Kya is a two-year old 37-pound spayed female sharpei/chocolate labrador mix who tolerates other dogs, but loves people and human attention.  Shy at first,  she wags her whole body when a friend comes to visit.  Perfect size.  Needs adult only household. Has the makings of an extremely focused, loyal dog.

See Kya at DAWG, 5480 Overpass Rd,  (805) 681-0561, adopt@sbdawg.org.  Public adoption hours: Friday-Sunday, noon to 4:30.  CLICK to see other adoptable dogs.

The Santa Barbara Public Library System is bringing free workshops on how to download eBooks and audiobooks to personal electronic devices — computer, e-reader, or portable audio. Each workshop has a 10-person limit. Patrons can preregister by contacting their local branch, or reference librarian Brent Field at 805-564-5623. Classes run from February 26 to April 2.

At each branch, a downloadable eBooks training class will be presented at 11am. Patrons will learn how to browse, check out, and download OverDrive eBooks to their computer, and how to transfer eBooks to their eReader. Computer experience required. Laptops and eReaders provided. The schedule and more information on eBook classes may be seen at http://www.sbplibrary.org/pdfs/events/eBooks02-11.pdf .

At 1pm the same day, with separate registration, there will be a class on how to browse, check out, and download OverDrive audiobooks to a computer and how to transfer an audiobook to a portable digital media player. Computer experience required. Laptops provided. For schedule and more information on audiobook classes, see http://www.sbplibrary.org/pdfs/events/Audiobooks02-11.pdf .

Schedule:
SOLVANG Library – Saturday February 26
EASTSIDE Library – Saturday March 5
CARPINTERIA Library – Friday March 11
MONTECITO Library – Friday March 18
GOLETA Library – Saturday March 26
CENTRAL Library – Saturday April 2

Gas prices are on the rise in Santa Barbara and they could hit $4 a gallon by Christmas.

Monkey is a 3-4 year-old old neutered male – tri-colored Chihuahua mix, 9.5 lbs. He is active, sociable and friendly, but also a calm little gentleman.

He is at DAWG, 5480 Overpass Rd, Goleta 805-681-0561.  For other adoptable dogs visit www.sbdawg.org.

Don’t give up.

Public Posting is not as easy as you might think…

Anyway, here are my recommendations for voting. Despite how hard it was, i think it’s important to our constitutional process.

Governor-Jerry Brown
L Gov–Abel Maldonado
No comment on the following. Sorry I just don’t know enough… Sec of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney general, Insurance Commissioner, Equalization 1st district, Senator
US Representative–Lois Capps
Assembly–Mike Stoker (Das promised)
Judicial–All of them are unfortunately no comment. I know nothing about these folks. Do you?
School–How these decisions are left to people like us is amazing. I will probably vote for Marty Blum because she supported the non-profit I cared about, but come on, am I really qualified to say who should be in charge of the schools??
Prop 19-yes
prop 20-yes
prop-21-no
prop22-yes
prop 23- NO!!!!!
Prop 24-no
Prop 25-yes
Prop 26-yes
Prop 27- Yes
Prop 27-no
Prop-no
Measure S- NO!!!!
Measure T- Yes

a

I just tried to book two rooms at the Cabrillo Inn for four nights, and the owner denied me the advertised rates from his website. I asked for the package advertising third night free, and since the week falls in Thanksgiving, the owner decided the offer was off the table — and claimed that it said so on the website. Not true. The website said nothing about holiday exemptions for its specials. I cancelled the reservation and just have to report this.

Judging from the sad customer relations (not the fault of the poor person answering the phone — the owner was in the background giving directions) and lack of forward-thinkingingness (the motel had plenty of rooms available, but now it’s lost paid bookings for two rooms/3 paid nights + special), I wouldn’t advise staying here. Santa Barbarians are known for great hospitality. Bad owner behavior here.

Poor PR. I just booked elsewhere.

Subscribers to the Santa Barbara View will receive a free copy of Walk Santa Barbara by Cheri Rae and John McKinney.

The “must have” book retails for $14.95, but will be given away for free to the first 100 subscribers. To support the Santa Barbara View and get your free book, CLICK HERE and enter your address at check out. Thanks in advance for your support.

