Cover Story
The road ahead is riddled with potholes
The operation was, by all accounts, industrious. It boasted cooperation from the Santa Barbara regional Narcotic Task Force, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, SLOPD, Santa Maria PD, and the California Highway Patrol. Their combined effort focused on people providing medical cannabis in San Luis Obispo County, an…
Should marijuana be legalized?
Mike Covington retail “Yes, because it could be taxed. And it’s safer than alcohol.” Kyle Robb recreation “It’s just a plant that helps people, and hemp can be used as a fuel, and we can build houses out of it. It’s a great resource. Even George Washington grew it.” Antonio Garcia mechanic “No, I don’t…
Give us the details, governor
img2892 Gov. Jerry Brown presented a 12-point education plan during his campaign. Brown wisely crafted a proposal that encompassed multiple elements of public education, among them the cost of higher education and changes in the state testing program. Although each component of that platform could spur positive change, Brown’s interest in raising high-school graduation rates…
Drama students go to Scotland
The Nipomo High School Drama Department is seeking donations to offset the cost of travel to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in August. The festival is the world’s largest and most prestigious arts festival. The Nipomo High School drama department will be part of the American High School Theatre Festival. Nominated by…
Lompoc wants artists
The Lompoc Library Art Advisory Committee announced a call to artists to submit work for consideration as an exhibition in the library’s Grossman Gallery, 501 E. North Ave., in Lompoc. The committee will select and schedule exhibits at its regular meeting on March 3. Artists who want to be considered should deliver six representative pieces…
Federal disaster relief funds are coming to Santa Barbara County
President Barack Obama declared flood-ravaged regions of California a disaster area on Jan. 26, freeing up federal funding to repair damage from the winter storms to roads and public buildings in Santa Barbara County. County Emergency Operations Chief Michael Harris said the aid would reimburse the county for about 94 percent of the roughly $3.5…
Political Watch – 2.03
The Santa Maria Valley Republicans Inc. and honorary chairwoman Jane Russell are hosting a ball commemorating the 100th anniversary of 40th United States President Ronald Reagan’s birthday on Feb. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria. The ball will include a social hour, cake cutting ceremony with the Central…
Community Notebook – 2.03
TUESDAY, FEB. 8 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, suite 141, Santa Maria. Agendas are available at santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Guadalupe City Council has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the…
Far, out
Few places in Guadalupe are more deliciously historic than the Far Western Tavern. For five decades, the restaurant has served up its signature steaks and award-winning cowboy fare to tourists trekking down Highway 1 and locals making the drive just for a taste of Santa Maria-style barbecue. Those days will soon be living only in…
Salute your taste buds
Know a local restaurant with really tasty chili? Well, Legal Aid of Santa Barbara County is now accepting applications for the Seventh Annual Taste for Justice chili cook-off. The event will be held March 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Santa Maria Airport, inside a World War II hanger. And because of the…
Pay-per-performance
Teachers in the Lucia Mar Unified School District could soon be seeing changes in their paychecks. On Jan. 28, members of the district’s teachers association approved a proposal to consider an incentive-based pay system for six of its schools. Launched in 1999, the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) is a school reform program that, among other…
Local welfare fraud sweep nets nine
Nine people have been arrested across Santa Barbara County for suspicion of welfare services fraud in a recent warrant sweep operation by law enforcement. Officers and investigators from various departments collaborated on the operation on Jan. 26, nabbing individuals suspected of either skipping out on their probation or people who have outstanding welfare fraud charges.…
Legislation aims to end medical marijuana employment discrimination
New legislation was recently introduced in the state Senate that, if passed, would prohibit employers from firing individuals solely on the basis that they are legal medical marijuana patients. On Jan. 31, Democratic Sen. Mark Leno, who represents Marin and portions of San Francisco and Sonoma counties, introduced a bill that would prohibit discrimination of…
Santa Maria mourns the passing of a former mayor
Donald E. Lahr, a longtime local businessman and community leader who served as mayor of Santa Maria from December 1998 to December 2000, died of a stroke on Jan. 25 four days after celebrating his 81st birthday. According to a press release from the city, Lahr had a key role in changing the mayoral term…
Church to air Ramsey seminar
Learn how to take your business to the next level at the live EntreLeadership simulcast, featuring syndicated radio talk show host Dave Ramsey, on April 1. Attendees will discover ways to develop a unified team, gain knowledge to build a recession-proof business, and have the opportunity to network with other local business leaders. The nationwide…
Association of Realtors announces officers
The Santa Maria Association of Realtors, an organization of 500 licensed real estate professionals, announced its officers for 2011. The association installed Era Polly as president; D’Ann Bartley (also named 2010 Realtor of the Year) as past president; Pat O’Brien as president-elect; and Shay Murphy as secretary/treasurer. The group also named Martha Beckman, Susan Gelt-Garcia,…
CBSM records a profitable 2010
Community Bank of Santa Maria released its annual earnings report on Jan. 31, reporting gains in profits, total assets, deposits, and net loans for 2010. The bank reported total assets of $152 million at year’s end, a 12.7 percent increase over the $134.9 million reported at the end of 2009. Deposits increased 13.9 percent, from…
Learn more about Altrusa
Altrusa International of Santa Maria will hold its annual membership event to get the public acquainted with the organization’s work in the Santa Maria Valley on Feb. 20. Some of Altrusa’s past projects include the Senior Citizen’s Project; the Santa Maria Independent Living Environment (SMILE); and a monthly donation of books to Community Health Clinics…
Donating to the library is fashionable
Leather lovers have contributed more to Santa Ynez Valley Friends of the Library than just fancy bookcovers. First Street Leather’s 20th Annual Charity Fashion show recently raised $1,550 for the group. Although no admission was charged at the event, guests were encouraged to donate to the Santa Ynez Friends of the Library. Cassandra and Phillip…
Catholic schools come together
In the midst of National Catholic School Week, four Catholic schools have gathered together to have joint-mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria. The mass marks the first time that these schools have celebrated together. “I came from the Diocese of Colorado Springs and they had a mass with all of…
Jowey Koltes
There are fields, arenas, diamonds, courts, tracks, and courses. And then there are stages. “Dance is just like any other kind of sport,” Allan Hancock College student Jowey Koltes told the Sun. “To play football, you always want to be dominant, you always want to get to the next level. It’s the same thing in…
Sit! Stay! Sign up!
