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Memories of Stearns Wharf
Thomas Cole runs against Carbajal
Actor and author Timothy Bottoms talks about his new book, ‘The Pier’
Republican candidate stresses freedom and choice
By KIRA LOGAN NEWS PRESS-CORRESPONDENT
The first taste of independence as a child is liberating, something you don’t forget — the wind in your hair, the future glistening in front of you. For actor and author Timothy Bottoms, his first touch of freedom as a child was fishing on the pier in Santa Barbara. Timothy Bottoms, a distinguished Hollywood actor widely known for his roles in movies such as “Johnny Got His Gun” and “The Last Picture Show” (both from 1971), has recently released his first book, “The Pier.” It’s a memoir loosely based around his childhood memories at the Santa Barbara pier. He will discuss “The Pier” and sign copies at 6 p.m. April 19 at Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St., Santa Barbara. Mr. Bottoms is a Santa Barbara native and the son of Elizabeth “Betty” Chapman and James “Bud” Bottoms, a famous sculptor who created the dolphin sculpture that stands in front of Stearns Wharf. Growing up in Santa Barbara, Mr. Bottoms would spend his time in the backcountry, at the ocean and everywhere in between. He labels himself as a very independent child. This independence led him to intriguing adventures and time spent alone on the pier, which is what his new book focuses on. During a News-Press interview this week about “The Pier,” Mr. Bottoms discussed the writing process and his fond memories of Stearns Wharf. “I wrote this book back in 2007. I wrote it in three days and three nights — on a typewriter!” he said. Mr. Bottoms explained how in order to get the idea for his book, he stared at the blank typewriter paper until the idea came to him. He noted that he spoke with famous authors like William Saroyan and Ray Bradbury, among others, when in the process of creating a book idea. They advised him to “write about what you know about.” Taking their advice, Mr. Bottoms began reflecting on what he knew about, and quickly remembered his childhood experiences of time spent at the Santa Barbara pier. He got to writing. Mr. Bottoms said that he has “always loved writing little stories and poems, things of that sort,” so his first book was pleasurable to write, to say the least. Mr. Bottoms added that when brainstorming his story, memories from the pier would come to him — he could instantly remember the smells and the views, just like he was 8 years old again. “Eight (years old) was a really special year for me,” Mr. Bottoms said “That was my favorite year, when I was 8, it was pure freedom.” Reminiscing on childhood memories in Santa Barbara, Mr. Bottoms recalled: “(I was) just a little kid, but you feel like a little
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Thomas Cole is running against U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, to represent California’s 24th district. Mr. Cole, who recently ran for the California Republican Party chair and lost, talked to the News-Press about what inspired him to run against Rep. Carbajal. “My son, Charles Cole, ran for Assembly in 2020; he did pretty well, about 38%. We saw how things were going and we looked into everything,” Mr. Cole said. “We saw what happened when we were working with the Larry Elder campaign. We had ideas that people weren’t using. We actually know better than some bigger campaigners. “Where the county is headed is not serving anybody except maybe Rep.Carbajal’s elite donors in the South County. But the people running against him are not trying that hard,” the local resident said. “I voted for Reagan in 1980 the first time I voted. I have lots of experience as a builder and a developer. I have listened to Rush Limbaugh for years. “Being a Reagan fan is
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helpful. I don’t think Reagan would get elected today,” he said. “The country is different, California is different and our problems are different.” Mr. Cole went on to say he’s a fan of politics and has read many political history books. “I have studied every presidential election since the founding. We have been divided since the beginning. “At this point, we are now a three-party nation,” Mr. Cole said. “What I am thinking is that Republicans in California need to join with Please see COLE on A4
Dos Pueblos campus confirmed to be safe
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“I want children to read it and go, ‘Wow, that really happened!’ ” said Timothy Bottoms, a Hollywood actor and Santa Barbra native who wrote “The Pier.”
man.” When talking about the pier his book is based on, Mr. Bottoms said, “The pier was my babysitter. Everybody kept an eye on everybody,” which seems to foster a sense of community. Fishing is the center of Mr. Bottoms story, and he believes fishing and life share general principles, like patience and kindness. “Kindness is really important — that goes for everything!” Mr. Bottoms told the News-Press. “Kindness to strangers is really
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Thomas Cole
important, and that’s one of the values I wanted to put in the book.” Further, he explained that his family and fishing comrades, mentioned in the back of the book, were inspiring to him. “They mentored me, they were really gentle with me. You try to keep that (kindness) with you when you grow up.” His book takes place in one day, and covers every detail — from the “endless laughter of the gulls” to the “soupy, misty fog” over the pier. Mr. Bottoms
hopes to revitalize his readers’ childhoods with a story of his own. Mr. Bottom said he wants this story to stimulate people’s childhoods. “I want people to read it and see if any memories were woken up in their mind when they were a kid … I want children to read it and go, ‘Wow, that really happened!’ ” Mr. Bottoms story covers the small details in one’s childhood that typically falls through the Please see BOTTOMS on A4
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Geosyntec staff members review the health assessment’s results and answer questions from Dos Pueblos High School staff members.
By CALEB BEEGHLY NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
The recent environmental assessment at Dos Pueblos High School concluded that there are no health concerns, confirming preliminary analysis conducted by Santa Barbara County Public Health in February. Geosyntec gathered and examined air and soil samples from outside and inside the Goleta school. Geosyntec also tested for
electromagnetic fields and radon. In addition to this, the California Cancer Registry said it could not find a common link or cluster of cases among the cancer staff report. Dr. Hilda Maldonado, superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District, expressed gratitude to all involved and emphasized the district’s commitment to staff and student safety. email: cbeeghly@newspress.com
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Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-4-16-37-39 Meganumber: 18
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