D Santa Barbara

Republican challenger Bob Pohl withdrew Thursday from his race against Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), saying he needs to dedicate his time to fighting a recently diagnosed case of lymphatic cancer. Pohl, 53, an education consultant and former president of the Santa Barbara school board, said he found a lump in his thigh three weeks ago, and doctors confirmed his illness a week later after a fund-raiser featuring former vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp.

CALISTOGA, CALIF. Calistoga Tamale Festival When, where: May 1, Pioneer Park Highlights: One of the town's 125th anniversary celebrations, this tribute will feature folkloric dancing, live music, piñatas, tamale-making contests and a raffle. Cost: Admission is free; proceeds from tamale sales benefit local community organizations Info: http://www.calistogavisitors.com LAS VEGAS Vegas Uncork'd When, where: May 5-8; Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and Encore Highlights: The annual culinary event, presented by Bon Appétit magazine, presents more than two dozen luncheons, dinners, tastings and workshops featuring Joël Robuchon, Alain Ducasse, Guy Savoy, Michael Mina and others.

Re "A Vote Against Drilling Off Coast," July 18: Because of the leadership of Reps. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and George Miller (D-Martinez), the House of Representatives has voted to cut off funds for oil drilling off California's coast. Perhaps this strong bipartisan vote will finally goad President Bush into doing right by California by buying back the existing federal leases as he did for his brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, in Florida. But don't hold your breath. Without a brother who is running for reelection in the state, the president is likely to do what he normally does in these situations: choose the side of his wealthy contributors in corporate America at the expense of our environment.

A retired attorney whose career as a prosecutor, civil litigator and criminal defense lawyer spanned three decades and three counties was appointed Tuesday to the Santa Barbara County Superior Court by Gov. Gray Davis. George C. Eskin, 65, a Santa Barbara resident who has served as the assistant district attorney in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and as a chief assistant city attorney in Los Angeles, is expected to begin hearing cases next month.

For 30 years, the Workers Compensation Appeals Board has had an office in Ventura for the adjudication of work injuries. It is well situated with adequate parking, proximity to the government center, freeway and public transportation. It is also in, and next to, the largest and fourth-largest cities in Ventura County. The state has recently remodeled the building and has, within the last month, installed up-to-date computers with dedicated electrical outlets and wiring. It is a model office, especially when compared to other regional officers such as Van Nuys were overcrowded conditions make it unbearable.

State Sen. Jack O'Connell (D-Santa Barbara) said he won't run for the congressional seat left vacant by the death two weeks ago of Santa Barbara Democrat Walter Capps. Instead, O'Connell--whose 18th Senatorial District includes San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and a portion of western Ventura County--said he will focus on his 1998 reelection bid. "Obviously, this was not an easy decision to make," O'Connell said in a written statement Wednesday.

A retired attorney whose career as a prosecutor, civil litigator and criminal defense lawyer spanned three decades and three counties was appointed Tuesday to the Santa Barbara County Superior Court by Gov. Gray Davis. George C. Eskin, 65, a Santa Barbara resident who has served as the assistant district attorney in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and as a chief assistant city attorney in Los Angeles, is expected to begin hearing cases next month.

It is time the extremism of our Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) and state Sen. Jack O'Connell (D-San Luis Obispo) be exposed. They continue to support very radical social legislation without local parents' awareness. For example AB 1785, just one among many such bills supported by these two, recently signed by Gov. Gray Davis, under the guise of "human relations" and "hate crime" reporting would teach appreciation and approval of homosexual and bisexual behavior to schoolchildren as early as kindergarten in an attempt to shape their "attitudes."

Floor Action: Employee Files: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 44-29 vote a bill (AB 96) by Assemblyman Richard Floyd (D-Carson) to give all employees the right to inspect their personnel files within 10 days of filing a request with their employers. Employers could charge a reasonable cost for photocopying the files. Committee Action: Telephone Calls: The Utilities and Commerce Committee approved a bill (AB 689) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to prevent hotels and motels from gouging customers for telephone calls by limiting possible surcharges to 25 cents per call and allowing them to choose the most economical long-distance telephone service.

