The Daily Sound

Santa Barbara Assemblyman Das Williams wants to ban sugary drinks on some school campuses

2012-02-22T16:04:20Z

California Assemblyman Das Williams wants to ban the sale of sugary sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade at middle and high school campuses throughout the state.

Williams introduced AB 1746 late last week.

Sodas are already banned on the campuses, but AB 1746 would make the energy and electrolyte replacement drinks also illegal.

Sodas and other beverages high in sugar are among the most prominent factors contributing to our nation’s obesity epidemic.

“This bill aims to set the example of making healthful choices in life,” said Williams, D-Santa Barbara. “Research shows that these sugary drinks directly relate to higher incidents of obesity and many youth – and adults – are still consuming them unnecessarily. These drinks should not be a replacement for water.

Williams said teachers shouldn’t have to compete with sugary drinks to get students’ attention.

“Teachers have a tough enough job as it and I believe this will give a little help,” said Williams, a two-term Santa Barbara City Councilman who grew up in Isla Vista. “A 32-ounce sports drink has 14 teaspoons of sugar. Kids jacked up on that much sugar have a harder time learning.”

Sports drinks or electrolyte replacement beverages are designed to replace fluids after vigorous exercise of more than hour straight. Research, Williams said, shows that sports drinks serve no added benefit over water.

The California Center for Public Health and the California Medical Association are sponsors of the bill.

“Sports drinks are an inappropriate option for California students,” said Dr. Harold Goldstein, executive director of the California Center for Public Health. “They were designed for athletes who have been sweating for an hour or more, not for children as they walk across campus or eat their lunch. Williams’ bill will close a loophole that has allowed the beverage industry to continue using California public schools to sell products that contribute to childhood obesity and diabetes.

Other experts agreed.

“One in three California students is overweight or obese,” said James T. Hay, president of the California Medical Association. “We know that sugar-sweetened beverages, including sports drinks, are a major contributor to the problem.

“There is a common misconception that sports drinks, also known as ‘electrolyte replacement beverages, are healthy, yet many contain high fructose corn syrup and/or other calorie-laden sweeteners that have been linked to the rise in childhood obesity, the primary cause of type-2 diabetes.”

Williams, a former teacher at Antioch University, said banning the drinks on campuses would have great benefits in the classroom.

“They are not good for student achievement because everybody knows that a sugar drink gives you about 10 minutes of frantic energy followed by a loss of energy so it is not good for paying attention in a 45-minute class,” Williams said.

Activists speak out to preserve Santa Barbara County farmlands

2012-02-22T16:22:35Z

As the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors pondered letting an environmental review of the Eastern Goleta Valley Community Plan go forward, dozens of residents came to give their opinions.

Sometimes dubbed “Noleta” as it’s outside both the Goleta and Santa Barbara city limits, the Eastern Goleta Valley is one of the most populated unincorporated areas of the county at 36,000 people. It hasn’t had a new community plan since 1993, well before the city of Goleta incorporated.

While speakers had a wide variety of concerns, the sticking point seemed to be the rezoning of eight properties to allow for more housing. The rezoning would net the area another 626 units of housing.

But residents worried it could be the first step towards overdevelopment and the loss of the valley’s semi-rural feel. Donald Stern said Los Angeles had looked very much like Santa Barbara in 1949. But he claimed zoning changes like the ones being proposed is what turned it into the urban jungle it is today.

“What you’re doing is the beginning of what happened in Los Angeles and you can’t go back on it,” Stern said.

Other residents understood the need for more housing, but felt more community input and oversight would be needed. Barbara Kloos, a member of the Eastern Goleta Valley Coalition, said she could approve of the plan as offered provided the supervisors reinsert language protecting agricultural land.

“The 36,000 residents don’t want redevelopment to be the dominant characteristic of Eastern Goleta Valley,” Kloos said.

But Kloos had some harsher language aimed at prospective developers.

“For those that don’t live in our community and are looking to extract our last available resources of land, we suggest you look elsewhere for your insatiable need for urban development,” Kloos said.

But developers argued that the plan did not seek to overdevelop the area. Craig Minus, a project manager at the Towbes Group, a major developer in the area, said there is a balance between getting more affordable housing in the area and keeping the Valley’s character, and that the Towbes Group has always been conscious of that balance.

