnwell.

Ultimately the stand the council took was that regardless of a person’s moral position on same-sex marriage, amending the U.S. Constitution is inappropriate.

City Administrator Jim Armstrong said he would bring the final resolution (in the form of a letter) back to the council for approval before it is sent to President Bush and other elected representatives.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon

Raising Helen diverting if not demanding

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Raising Helen movie poster

Raising Helen movie poster

The spirit of summer reruns spreads to the multiplex with Raising Helen, a creampuff of a movie we’ve seen before (Baby Boom, Step Mom) and will most certainly see again (the new TV series “Summerland”).

It’s an enjoyable enough version of a coming of age story: self-involved, career focused woman has children (usually via a tragic death, as is the case in Raising Helen), resists changing her life, takes some missteps, figures out what she’s doing, then grows up and redeems herself in the end. Though the story is familiar, it’s one that will resonate with any woman who’s ever had children and realized that she went into the hospital (or the court room, or the adoption agency, or the lawyer’s office) a woman and came out a mom.

Kate Hudson is certainly a charming heroine, although I couldn’t help wondering what her underused costars Joan Cusack and Felicity Huffman (as her older, smarter and much taller sisters) would have done with the meatier role. Hayden Panettiere, Spencer Breslin and Abigail Breslin give decent performances as the three children Hudson inherits, but John Corbett is miscast (too old and not hot enough or witty enough to compensate) as her romantic interest, Pastor Dan.

While Raising Helen lacks any kind of freshness beyond Hudson’s smile, and a scene that will be cheered by Devo fans everywhere, it’s still a pleasant enough trifle for a hot summer night.

Originally published in South Coast Beacon on June 10, 2004.