Janet Wolf To Get A "Free Ride?"

By contributor Jon K. Williams, Santa Barbara Progressive Coalition.

The News-Press trumpets "conspiracy" since several Democratic electeds have spoken in favor of Janet Wolf’s running for county board of supervisors. Would that there were enough cohesion in the local Democratic Party to actually conspire or, as a less biased and judgmental publication might call it, "reach consensus to effect positive change."

Personally I believe, as the News-Press says it does, that our community can only benefit from hearing the views of multiple candidates on a wide range of issues. I fear, however, that the esteemed daily journal will not be able to control its own libertarian urges when it comes to commenting on the discussion that ensues.

Today, before anyone actually declared intent to run for office, we heard from the paper that Ms. Wolf is the "hand-picked successor" of outgoing supervisor Susan Rose, a woman they call "beleaguered and polarizing, one of three off-putting twisted sisters leaving behind a legacy of ineffective representation."

Now that’s starting things off with an open mind, isn’t it?

The editorial concludes, "Party bosses want to give Janet Wolf a free pass to November." I challenge the News-Press to publish an accurate and well researched article explaining who these local "party bosses" are and how they wield such nefarious power.

I'm not suggesting there's a conspiracy on the part of a certain paper and those hoping to see the 2nd district go to a conservative candidate, but "Free Debate and Fair Reporting" needs to be our battle cry and all concerned readers have to help keep the News-Press editorial board in line.

Friday Night Films Continue Tradition

There's an ongoing tradition in Santa Barbara called "Friday Night Films." You are invited to come view a timely film at Friendship Manor. The address is: 6647 El Colegio, Isla Vista, every Friday night at 7:30 pm.

Films on the schedule for this month:

December 9 -- "CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN."
John Perkins’ personal account of the events that forced him to choose between conscience and the glamorous life of power, luxury, and beautiful women.

Also playing, "NEW PATRIOTS." Five U.S. military veterans, including a Congressional Medal of Honor winner and a woman West Point graduate, speak out about terrorism, patriotism and their transformation from warriors to peace activists.

December 16 -- "EMBEDDED LIVE." Embedded Live contains a stage performance of Tim Robbins' controversial satire that pointed out the horror and the folly of the American invasion of Iraq. The story of the play concerns a group of journalists who have been embedded with troops on the ground in the fictional country of Gomorrah.

December 23 -- "SOLVING THE CRIMES OF 911." A great gathering of concerned citizens met at Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles on October 23, 2004, in an exciting and often dramatic demonstration of citizen courage and responsibility.

They drew on Common Law for precedent, elected and convened a Citizens' Grand Jury, formally rejected the legitimacy and conclusions of the Kean-Hamilton 9/11 Commission and declared the 'Official Story' "physically impossible, contradictory, implausible and fraudulent."

December 30 -- "ON THE EDGE" by Ron Dexter and Douglas Gillies, winner of the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival Award for Best Global Perspective Documentary. "A discussion by a blue ribbon panel, including Mikhail Gorbachev and Jane Goodall on options and outcomes for a sustainable world."

Friendship Manor is in the heart of Isla Vista on the corner of El Colegio and Los Carneros. The events take place upstairs in Jaimison Hall near the library and meeting room.

Parking is at the Manor Corner parking lot (the entrance is on the southeast corner of the empty lot at Camino Pescadero and El Colegio, on the east side of Friendship Manor.) The opening is nearly opposite the west end of Cervantes Road. Do not park in the underground parking structure! Better yet, walk, bus or bike to the film.

All are welcome. Suggested donation is $3 to $5 or whatever you can afford. For more information contact Art Schwartz by e-mail (art.farm at cox dot net), or call him at 968-1965.

This event is co-sponsored by Campus Greens, Hopedance, Isla Vista Co-Op and Veterans For Peace.

The Little Pug Who Could

by Karen Lee Stevens. This column was first published in the Montecito Journal.

Down through the ages, the rallying mantra, “I think I can; I think I can,” has resonated with children and adults alike who revel in Wally Piper’s, The Little Engine That Could. This timeless classic is one of the greatest stories of motivation and power of positive thinking ever told.

There is a little engine of another sort that faces life’s daily ups and downs head on. Her name is Molly, and this perky pug is a remarkable testament to the indomitable will of the spirit. You see, this friendly four-year-old cannot accomplish a lot of things that her canine counterparts take for granted--simple stuff like walking on all four legs or going to the bathroom.

Like most puppies, Molly was born with energy to burn and initially appeared healthy in every way. But, at three months of age, the unthinkable happened--her back legs simply stopped working. After a battery of tests, veterinarians determined that her spine was twisted as a result of a birth defect, cutting off the nerves from her cranium to her caboose.

Euthanasia was quietly suggested. Her human mom, Mandy Evans, refused to be derailed by any thoughts of putting her precious puppy to sleep. Instead, Mandy pledged to pamper her paraplegic pooch, even going so far as to change her diaper several times a day and incur an avalanche of ongoing veterinary bills.

So, just how does Molly get around on a daily basis? Quite nicely, thanks to her very own set of custom wheels, which Mandy can strap to her backside faster than you can say put the pedal to the metal. And, on any given day, this curly-tailed cutie can be found enchanting school children and the elderly at several venues on the South Coast where Mandy regales eager listeners with tales of what it’s like to love and care for a dog with special needs.

Mandy, a corporate event planner in Santa Barbara, possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and recently launched MySpecialDog.com with her business partner, Kevin Roberson.

Their online magazine is devoted to raising awareness of dogs and other animals who are handicapped in some way, whether it is from paralysis, loss of a limb, or blindness. In addition, she is planning to launch Molly Inspires, a line of greeting cards. Mandy and Molly have already appeared on local television and radio shows and are hoping to garner national exposure in the near future.

This dynamic duo appears to be right on track by focusing on what you can do, rather than what you can’t do.

Karen and her new friends will be conducting a doggy fashion show in the Spring of 2006 as a benefit for MySpecialDog.com and All For Animals, Inc. For more information on how you can help make this a first-class event, send email to: karen at allforanimals dot com.

Karen Lee Stevens is the pet columnist for the Montecito Journal, published biweekly in Montecito, and is the founder and Executive Director of AllforAnimals.com.