He said Towbes has never built skyscrapers in Santa Barbara, but has provided plenty of affordable housing projects, public improvements, and supported the arts, jobs, and non-profits.

“Now that is the type of ‘developer’ I’d like in my community,” Minus said.

And a few parcels had some unique owners.

Susan Deacon, President of the Board of Education for Santa Barbara Unified School District, spoke in support of the plan. The district has the Tatum property which is not zoned for agriculture but would be rezoned to support higher density. Deacon said the district has no plans to develop the property but with a $6 million deficit, the district needs to keep its options open for potential funding sources.

“Because of the state budget crisis we need to look at our assets, such as the Tatum property, as possible revenue streams so that we can support our students,” Deacon said.

The supervisors tried to alleviate some of the public’s worries. Second district supervisor Janet Wolf, who represents the Eastern Goleta Valley, headed off some fears by noting the parcel by Vons is not affected by the general plan.

First district supervisor Salud Carbajal noted the board had to maintain a sense of balance between providing new housing opportunities and keeping the valley’s character. He felt the current plan struck that balance.

“I know not everybody’s happy, but I think this is a good product,” Carbajal said.

Wolf also supported the measure. She thanked the community for coming in and noted to people who still had concerns that this would not be the last word the Eastern Goleta Valley—she made a point of not using the term “Noleta”—would have on the community plan.

“While there’s going to be disagreement, I think at the end we are going to be a stronger community because of this process,” Wolf said.

Goodland Coalition to attempt to preserve farmland

2012-02-22T16:06:39Z

With worries about cherished farmland being lost to development, the Goodland Coalition announced it would be seeking signatures for an initiative to protect certain agricultural plots.

At a Goleta City Council meeting Coalition chairman Bob Wignot said that the initiative would require voter approval to rezone Bishop Ranch, a parcel in Ellwood Canyon, Fairview Gardens, and a parcel west of Glen Annie.

While the council unanimously stopped a developer from working on Bishop Ranch last year, Wignot said it would just take is three different city council members to undo that decision.

“Rezoning of our heritage farmlands is too important to leave to the sole discretion of a city council majority subject to change every two years,” Wignot said.

FOR PET’S SAKE: Thinking Outside the (Litter) Box

2012-02-22T16:19:41Z

KITTY LITTER.

ow can these two itty bitty words be such a giant pain in the posterior for some cats and the people who love them? If your finicky feline turns up her nose at her bathroom accommodations, is piddling over the side of the box or avoiding it altogether, you’re not alone. Cats and their litter box habits have left many of us befuddled, but instead of just burying our heads in the proverbial sand and ignoring the situation, or worse, getting rid of our cats, let’s see if we can, um, eliminate the problem.

Two of the most important issues for cats are the type of litter being provided and the placement and number of litter boxes in the house. Let’s take a look at litter first. There are two main types: clumping and non-clumping. Clumping litter is sandy clay with small granules that forms a ball around the urine for easy scooping (making for a cleaner box, which cats appreciate). Clumping litter controls odors better than the non-clumping variety, but it can be dustier, which can cause respiratory problems in both people and pets. Non-clumping litter is coarse clay with large granules so it produces less dust and tracking. The downside is that it must be completely dumped and replaced on a regular basis (not fun for those of us with bad backs!). Studies show that 9 out of 10 cats prefer clumping (sandy) litter, in part because the litter box smells better and the smaller granules are gentler on tender toes. This is especially important if a cat has been declawed (which I am vehemently opposed to, but that’s another topic for another column…).

Now that we’ve talked about different types of litter, let’s address the scent issue. Scented litter is great for the person and not so great for the cat. A certain area of the feline brain—called the Rhinencephalon or “nose brain”—makes the cat extremely sensitive to various odors and it is this acute sense of smell that can cause a cat to avoid a box with scented litter. (Imagine yourself trapped in an elevator with someone wearing a sickeningly sweet perfume or overpowering cologne and you get the idea.) Simply switching to an unscented brand of litter will often solve any litter box avoidance problems.