Appointed Melinda E. (Mimi) Morris of Sacramento as assistant director of the governor's Office of California-Mexico Affairs. A Republican, Morris, 25, has been an office assistant since 1988. The job pays $38,388 and does not require Senate confirmation. Will attend a California fire administrators' conference in Sacramento on Tuesday and hold a ceremony honoring Asian-Pacific Islanders in Sacramento on Wednesday. Assembly Floor Action: Gambling: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 49-0 vote a bill (AB 110)

Republican challenger Bob Pohl withdrew Thursday from his race against Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), saying he needs to dedicate his time to fighting a recently diagnosed case of lymphatic cancer. Pohl, 53, an education consultant and former president of the Santa Barbara school board, said he found a lump in his thigh three weeks ago, and doctors confirmed his illness a week later after a fund-raiser featuring former vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp.

Re "A Vote Against Drilling Off Coast," July 18: Because of the leadership of Reps. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and George Miller (D-Martinez), the House of Representatives has voted to cut off funds for oil drilling off California's coast. Perhaps this strong bipartisan vote will finally goad President Bush into doing right by California by buying back the existing federal leases as he did for his brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, in Florida. But don't hold your breath. Without a brother who is running for reelection in the state, the president is likely to do what he normally does in these situations: choose the side of his wealthy contributors in corporate America at the expense of our environment.

It is time the extremism of our Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) and state Sen. Jack O'Connell (D-San Luis Obispo) be exposed. They continue to support very radical social legislation without local parents' awareness. For example AB 1785, just one among many such bills supported by these two, recently signed by Gov. Gray Davis, under the guise of "human relations" and "hate crime" reporting would teach appreciation and approval of homosexual and bisexual behavior to schoolchildren as early as kindergarten in an attempt to shape their "attitudes."

State Sen. Jack O'Connell (D-Santa Barbara) said he won't run for the congressional seat left vacant by the death two weeks ago of Santa Barbara Democrat Walter Capps. Instead, O'Connell--whose 18th Senatorial District includes San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and a portion of western Ventura County--said he will focus on his 1998 reelection bid. "Obviously, this was not an easy decision to make," O'Connell said in a written statement Wednesday.

For 30 years, the Workers Compensation Appeals Board has had an office in Ventura for the adjudication of work injuries. It is well situated with adequate parking, proximity to the government center, freeway and public transportation. It is also in, and next to, the largest and fourth-largest cities in Ventura County. The state has recently remodeled the building and has, within the last month, installed up-to-date computers with dedicated electrical outlets and wiring. It is a model office, especially when compared to other regional officers such as Van Nuys were overcrowded conditions make it unbearable.

Appointed Melinda E. (Mimi) Morris of Sacramento as assistant director of the governor's Office of California-Mexico Affairs. A Republican, Morris, 25, has been an office assistant since 1988. The job pays $38,388 and does not require Senate confirmation. Will attend a California fire administrators' conference in Sacramento on Tuesday and hold a ceremony honoring Asian-Pacific Islanders in Sacramento on Wednesday. Assembly Floor Action: Gambling: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 49-0 vote a bill (AB 110)

SACRAMENTO -- Many child-care programs would be prohibited from providing children under 2 with any time in front of a television set or computer screen, and older children would be limited to an hour a day under state legislation aimed at reducing childhood obesity. The bill introduced by state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) would also require the after-school and child-care programs to provide fruits and vegetables at every meal. It would prohibit the programs from serving fried foods and beverages with added sugars.

CALISTOGA, CALIF. Calistoga Tamale Festival When, where: May 1, Pioneer Park Highlights: One of the town's 125th anniversary celebrations, this tribute will feature folkloric dancing, live music, piñatas, tamale-making contests and a raffle. Cost: Admission is free; proceeds from tamale sales benefit local community organizations Info: http://www.calistogavisitors.com LAS VEGAS Vegas Uncork'd When, where: May 5-8; Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and Encore Highlights: The annual culinary event, presented by Bon Appétit magazine, presents more than two dozen luncheons, dinners, tastings and workshops featuring Joël Robuchon, Alain Ducasse, Guy Savoy, Michael Mina and others.

Floor Action: Employee Files: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 44-29 vote a bill (AB 96) by Assemblyman Richard Floyd (D-Carson) to give all employees the right to inspect their personnel files within 10 days of filing a request with their employers. Employers could charge a reasonable cost for photocopying the files. Committee Action: Telephone Calls: The Utilities and Commerce Committee approved a bill (AB 689) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) to prevent hotels and motels from gouging customers for telephone calls by limiting possible surcharges to 25 cents per call and allowing them to choose the most economical long-distance telephone service.