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Notes from Kathleen

10/3/2008

While riding along the Carpinteria bluffs the other day, just past the seal rookery, I looked down the coastline from the Bluffs to the Rincon.  What a splendid view on such a warm Autumn afternoon with the crisp hint of fall in the cool Pacific Ocean breeze.  It made me think back  . . .

When I was a kid my Mom really dug Frankie Avalon. She actually took me to see Gidget movies. One summer night, after we cleaned up from feeding the horses, we drove out to The Route 66 Drive-In to see “Beach Blanket Bingo.”

Looking out at the Bluffs and Rincon, it was just like the California beach movies I saw with my Mom. We are so fortunate to live in Carpinteria. This is a place where surfer movies happen everyday.

Nationally the economy is in the toilet, and there's a possibility a bimbo could be one heartbeat away from the Presidency.  The current administration in Washington has led this country into its biggest financial downturn since the great depression.  This oil-based economy is collapsing with bad debt, filtered through the unchecked greed of the wealthiest few.  As responsible citizens, we need to consume less non-renewable energy resources, and begin to move into a green revolution.  It’s going to take time but our dependency on oil, foreign or domestic must now switch gears.

Back to the Rincon, Frankie Avalon and Beach Blanket Bingo. The choice is pretty simple. We need to develop new energy sources like the proposed wind farms in Lompoc. That is smart thinking for the future.  Oil is a risky and dirty business. Why would Carpinteria want to trade Frankie Avalon movies for the possibility of ground water contamination, fiery explosions near residential neighborhoods, danger to sea life and other nesting mammals, measurable increases in air, water and sound pollution, the loss of scenic ocean vistas and a decrease in property values and our tourist dollars? 

9/26/2008

Kathleen cares about -- Carpinteria . . . for herself, for the planet

Dear Carpinterians,

Each week on my web site, I'm going to take some time off from campaigning to tell you about myself and what I believe in.

We are so lucky to live in such a special place. Every year we have more and more tourists visiting our beautiful hometown.  It's great to be a local in a tourist town as the song goes. The tourists leave and we get to stay. Why all the visitors? One of the main reasons is that it’s so healthy here. The air, the ocean, the open spaces. I find it refreshing and renewing to interact with our beautiful surroundings as much as I can. For instance, I ride my bike whenever I can. Automobiles leave a big carbon footprint, bicycles – none.

Here are a few other things that leave big carbon footprints: Styrofoam containers, plastic bags & plastic water bottles, everything that runs on fossil fuel. As your next City Councilperson (and environmentalist), I encourage everyone to bring cloth bags to the market, ride bikes or walk to work if possible, support the development of solar and wind power. and, of course, recycle.

Here’s my own plan for staying healthy and getting the most out of Carpinteria. I do some form of yoga every day. Preferably outside. Also, I teach pilates and swim at least 6 miles a week. You may see me at the community pool. Please say hi (but not mid-stroke which happened last week). I’ve noticed the more I work out, the more mental clarity I have. Activity keeps me alert. This is also true for my daughter, Catriona who has played AYSO for ten years (BTW I received their Volunteer of the Year Award last spring.  The trophy is sitting on my fridge).

And don't forget to eat some good chocolate... unless it doesn't agree with you.

Next week I’m going to share some thoughts on a very important issue facing us in the days to come -- Venoco’s Paredon project:  Is on-shore drilling right for Carpinteria?

See you here next week . .