Aside from scented litter, if your normally fastidious feline suddenly takes a detour around the litter box, chances are: 1) the box is not clean enough (scoop out waste every day if you’re using clumping litter and completely change the litter every week), 2) the box is not positioned in a favorable location (put it in a low-traffic, yet easily accessible area of your home), 3) the box has a hood (most cats don’t like a covered box), or 4) your cat is ill. A cat with a urinary tract infection or diabetes may not be able to hold their urine long enough to get to the box or they may associate the box with their painful urination. A cat with arthritis may find it difficult to climb into the box (one with lower edges can help). If your cat abruptly becomes picky about her potty, it’s time for a trip to the veterinarian for a check-up.

Here’s a tip: if you’re thinking of switching to a new type of cat litter, it’s important to slowly make the transition by putting an inch or so of the new product at the bottom of the litter box and then pouring the old brand on top. Don’t mix it together; let your cat do the mixing (digging) herself. Gradually, over a 2-3 week period, keep adding more of the new litter and less of the old until the box is completely filled with the new litter.

Another helpful hint: be sure you have enough litter boxes in your house—the general rule is to have one box per cat plus one. In other words, if you have two cats, you should have three litter boxes; if you have three cats, four litter boxes, and so on.

By following these simple suggestions, your cat will start peeing and pooping in the proper place in no time. Can you dig it?

PET OF THE WEEK – Pepper

Pepper is a short-haired, velvety black cat with lanky limbs, amber eyes and a distinctive split in his right ear. This 7-year-old boy loves head, cheek and chin rubs and he will curl and twirl his long, thin tail while being petted! He gets along with other cats and would love to become part of your family. To learn how you can adopt Pepper, call ASAP at (805) 683-3368 or visit asapcats.org.

SANTA BARBARA CRIME BLOTTER: Man allegedly attempts to toss wife off Canary Hotel balcony – on their honeymoon

2012-02-21T10:40:25Z

Feb. 16, 7:51 p.m.: A report of a fight in Storke Plazita led to the arrest of a couple.

A fight broke out in the Plazita between six men. When officers arrived to investigate, a 20-year-old man became confrontational with the officers and refused to cooperate.

When officers tried to take him into custody, he held out his arms and backed away in a circle. The man’s 19-year-old girlfriend had been filming the incident on her camera phone from one to two feet away.

When she allegedly refused to back away while other officers tried to handcuff her boyfriend, police pulled her away. Both were arrested for interfering with a police investigation. Another 29-year-old man involved was arrested for a parole violation.

Feb. 15, 8:22 p.m.: Officers arrested a Santa Maria man after he allegedly hit several parked cars.

The man allegedly hit several parked cars and drove off. Police found the man’s car near a Motel 6 on State Street. The man allegedly showed signs of intoxication when officers found in his room.

The man admitted to drinking two beers but couldn’t perform a field sobriety test due to a medical condition. A background check revealed that the man had a suspended license.

He was arrested for hit and run, DUI, and driving with a suspended license and booked into county jail on $10,000 bail.

Feb. 15, 8:45 a.m.: A 45-year-old man allegedly tried to throw his wife off of a hotel balcony on their honeymoon night.

They couple married on Feb. 14 and spent the night at the Canary Hotel. During the night the man allegedly threatened to throw her off the balcony and then commit suicide.

He allegedly held her on the bed and then tried to drag her out to the balcony. When he was unsuccessful he allegedly put her in a headlock and slammed her head into the bathroom wall.

The woman phoned a friend and sent her pictures of bruising on her arms and face. When police contacted the man he denied hurting his wife and claimed the injuries were due to “rough sex.”

He was arrested for domestic violence and booked into county jail on $10,000 bail.

Feb. 14, 3:44 p.m.: Police arrested a 51-year-old man after he allegedly exposed himself to a woman on a bus.

The man allegedly sat down across from the woman while riding an MTD bus. After looking at her, he allegedly pulled down his shorts and began stimulating his genitals. The woman got up and told the driver who alerted police.

Police discovered the man had a previous conviction for indecent exposure and on a sex offenders list. When police contacted the man he denied exposing himself, allegedly saying, “She lied to you…she is Mexican.”

Feb. 13, 8:13 p.m.: A 38-year-old man allegedly slammed his girlfriend’s head into a concrete building.

The couple had been going out for four months when they allegedly got into an argument over a stolen camera. The man allegedly grabbed his girlfriend by the neck and began choking her. She began screaming and several citizens called police.

The man then allegedly slammed her head into a concrete wall twice. Police arrested him for spousal battery and booked him into county jail on $10,000 bail

Feb. 12, 7:51 p.m.: Officers arrested a 32-year-old woman after she allegedly hit her boyfriend in the eye.