Award-winning authors and longtime Santa Barbarans Cheri Rae and John McKinney share their inside tips on experiencing the picturesque city and the lovely landscapes surrounding it with the area’s very best walks and nature hikes. Stroll the city paseos, explore the Botanic Garden, the one-of-a-kind shops and historic Old Town. Walk the Santa Ynez Valley wine country. Amble along the palm-lined beaches near Stearns Wharf; discover the isolated beauties of the Gaviota Coast, the wild and windswept Guadalupe Dunes. Hike Cold Spring Canyon and many more friendly trails in the Santa Ynez Mountains and the magnificent backcountry of Los Padres National Forest.

Born and educated in South Africa Margie followed her family to live in the U.S and settled on the Central Coast of California in 1997.

Margie graduated from the Grahamstown Training College with a major in Fine Arts. Even though she was a teacher for many years, Margie has always been an artist.

Her portfolio and subject matter is very diverse and it ranges from portraiture to landscapes. She has also illustrated children’s books. Her French Ladies have always been very popular and are known as the Ladies with One Striped Stocking.

She is a unique artist with the conviction that a painting is a spiritual gift that comes from God through the artist’s inner sanctum. A good painting does not go out of style; it brings joy and happiness to those in it’s presence. “I believe the reward as an artist is the enjoyable process of creation, giving birth to shape, color and value. The owner’s reward is the visual and aesthetic pleasure which nourishes the soul,” stated Margie.

One of Margie’s favorite things to do is to tell children stories while drawing the story. She also enjoys giving art lessons and recently has begun offering free art lessons on her blog, Margie’s Lessons & Stories.

The Grapeseed Company Opening First Retail Location

Local Eco-Friendly Bath and Body Product Company Opening Store in Santa Barbara

The Grapeseed Company, a Santa Barbara-based eco-friendly company creating natural bath and body products from the byproduct of wine, is opening the doors to their first retail location at 201 W. Carrillo Street on August 28, 2010.

Opening day events will include mini-treatments, a custom scent bar to create your own fragrance, refreshments on the patio and do-it-yourself spa recipes to take home. Goodie bags will be handed out to the first 50 customers.

After founding the online company 5 years ago, Kristin Fraser Cotte decided to open her doors to the local community in a retail store, hosting classes and parties to share healthy, natural skin care.

The Grapeseed Company offers high-quality, eco-friendly products with grape seeds- an antioxidant-rich byproduct of area winemakers.

The Grapeseed Company
Saturday, August 28, 2010
12-6pm
201 W. Carrillo Street
Santa Barbara, CA
805-456-3655
www.thegrapeseedcompany.com

Santa Barbara High School received a three year accreditation from a committee representing the Western Association of Schools and Colleges from a visitation in April. (Dos Pueblos and San Marcos both received accreditation terms of six years in recent visitations.) A three year term suggests there are major educational issues at the school that must be addressed immediately.

The Santa Barbara Central Library and the Eastside Branch Library, including the public meeting rooms and Faulkner Galleries, will be closed on Mondays, beginning July 12. The closures reflect a reduction in the Library’s operating budget for the coming fiscal year. The Central Library Administration office will be open Tuesday through Saturday.

The Goleta Library Monday hours will change to 12 pm – 6 pm.  These hours are funded by the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library. �
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The Montecito Library is making several changes to its schedule of open hours.  Monday hours will resume with funding from the Friends of the Montecito Library.  Evening hours are being introduced as the Library will remain open until 7:00 pm on Monday evenings. The library will now open at 9:30 am Monday through Saturday. It will close at 7:00 pm on Monday, at 5:30 pm Tuesday through Friday, and at 4:00 pm on Saturday.
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The full listing of hours for the branches of the Santa Barbara Public Library System will be as follows, beginning July 12:

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RICK WAYMAN, POETRY, MUSIC
& REFLECTIONS
AT SADAKO PEACE DAY—AUGUST 6

Contact: Steven Crandell, 805 965-3443, scrandell@napf.org

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Director of Programs Rick Wayman will be the featured speaker at the 16th Annual Sadako Peace Day ceremony, Friday August 6, at the Sadako Peace Garden at La Casa de Maria, 800 El Bosque Road, between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

His theme will be “Persistence and Dedication.” He will discuss the importance of working for a world free of nuclear weapons in spite of opposition – and why the support of many people is required for progress to be made towards nuclear weapons abolition.

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