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What hypocrites we are. But I’m not here to advocate about legalizing drugs. We already do that with alcohol, which has had a pretty mixed outcome considering traffic deaths, broken families, and the ever-imaginative, stupid behaviors of most people when they’re drunk. Here’s irony for you: the Isla Vista Halloween scene, where thousands of students kill off the very brain cells needed for their next exam, comes on the last day of October, which happens to be National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. A 2010 survey of alcohol use in Americans discloses that roughly half of age 12 (that’s ‘twelve,’ not a typo) and over are consumers. That’s 131.3 million of us. And over 55 million have fit the definition of ‘binge drinker’ within the last 30 days. I’m not saying everyone who consumes alcohol becomes addicted... but when was the last time you went three weeks without it? Since our country seems to prefer moral outrage, righteous indignation and law enforcement to age appropriate education and cost effective treatment, I wonder where our future generation will find the will to offset the romance, titillation and omni-availability of brain-numbing, pain-numbing substances. Enter: Barbara Barr. Currently in her 25th year of teaching, with all but one at Roosevelt Elementary. She repeatedly has 100% participation from her 6th grade students in the Red Ribbon Week artwork and poster contest organized by Santa Barbara’s CADA (Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse). None of Mrs. Barr’s students won first prize; that honor went to Irais Pecheco, a 5th grader from Isla Vista. But what Barbara shared with me was the perspective of a teacher of vulnerable-age children for a quarter of a century, and it is this: we need to talk about drug and alcohol use “long before we think they’re ready.” Every year, the theme for CADA’s poster contest theme comes from the children. Dream Above the Influence is a powerful image and invitation to us all. CADA’s learning packet, distributed to teachers from kindergarten to high school, contains another important objective, helping young people to “Make Up Your Own Mind.” There are people and events in Mrs. Barr’s own life that make her efforts personal. “My own upbringing bridges to their experiences. I want these kids to be able to wonder, to ask questions, to grow... and they can express so much in therapeutic ways through art.” “In elementary school, kids are usually still protected from drug and alcohol issues that may be in the family,” she explains, “but more and more, children need a safe place of support to express what is going on at home.” What’s going on at your home? If
you’ve provided an environment of open communication where confidence and self-esteem can withstand the onslaught of peer pressure and marketing campaigns determined to obliterate innocence, you are in the minority. If you’re a college student cramming for classes, popping street Ritalin to help focus, then blowing your brain and your bank account away every weekend, it’s time for a reality check. If you’re a trendy hipster who can rattle off blue ribbon bottlers in the brewery battles, knows the ingredients in a Negroni or has frequent flyer points and a wine glass collection from local tasting rooms, you’re cool. But you’re also partway down that road to addiction, even if it’s charged on a Platinum card. Most of us could use some help in finding our dream without being under the influence. This isn’t a lecture; it’s an invitation to save a child, balance a life and be able to look at the stars overhead from something other than a ditch. CADA and Mrs. Barr are doing their part... how about we do ours?
Business Beat by Ray Estrada
KDB Radio Station Up For Sale
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fter almost nine decades of providing classical music, Santa Barbara radio station KDB 93.7 FM, has hit a sour note and is up for sale, said station manager Tim Owens. The Santa Barbara Foundation wants to sell the station since KDB ran up a $400,000 deficit during the last three years. The nonprofit foundation bought KDB in 2003 thanks to a donation by Michael Towbes, founder of Montecito Bank & Trust. KDB has an almost $1 million annual operating budget, but sold less than half that in advertising in the past year. KDB could be purchased by someone who plans to keep the station’s classical music format. In that case, the price would be lower, foundation officials said. Proceeds will be turned into an endowment for classical music in Santa Barbara if the current format is maintained. A Public Radio Capital broker has been hired to work on the sale. Only one serious offer has been received so far, Owens said. He said only 1,000 of the 20,000 KDB listeners have actually donated to the station as advertising revenue continues to drop.
Motivational Speaker’s Work Aids Big Brothers & Sisters
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anta Barbara County-based motivational speaker Vanessa Prince says she is distributor of the all-natural, skin-care product Nerium because almost a third of its sales benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. Nerium donates 30 percent of its sales to cancer research and the Big Brothers
by Ray Estrada
Ray Estrada is a writer, editor and media consultant who has worked for newspapers, radio news, wire services and online publications for the past 40 years. He has taught journalism at the University of Southern California and now runs his own consulting business based in Santa Barbara.
sbview.com
Big Sisters of America. In the past two years, Nerium International has grossed $300 million. “That’s why I affiliated myself with Nerium,” Prince said. “Because that ties into with the type of work I do and want to see done.” Prince’s work with Nerium is praised by officials at Santa Barbara County’s Family Service Agency, which oversees the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
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“Vanessa is not only passionate, but she is extremely involved in the community, an inspirational speaker and volunteer, sharing her good will with many people, youth and adults,” says Bonnie Pack, program manager for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Barbara County. “Family Service Agency’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program views our partnership with Nerium as helping us to develop more mentoring relationships, connections that have a positive, lasting effect on our community youth,” Pack said. “Local Nerium representatives are already in the process of becoming a mentor and have expressed interest in helping Big Brothers Big Sisters with a proposed Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraising event next year,” Pack said. Nerium International’s goal is to become Big Brothers Big Sisters’ largest single corporate partner in terms of dollars raised and volunteers recruited.
A Santa Barbara view photo by Bill Heller.com