Cover Story
Locals talk about a new law giving transgender students access to school facilities
Bathroom. Restroom. Toilet. Loo. The place in which people do their business has many names, but one universal purpose. Most of us don’t think twice about using this facility, it’s such an everyday occurrence: When nature calls, we make our way through one of two doors, depending on our gender, and that’s that. But imagine…
The Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association disbands
The vintners association that has represented and promoted wineries and vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley for a decade announced this week it will dissolve. The Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association made the decision late last year after roundtable discussions with members. It becomes official at the end of February. Former board member Laura…
It was 50 years ago today, Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play
Feb. 7, 1964, is a day I will remember forever. I was just a month away from leaving the single-digit years of my childhood behind to become a budding 10-year-old. And I do mean budding! My grandmother finally made Mom see reason (and reality) and buy me my first brassiere. I began to notice boys…
Santa Maria Planning Commission approves development permit for an ICE facility
After 4 1/2 hours of public comment and discussion at its Feb. 5 meeting, the Santa Maria Planning Commission voted 3-1, with Commissioner Robert Dickerson dissenting, to approve a planned development permit for construction of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility in Santa Maria. More than 2,000 people showed up to the meeting–the…
Santa Maria Planning Commission approves development permit for ICE facility
After 4 1/2 hours of public comment and discussion at its Feb. 5 meeting, the Santa Maria Planning Commission voted 3-1, with Commissioner Robert Dickerson dissenting, to approve a planned development permit for construction of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Santa Maria. Dickerson said he opposed the project because he thought it…
Pinot paradise: Bacara Resort & Spa in Goleta welcomes the World of Pinot Noir
For 13 years, pinot-philes have converged on the cliffs overlooking Shell Beach for the annual celebration called World of Pinot Noir—but not this year. That’s because organizers have decided to move the two-day event, held on Feb. 28 and March 1 this year, to coastal Santa Barbara County at the luxurious Bacara Resort & Spa.…
The Fine Arts Student Art Show at Hancock displays the collected skills of visual arts students
Allan Hancock College’s Ann Foxworthy Gallery is a peaceful space, tucked down the main hall of the college’s Academic Resource Center. Located next to the library, and a brief walk from any Hancock parking lot, the gallery is currently showing its annual Fine Arts Student Art Show, which highlights the efforts of students from a…
Accused Santa Maria bank robber dies in motor home wreck
Less than three months ago, Arthur “Clay” Watkins, 56, was a licensed marriage and family therapist in Arroyo Grande, a former president of the local Rotary Club, and a father of two young children. In the time since then, however, Watkins allegedly robbed a Santa Maria bank, was charged with seven felonies, spent more than…
A war of riffs: Battle of the Bands benefit in Orcutt features three local ensembles, chance to win tickets to U2 concert
Orcutt Academy High School is raring up for a fundraising event with a new, musical element. Having held other special events in the past, the school’s PTSA decided do an event that promotes local youth bands. The first-ever Battle of the Bands fundraiser is scheduled for Feb. 8 at the school in Orcutt. “Whoever was…
On the sweeter side: Crafting events at Michaels
Michaels offers crafting events for kids ages 3 and up. A “Sweet Treat Card” event is scheduled for Feb. 8 for 30-minute sessions from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the store. Cost is $2. A free family craft time “Love Bug Card” event is Feb. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. A free family craft…
Santa Maria Civic Theatre holds auditions for ‘Confusion’
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre is holding auditions for its upcoming production of the Alan Ayckbourn play Confusion. Directed by Alan Foster, the play calls for five actors to play 22 different characters. The play consists of five interlinked one-act plays. The show will run April 25 through May 17 at the civic theater. The…
Cupid skills
Riverbench Winery is offering a special Valentine’s Day-themed event with an archery lesson on Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by wine tasting. The lesson and tasting costs $15 per person; reservations are encouraged. More information is available at 937-8340 or Riverbench Winery, 6020 Foxen Canyon Road, Santa Maria.