The two allegedly got into an argument when the woman allegedly pushed the man. Her hand allegedly hit the man in his right eye causing redness.

The woman allegedly told police that she could not remember if she hit the man or not, but said, “It was in her character to be aggressive.”

She was arrested for spousal battery and booked into county jail on $10,000 bail.

Feb. 12, 3:09 a.m.: Police arrested an 18-year-old woman for allegedly attacking her boyfriend with a beer bottle.

The woman allegedly struck him with an alcohol bottle after the two got into an argument, leaving redness and bleeding on his face. A friend restrained the woman who then started to pack up her belongings from the house and allegedly broke several windows with her fist.

When police arrived, the woman allegedly punched the man again in the left side of his face. She allegedly refused to cooperate with officers and continued to struggle against them after being handcuffed.

FROM THE HEART: Cultivating a kind society

2012-02-21T10:30:29Z

New Jersey Governor Christie recently made news by making a not so cogent comment concerning social change. Even though the two chambers of government in his state passed a law (by a wide margin) to legalize gay marriage, he decided to veto the proposal. A better idea, he claimed, is to have a state-wide referendum to determine what the “people” really want. (I thought that’s what our elected ”representatives” were for.)

Then he really stepped in it. Christie, a well-educated lawyer, evidently let his conservative ideology override his supposed intelligence. He claimed that the civil rights movement of the 1950-60′s would have preferred a referendum in the South instead of exposing themselves to violent retribution at the hands of blood-thirsty racists. Huh? Yeah…I bet those open-minded segregationists were just dying to make black folks feel more comfortable. Maybe let em walk on the same sidewalk in about twenty years.

Responding to a firestorm of indignation, Christy expanded (a few days later) that “The political climate in the South didn’t give them the option to have a referendum back then…meaning they would not win.” Good catch there, Attorney Christie.

These political shenanigans have been going on forever and they just confirm for me that society can never legislate true tolerance, compassion, and understanding. Yes, we can create laws which prohibit unfairness and inequalities but the real work of lasting social justice has to take place in the human heart.

And that starts with me. Have I found the kindness and the clarity which is being bestowed on me every day? Have I eliminated blind prejudice in my life?

Can I see a fellow human being without layers of preconceived judgement? Do I harbor any arrogant desire to make everyone think exactly the same way I do?

Have I closed my mind and heart to the possibility that I can learn something of value from a stranger or a different culture?

The answers to these questions are the true building blocks to cultivate a kind and just society. The seeds of peace that need to sprout live in our own hearts. The sunshine of our self-awakening and the rain from our inherent goodness are all that’s needed to make this planet start to bloom with the magnificent colors that so many yearn to see.

Comments? email me at allen@thedailysound.com

Marketing Express launches Legal Docs by ME

2012-02-21T10:33:43Z

More than six years after leaving the legal document preparation business, Linda and Ira Distenfield are getting back into the game with Legal Docs by ME, an extension of their company Marketing Express.

“We’re here to grow your business or prepare your legal documents,” Linda Distenfield said.

Ira and Linda Distenfield launched Marketing Express as a company geared toward assisting small- and medium-sized businesses in building their brands. Businesses that needed help with their marketing but weren’t big enough to do their own marketing could come to them for advice.

It’s hard to argue with the Distenfields’ record when it comes to building brands. The We The People legal document preparing business started in Santa Barbara and grew to more than 180 offices in 32 states when the Distenfields sold it in 2005.

Linda Distenfield cited the sheer size as the reason for selling the company in 2005. She said they believed it was time to let someone else take We The People to “the next level.”

But as Marketing Express began to grow, the Distenfields found themselves faced with inquiries about incorporation, paperwork, and other legal documents that sounded all too familiar. Ira said it became obvious that people still had need for an alternative legal document service.

“Many questions came to light over the last number of years that really brought us back to our prior life,” Distenfield said.

So the company is now offering its own document service, Legal Docs by ME. Linda Distenfield said the concept is the same as We The People. If there’s little dispute among the involved parties, divorces and incorporation don’t require lawyers to file the paperwork.

Linda said in uncontested legal matters, hundreds of thousands of people don’t use attorneys. Legal Docs by ME, like We The People, offers a cheaper alternative for people not familiar with the system who don’t want to hire a pricey lawyer.