Train your dog to be loyal and playful through positive reinforcement, praise, and reward techniques at the Lompoc Parks, Recreation, and Urban Forestry Department’s Dog Obedience classes. Attendees will enjoy the bonding process while teaching their dogs to heel, sit, and stay on command. Students must be at least 14 years old and dogs must…
Tee off at Lompoc Parks’ annual golf tourney
It’s not too early to sign up for the Lompoc Parks, Recreation, and Urban Forestry Department’s eighth annual golf tournament, held April 10 at the Marshallia Golf Course. The event is open to golfers 14 years and older and will be played in a four-person scramble format. Early bird registration costs $100 until March 18,…
Dirtbike haven
Somewhere near Buellton, just off of Highway 101, the buzzing din of off-road motorcycles pierces the serenity of the cow-pastured countryside. On this dirt track tucked away on private land, one of a few places left in the county where motocross riders are still welcome, riders pay for the privilege to tear around its turns…
More people impact students than just teachers
I am a local, bilingual elementary teacher. My credentials, experience, stress level, work load, accountability, and the responsibility I bear are worth at least $120, 000. I am light-years away from it. But I do not want more money. I earn enough to meet my needs. I want fewer students in the classroom; I want…
Let’s pump our way into better financial shape
We are in a recession with a large number of unemployed. I have a suggestion that might help in alleviating that problem. I have traveled to Oregon through the years and am impressed at the fact that when stopping for gas, not only do the employees pump the gas, but they’re often willing to clean…
Forget Black Swan, see The Red Shoes
I have to disagree with your positive evaluation of Black Swan (“Dark Swan,” Jan. 27). As a former ballet dancer, I looked forward to the dancing, but was disappointed that it didn’t live up to that old gold standard, The Red Shoes with Moira Shearer, which appeared in the 1950s. Not only that, but in…
V-day at Monarch
Fire up that lovelight and slip into the mood for romance with an evening of wine, roses, and utter indulgence on Feb. 11. For the second year in a row, Nipomo’s Trilogy at Monarch Dunes will open its doors for the gala Pre-Valentine’s Day Taste l’Amour, a wine tasting and gift expo that fills the…
Clubs & Meetings
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Spiritual
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Farmers Markets
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Barbecues
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Health
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } SANSUM CLINIC presents a Weight Management Strategies class that meets Feb. 3, 10, and 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Sansum Clinic, 1225 N. “H” St,,…
Art
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents the exhibit “Layers: Composite Photographs from Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Ynez Valleys” by Kam Jacoby shows through Feb. 28.…
Learning
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCondItal”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } HEALING MEDITATION CLASS focuses on spiritual and physical healing through Dec. 27 Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., 2880 Santa Maria Way,…
Recreation
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY LIBRARY presents its annual Adult Winter Reading Program featuring 9 books, prizes, and surprises Jan. 15 through April 15 at all…
Kids & Family
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT offers a boys recreational Tee Ball League for ages 5 to 7 with registration open through Feb.…
Dance Lessons
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } ADULT TAP DANCE classes taught by Jason Sumabat are Sundays from 2 to 3 p.m., Dellos Dance Studio, 1229 Grande Ave., Arroyo Grande. $15 per class,…
Stage
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE LOMPOC CIVIC THEATRE holds auditions for its production of “Over the River and Through the Woods” with roles available for 3 men and 3 women…
Concerts
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE SANTA MARIA TOWN CENTER presents live music at the mall featuring Cadillac Angels Feb. 5, and Amy Estrada Feb. 12. Call for times, Santa Maria Town…
Special Events
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE LOMPOC MUSEUM is raffling off a custom vintage style quilt in benefit of the museum’s Stone Pine Hall Building Fund with tickets on sale through…
Digital dating
\ Two weeks ago, at precisely 7:41 p.m., my son suddenly hit the age where he has one thing and one thing only on his mind: girls. The day before, it was video games. Now it’s girls, girls, girls. Of course, he doesn’t exactly understand these girls yet (not that any man really ever does).…
Size matters
The Santa Maria Valley has no shortage of fine musicians and musical groups. And while bigger is often better, there’s a lot to be said for smaller ensembles. At least members of the Santa Maria Chamber Music Concert think so. Musicians in three smaller performing groups hope to show audiences how beautiful a concert can…
Internet noir
Santa Maria resident and film industry veteran Tony Piazza has done Anything Short of Murder. That’s the title of his new detective novel, recently published by Dog Ear Press. Inspired by pulp novels and film noir classics, the story follows a former LAPD cop as he investigates a murder against the backdrop of the Golden…
