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T H U R S DAY, AU G U S T 18 , 2 0 2 2
From ‘Happy Days’ to Election Day
City of Santa Barbara places its attorney on leave Ariel Colonne says he can’t discuss the reason
Anson Williams, who played Potsie, is running for mayor of Ojai
By NEIL HARTSTEIN
By DAVE MASON
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
When asked to run for mayor of Ojai, “Happy Days” star Anson Williams knew he had to say yes. “Honestly, Ojai saved my life,” Mr. Williams, who played Potsie on the ABC series set in the 1950s, told the News-Press by phone from his Ojai home. “A little over five years ago, I had colon cancer. There were some serious complications from it,” Mr. Williams said. “At the same time, I had some really horrible personal challenges and situations. “After I was released from the hospital, I came back to my house in Ojai, and I began to heal and started venturing out,” he said. “I was embraced by the most caring people in Ojai, who helped me to heal. “Then out of the blue, I was asked to run for mayor,” said Mr. Williams, 72, who’s running against Ojai Mayor Betsy Stix. “I had to say ‘yes.’ I want to give back.” Mr. Williams, who met his fiance Sharon MaHarry in Ojai, announced his candidacy at an Ojai City Council meeting on June 28. This week he talked to the News-Press about his extensive platform, his time on “Happy Days” and a directing career that included “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” He said he wants to maintain Ojai’s unique character while promoting businesses and making tourism a better experience for the small community and tourists alike. “Ojai has 7,400 folks and 900,000 tourists,” Mr. Williams said. Ojai is known for major events such as the Ojai Music Festival, which attract many visitors. Mr. Williams wants to establish a “base camp” during events outside the downtown area, where tourists and tour buses could park and pay a fee. Shuttles would take visitors to locations such as the Libbey Bowl (the central location of the Ojai Music Festival and other festivals), trail heads, the Arcade on Ojai Avenue (the city’s main street) and other tourist areas. “Tourists will enjoy it more and will buy more goods,” Mr. Williams said. “Ojai is a special place, and it will keep it a special experience.” He also said he wants to support the small businesses in Ojai, including the mom-and-pop businesses in the Arcade. He said one way to do that is by creating an Ojai catalog, a free publication that could be handed to tourists and would list products they could buy online anytime from businesses. And he told the News-Press he favors restoration, not replacement, of the old buildings that contribute to Ojai’s special architectural character. “There’s so much we can do together to thrive and not change the character of Ojai, but to only improve the spirit of Ojai,” said Mr. Williams, who has talked to five mayors he considers to be successful for ideas.
Santa Barbara City Attorney Ariel Colonne confirmed Wednesday that he is on paid administrative leave and has been since July 25. Mr. Colonne told the NewsPress that the city council met in closed session on the morning of July 25 and that Mayor Randy Rowse informed him later that day of its decision to place him on leave. Mr. Colonne declined to disclose the reasons behind the council’s decision. “I was ordered not to say anything, but I can confirm I am on paid administrative leave,” he said. “I cannot confirm, deny
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Actor and director Anson Williams (“Happy Days”) said he’s running for mayor of Ojai to give back to a community that helped him heal after his battle with colon cancer.
“We can improve our parks; we can improve so many things,” he said. “All it takes is not being a politician. It takes being a caring person.” Mr. Williams also wants to get the community involved in making decisions. “I don’t want to see eight people attending a city council meeting. I want to see several hundred,” he said. “What are your ideas? What’s frustrating you?” His platform also includes what he calls a “commonsense approach to climate change,” including solar power for schools, recreation facilities and the Ojai Hospital and incentives for solar power in office buildings and condos. He calls for eliminating plastic straws and packaging and making all governmental vehicles electric. But in dealing with issues such as the drought, Mr. Williams stressed the need to tell people facts. “Here in Ojai, there’s definitely a drought,” he said. “People look at Lake Casitas, and it’s really scary. The water’s way down. “But guess what? The city of Ojai doesn’t get its water from Lake Casitas,” hesid. “We have an aquifer where we get 99% of our water. The sky’s not falling. “We need to do our diligence, do Please see WILLIAMS on A5
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or comment on the basis for that leave.” Asked to comment on published reports of a heated argument between him and another attorney in his office, Mr. Colonne repeated, “I cannot comment on any source of disruption, or what the reason I’m on leave is.” He said he did not know how long he would remain on paid leave. “I don’t know how long it will take,” he said. “All I can say is you’ve got to trust the process.” Mayor Randy Rowse was even more tight-lipped Wednesday, declining to even say whether the city attorney was on paid administrative leave.
A crowd enjoys the cheese table at a Wine Down event at the Friendship Center in Montecito. The next Wine Down is set for Sept. 8 there.
Friendship Center to host 10th annual Wine Down By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Anson Williams enjoyed his role on “Happy Days” and his directing career that began after the show.
For the first time since 2019, the Friendship Center will host its Wine Down. The 10th annual event will take place 4-7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the center, 89 Eucalyptus Lane, Montecito. The Wine Down will feature tastings of wine, beer and coffee from more than 10 local businesses. “It’s so exciting to actually gather again,” Heidi Holly, executive director at the Friendship Center, told the News-Press. “We are fortunate to have a beautiful courtyard in Montecito and do some wine tasting and just be together with supporters and families and raise some dollars for a good cause. “The wine down is a chance to enjoy this casual event without supporters,” she said. “We will have a delightful evening with wine and beer and fellowship and camaraderie.”
Participating beverage purveyors include: Buttonwood Farm Winery, Roblar Winery, Draughtsmen Aleworks, Fess Parker Winery, Summerland Winery, Sunstone Winery, Folded Hills, Kalyra Winery, Brander Winery and Montecito Gourmet Coffee & Wine. Guests will also enjoy hearty hors d’oeuvres and live music by Tony Ybarra’s Elementos Project, featuring vocalist Marisa Pasquini. The Friendship Center provides day services for seniors. The center’s mission is “twofold in that we serve seniors on site, and caregivers get a break from challenges that they may have due to caregiving,” Ms. Holly said. “What the Friendship Center does is help seniors to live in a home-like setting as long as possible, deterring long-term care, which can be very costly. “We work on affordability with families who are on one side, taking care of their aging parents while simultaneously taking care Please see WINE DOWN on A10
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Classified................. A6 Life..................... A 7-8 Obituaries.............. A10
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 3-3-9-6
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 33-35-41-45-51 Meganumber: 1
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 21-22-28-29-35
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 05-04-10 Time: 1:49.51
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Sudoku................... A9 Weather................ A10
Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 8-7-5 / Wednesday’s Midday 8-8-1