She said they’d always enjoyed helping people navigate the legal system and help them move on with their lives. And even though they’ve been out of the business for six years, people remember the help We The People gave them.

“I still run into people who thank us for what we did for them,” Linda Distenfield said.

Marketing Express is still focused on helping businesses, but the Distenfields say it feels good to be doing document services again.

“Just walk in the door and we’ll sit down and talk with you about what you need,” Linda Distenfield said.

Lexi, girl who battled cancer, dies: ‘It’s OK, mommy’

2012-02-18T21:34:10Z

Lexi was a lot like other little girls.
She loved Spongebob Squarepants and was a super-fan of Shrek and Toy Story.
And even though she enjoyed cartoons, she had a sophisticated way of saying, “it’s a nice, sunny day outside for the pool,” to convince her mother that the weather was right for a swim.
And when she wasn’t swimming without worries in the water, she was free with her voice, singing her favorite songs.
Her mom, eager to capture the treasured moments of her child’s life, uploaded some of these impromptu performances to You Tube.
There’s Lexi singing a tune as she nods off in her car seat. An energy-charged Lexi bouncing up and down in her crib singing “Barbie Girl” in the hospital during chemo. And Lexi singing Beyoncé’s “Survivor,” some of the notes trailing and her eyes looking a bit more tired.

Filled with relentless energy and verve only toddlers are capable of, Lexi was a beacon of hope that lit the way for her family during their enormous struggles, won the hearts of hospital staff, and drew members of the community in to bolster her and her family with support.
But on Feb. 10 after a year-and-a-half long battle with acute myeloid leukemia, Lexi’s heart stopped beating and she passed away at Cottage Hospital in the company of her family.
“Obviously we were hoping she was that 10 percent (who survive),” said Kathrine Krasnoff, Lexi’s mother. “The main thing is she’s not hurting anymore.”

Lexi and her brother Caleb

A few days after her death, a handful of family members and friends gathered to talk about the child they came to love and even revere. Though their faces displayed winces of sadness, the room was peaceful.
The group all agreed that Lexi was the thing that pulled them through the rough ordeal.
“We had to be positive,” Lexi’s aunt Kelly Krasnoff recalled. “There would be days when I would be tired or drained and I would think ‘I just do not want to go to the hospital.’ But I would get there and she would be bouncing off the walls and I would think ‘huh, I’m glad I came.’”
Kathrine said a big help for her was a doctor who told her to look to Lexi, to let her then two-year-old daughter lead the way.
It was no use being a bawling mess, Kathrine said.
“I learned to take things one day at a time,” Kathrine said.
And it worked.
Kelly said they were all right there with Lexi, graciously hopeful to the point of being unaware of what the doctors knew more and more – that Lexi would not make it.
Following Lexi’s lead, the Krasnoff’s held out for any hope of recovery.

Lexi had beat the cancer once before. After six months of monthly chemo following her diagnosis, she went into remission.
The doctors said there was practically no chance of the cancer coming back, said Kathrine. But in June of 2011, just a few months later, it had done just that.
A marrow transplant was now the only chance the child had.
After finding that the stem cells taken from the umbilical cord of Lexi’s younger brother Caleb were not a match, they held out for a donor.
After finding a donor they tried to get the cancer back into remission to make the operation successful, but that was never accomplished.
Lexi’s body started resisting the chemo right after they found a match, said Kathrine.
The treatments got harsher and it took longer for her daughter to recover.
She underwent six more treatments, but then they had exhausted all of their options. They were going to begin looking at experimental methods before Lexi became hospitalized for the last time.

The Krasnoffs said it was hard to tell how much their daughter knew about her illness or how serious her condition was.
Ninty-nine percent of the time she was completely cooperative and charming, sassing the nurses about washing their hands while gulping down large pills or even helping to insert her chemo port. But in little innocent moments glimpses of understanding would surface, giving her parents the impression that she was somewhat aware.

Lexi with Princess Jasmine during a "princess party" thrown by the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

After blowing on a dandelion she would often whisper,
“I wish the cancer would go away,” her mother said.
Her parents said that her third birthday was a big milestone. Though still full of charm and spunk, exhaustion began to creep in after spending 75 percent of her time in hospitals for a year and undergoing so much chemo.
Her father Jonathan said the hospital got less fun and she longed to run around and play like other kids.