Singing sweet songs: Send a ‘Singing Valentine’ and benefit a good cause
The Tri City Sound Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, is offering “Singing Valentines” to locals in Lompoc, Vandenberg Village, and the Santa Maria Valley. Those interested must call and make a reservation. All proceeds go toward funding local music scholarships. Chorus members of the female, barbershop-style ensemble are available to perform live on…
Wearing it well: ‘Love, Loss, and What I Wore’ poignantly explores the struggles women endure
Let’s be real: Men have it pretty easy. I put about as much thought into what I will wear each day as I do what I’ll have for breakfast, and the answer is usually the same—what’s closest and easiest. That being said, I grew up with an older sister, and live with my fiancée, and…
It’s scholarship application time again
It’s that time of the year when local scholarship opportunities begin popping up, and application deadlines loom for high school seniors and college students. The Sun only has a couple on the list for this week’s paper, but more are sure to come in the following weeks and months, so keep an eye out: The…
Students and authors go ’round the reading carousel
Upper elementary and junior high school students from schools throughout Santa Barbara County had the chance to meet and talk with authors and illustrators for the 44th annual Author-Go-Round. Students attended the event Jan. 27 through 31 in the County Education Office Auditorium in Santa Barbara. They met authors of books written specifically for young…
Guadalupe students author essays for Dunes Center book
Environmental creative writing made its debut for Kermit McKenzie Junior High School students last spring. Now, a book featuring some of their essays has been published, and several students attended the book signing on Jan. 25 at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center. The Dunes Center writing project, The Dune Forum: Animals and Don’t Forget Plants Too,…
Spotlight on: Central Coast Mortgage Consultants
Central Coast Mortgage Consultants was founded in an interesting time of mortgage lending history—right after mortgage lenders started bailing out of the housing industry. But that’s what sets the company apart from those other lenders. “I think the strong will survive,” said Donna Lewis, who is the branch manager at the company. “We have a…
Hobnobbing with Helen
Well, dear readers, who would have thunk it? The Special Olympics fundraiser held on Feb. 1 at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Maria was very, very special—more special than I had anticipated. Why so much enthusiasm on my part? First and foremost, it is very difficult to take a large space that accommodates more…
Political Watch 2/6/14
• A bill created by state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to protect consumer privacy when making certain online purchases, passed 21 to 13 off the Senate floor on Jan. 30, and headed to the state Assembly. Senate Bill 383 is designed to protect consumer privacy when customers are using a credit card to purchase…
Community Notebook 2/6-2/13
MONDAY, FEB. 10 • The Santa Maria City Block Grants Advisory Committee has its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. • The Solvang City Council has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. agendas are available at…
Preisker Park’s gets a new picnic area
Preisker Park’s new picnic and grove area is poppin’, thanks to a partnership between the Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department. A $15,000 contribution and many hours of volunteer labor went into building the sites, which are now open. A press release sent out by Recreation and Parks…
Complaints mar Aramark Correctional Services’ track record across the country
Complaints about the grub served by Aramark Correctional Services aren’t unique to what’s being cooked up in the Santa Barbara County Jail. They are comparable to comments made about the company’s brand of jail food in other areas of the country, too. In a basic Internet search, California, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky…
Santa Maria to be host to international Special Olympics athletes
In addition to raising more than $40,000 on the eve of its biggest fundraiser of the year, Special Olympics of Northern Santa Barbara County announced Santa Maria would play host to 100 Special Olympics athletes from other countries prior to the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles. Rudy Gutierrez, operations coordinator for Special Olympics Northern…
Deputies still looking for one suspect in recent farm robbery spree
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department deputies are asking the public to help them find a suspect wanted in connection with a series of burglaries at several farms in unincorporated Santa Maria. Deputies with the department’s rural crime unit recently arrested two people for allegedly breaking into at least four local farms and stealing about $70,000…
Water board moves toward establishing daily load regulations
Getting a plan to reduce nutrients and pesticides flowing into a watershed approved by all the appropriate regulatory agencies takes almost as long as it does to collect data, analyze it, and create the plan. “It’s kind of a drawn out process,” Harvey Packard, a supervising engineer with the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control…
There’s no hour like the 11th
When I was a little fledgling in flight school, I always showed up early to class, took copious notes, did my homework, studied late into the night, and met frequently with the teacher. Some of my fellow students, however, strolled in late, reeking of cigarette smoke, to hand in crumpled-up worksheets—if they handed in anything…
Extreme environmentalists are the problem
It’s interesting that the whole global warming thing keeps popping up. It’s like an undying echo from a liberal idiocracy that only pretends to be scientific and not political. Take Colin Loustalot’s recent Sun commentary (“Do your own research,” Jan. 23) in which he excoriates Andy Caldwell for being not only out of touch, but…
What’s on Deck? 2/6 – 2/13
Thursday, Feb. 6 Boys’ Soccer Cabrillo vs. Santa Ynez @ CHS, 3 p.m. Nipomo vs. Orcutt Academy @ OJHS, 5:30 p.m. Santa Maria vs. Morro Bay @ SMHS, 5:30 p.m. Girls’ Water Polo Cabrillo @ SoCal Champ., 1 p.m. Boys’ Basketball Nipomo vs. Mission Prep @ NHS, 6:30 p.m. Girls’…
See for free! National Parks announces free admission days
The National Parks Service announced nine free admission days, including several holidays, at its 401 American parks coming up in 2014. “National Parks not only protect and preserve the places we most value; they also add enormous economic value to nearby communities and the entire nation,” National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in…
Remember Huell Howser
The Guadalupe Dunes Center will be host to the Huell Howser Memorial Hike Feb. 8 at Oso Floco Lake. Scheduled for 10 a.m., the hike will commemorate the accomplishments of the late TV travel host. Hikers will also have the chance to learn about the flora and fauna Howser brought to the Guadalupe Dunes. A…
Community and cupcakes
Join the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department on Feb.8 for the Community Valentine’s Healthy Cupcake Walk. Starting at 10 a.m. at Rotary Park, the event will feature an exchange of cupcake recipes, as well as information about the benefits of healthy eating and a brisk walk.
Wedding workout?
Recently engaged? Looking to get in shape before your wedding? The Sun wants to hear your fit-spiration stories. Contact Staff Writer Kristina Sewell at ksewell@santamariasun.com.
Victor Heredia
St. Joseph High School’s varsity baseball is underway with new coach Victor Heredia leading the charge. According to Athletic Director Tom Mott, Heredia has been on the job for three weeks. He was previously the head coach of the junior varsity team. “The kids like him, and we are very excited to have him take…
The Benchwarmer: A not so “super” bowl
As a journalist and a writer, I’ve learned that professional sports and events like the Super Bowl or the Olympics provide wonderful fodder for my columns; they set my sarcastic juices flowing. So came and went another Super Bowl—and another grueling post-game Monday. One day we might have an America where the day after the…