After all that they have been through, and all of the support they have received from the community, the hospital, and the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, the Krasnoffs said they are going to continue with the fight to help other children and families.
They encourage the community to continue right along with them. They stressed the importance of registering to be a marrow donor, especially among minorities since it is more difficult for minorities to find matching donors.
They are also going to participate in the CureSearch walk May 5 and encourage others to join.

One thing Lexi accomplished during her short lifespan was the ability to draw a crowd and mobilize people. Sharp with a penchant for chatter, people would meet her and fall instantly in love with her. Her friends and family said people who they didn’t know would stop them and ask them how she was doing. She became something of a local celebrity; since her death a week ago over 30 people have joined her Facebook page.
“People who haven’t met her are so inspired by her,” said Lexi’s favorite nurse Nancy May. “They just see her smile – it’s crazy!”
Watching the video of her daughter singing “Barbie Girl,” smiling to full capacity and moving to her own music, Kathrine remarked “this is how she was all of the time.”

Just weeks before Lexi died, the rambunctious toddler was enthusiastic about the weather and her chances of getting back into that swimming pool.
And even though she’s gone now, Lexi’s family is in peace.
Part of that acceptance comes, ironically, from the advice little Lexi left behind.
During rough times Lexi would whisper words of courage.
“It’s okay mommy, don’t worry.”

FYI
An open memorial for Lexi will be held today, Saturday Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. at South Coast Church.

SANTA BARBARA CRIME BLOTTER: Man allegedly tries to escape police on bicycle; Fight at McDonald’s

2012-02-18T18:45:33Z

Feb. 11, 8:30 p.m.: Officers arrested a 46-year-old man for attacking a McDonald’s manager.

The man allegedly refused to leave the Milpas Street branch. After the manager called 911, the suspect allegedly turned to another patron and said, “I’m gonna b___h slap that mother f____r.”

He then allegedly punched the manager in the forehead, bruising him. The man continued to assault the manager until two patrons pulled him off and he left the restaurant.

Police apprehended him several blocks away. He denied attacking the manager. He was arrested for battery and booked into county jail on $2,500 bail.

Feb. 11, 3:16 p.m.: Police chased 45-year-old man on a bicycle over several blocks.

The man had allegedly been involved in a hit and run accident. The other party followed the man in their car and notified police. The suspect allegedly ditched his car and escaped on a bicycle.

When police flashed their lights, the man began evading them on his bicycle. After pedaling for several blocks, the he pulled into an AM/PM parking lot and allegedly threw a white plastic bag over the fence and hid between two parked cars.

The bag contained 21 grams of meth. A search of the man found $1,050 in cash and his vehicle had two electric scales, one which allegedly had meth residue on it.

Feb. 11, 12:30 a.m.: An officer caught a 23-year-old man with an illegal baton.

After hearing loud bass music coming from a gray Mitsubishi four lanes away, the officer followed the car. After the driver allegedly began speeding, the officer stopped the car.

The driver pulled over and allegedly stuck out his middle finger at the officer. A search of the car found the 25-inch Monadnock brand metal baton. The man, who claimed he was an auto-mechanic, said he used it to prop up vehicle hoods.

Feb. 10, 11:40 p.m.: A 39-year-old woman ended up arrested for public intoxication when police refused to arrest her boyfriend.

The woman on the 3000 block of Paseo Tranquillo allegedly called police to complain about her boyfriend. After police arrived, they determined no crime had been committed.

They noted the woman appeared to be intoxicated. After telling her they weren’t going to arrest the boyfriend, the woman allegedly ran down the street yelling, “Do your F_____g job!”

She was arrested for public intoxication and booked into county jail on $1,000 bail.

Feb. 10, 5:01 a.m.: Police arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly biting his girlfriend.

The two allegedly got into an argument and the man bit his girlfriend on the ear and shoulder, leaving a red mark on her shoulder. He then allegedly choked her until she couldn’t breathe. She managed to get away and he fled the house.

When police caught the man, he allegedly admitted to biting her three or four times but claimed it was self-defense. He was arrested for domestic violence and booked into county jail on $25,000.

Feb. 9, 7:58 a.m.: Officers arrested a man for allegedly trespassing in a McDonald’s on upper State Street.

The 48-year-old man had refused to leave after being asked by the manager. An officer asked the man to step outside. The man showed signs of intoxication and once outside allegedly challenged to officer to a fight.

The officer put the man in handcuffs, but he allegedly started kicking his feet while the officer tried to search the man. The officer put the man in a hobble then got the man in the car with the aid of two other officers.

On the way to the jail, the man allegedly called the officer a “pussy” several times and continued to challenge him to a fight.

Feb. 9, 12:05 a.m.: Police allegedly caught an underage man with cocaine at Whiskey Richards.

An officer on the Nighttime Enforcement team saw the man allegedly trying to hide from officers conducting a premises check. Noting the man looked young, the officer asked the man for identification.

The man said he didn’t have any. Believing the man entered by evading security, the officer asked the man his age. He admitted to being only 19.

Police took him into custody for being underage. A search uncovered a bag of white powder which field-tested positive for cocaine.

Tower helps garden grow to new heights

2012-02-21T02:48:52Z

Have you ever wanted to grow a garden of your own, but were thwarted by a lack of time, energy, know-how, or space? A new product called the Tower Garden may be an option to consider.

Todd Mehl, a local representative for Tower Gardens by Juice Plus+, gave a preview of the product at a recent gathering of the Santa Barbara Men’s Gardening Club. The Tower Garden, basically a tall, white column that has holes for growing plants, looks fairly industrial, but almost arty with plants in it—like something at once modular and organic.

A self-contained, vertically oriented hydroponic and aeroponic growing system, the Tower Garden enables users to “cheat the seasons,” and grow most of the year despite the weather, says Mehl, who is working on the venture with Maria Rickard Arroyo.

In New York City, for instance, the Tower Garden system has been used by Bell Book & Candle restaurant for growing its own produce, and at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, a 26-tower garden provides ingredients for airport restaurants mere feet away.

Of course this isn’t nearly as much of an issue for the Santa Barbara area as it is for other locales. Indeed, the very “locavore” movement that Mehl says is helping to fuel the Tower Garden’s popularity between the coasts is something that Santa Barbara has been part and parcel of for decades, and drives citizens to the thriving area Farmer’s Market scene.

However, even in an area where local produce is abundant, the product should have appeal to folks with DIY sensibilities, and those on board with going green.

Mehl points to the Tower Garden’s sustainability—the system utilizes 90 percent less water and 90 percent less land, and 95 percent fewer nutrients are needed than for traditional farming. And the payoff for home growers won’t take inordinate patience; when a member of the Gardening Club asked about “seed to table,” or how long it takes from planting to being able to eat vegetables grown in the Tower Garden, Mehl said that, depending on the crop, it’s going to be about four to six weeks on average.
Currently, the system is manufactured here in the U.S., in North Carolina. It’s made with food-grade ABS plastic.

These are two factors that customers may appreciate, but contribute to the bottom line. While the Tower Garden, in a sense, democratizes the ability to grow a vegetable garden of one’s own, some may find the initial cost prohibitive at about $500 to start. While successfully utilizing the Tower Garden could potentially “make it back,” as you unlock the value of harvesting your own veggies versus purchasing them, the cost could represent a barrier to entry for some families, at least to start. Still, it’s an opportunity for, say, an apartment dweller to grow plants on a limited deck space versus investing in a property with a plot of land. And Mehl shared that no-interest financing over a year is available (if about $42/month sounds more palatable).

Mehl estimates that a mere 15-20 minute installation time is all one needs to get started. The “tower” module, which can be expanded (vertically, of course) rests on a base that serves as a reservoir for the nutrient-enhanced water (nutrients to be mixed with water are purchased from the company and included in the starter kit).
The nutrient mixture is sprayed over the air-exposed roots of the crops via a pump system that is controlled by a timer. The Tower Garden does need to be exposed to sunlight, and the pump needs to be plugged in. The company’s literature recommends that it be as close to an outlet as possible versus using a long extension cord.
Seeds are sprouted in a provided “seed starter tray”; after about 1-3 weeks, they will be ready to transfer to the Tower Garden system inside “net pots,” which rest in the column and allow the roots to grow and dangle in the air, getting their sustenance from the nutrient spray.

Mehl says that interested parties can have a system here in the Santa Barbara area as early as April. For more information, contact him at: info@sbtowergarden.com