Cover Story
Blazing a trail in history
American frontier history is filled with iconoclastic characters of independence and freedom. Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie, to name just a few, are all remembered and lauded as folk heroes and have come to symbolize the American dream. One man, James B. Beckwourth (1798-1866), was dismissed for generations as a liar in regard…
If your house was burning down and you could only grab one thing, what would it be?
Val Brandt carpenter “My wife, but if it has to be a thing, it would be photo albums.” Carolyn Brandt State Farm sales representative “Pictures; a photo album.” Heber David Perrett investor “I have a very rare and expensive gun.” Jackson May missionary “I would grab the keys to my Dodge truck.”
Ins and outlaws
As I write this, a woman believed to be the Central Coast Bandit is in custody. And I don’t know how to feel about that. Well, of course I’m glad that someone who’s been robbing banks—allegedly!—is no longer on the streets, um, allegedly robbing banks. Taking money is taking money, and it doesn’t make you…
Los Flores Ranch park offers walks and play days
The City of Santa Maria’s Los Flores Ranch Recreational Open Space offers community walks and events for the community. Free docent-guided walks that teach about coastal live oak trees, geology, plants, and animals meets the second Saturday of the month from 9 to 11 a.m., meeting at the visitor center, 6271 Dominion Road. Dogs allowed…
Santa Maria Civic Theatre elects new officers
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre, just weeks away from its upcoming production of Dial M for Murder, elected its new officers for the 2013-2014 season. Elected to the board were Clare Terrill as president, Hugh Rafferty as vice president, Alan Foster as secretary, and John Shade as treasurer. The board, once decided, chose the plays…
Santa Maria Philharmonic receives hefty donation
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society has received an anonymous bequest to the society to the tune of $10,000, putting the nonprofit just $3,000 shy of reaching “Phase I” of its current fundraising drive. Donated by an anonymous, yet long-time supporter of the Philharmonic, the donation is the second large sum of money to be donated…
Santa Maria celebrates the “Tastes of Mexico”
The City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department and the People for Leisure and Youth, Inc. (PLAY, Inc.) present the favorite annual event “Tastes of Mexico” on Sept. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial Community Center, 313 W. Tunnell St., Santa Maria. The casual evening will feature authentic Mexican food…
Disneyland is fun for adults, too!
Managing Editor Amy Asman, you and your husband are celebrating three years of marriage. Where are you going to go next? We’re going to Disneyland! Well, that’s where my beloved husband, Peter, and I went on Saturday, Aug. 24, to commemorate the anniversary of our nuptials. When I told my dad we planned to spend…
Paul Roark explores the duality of black and white
Before cameras ever captured color, black and white reigned, from film noir to Ansel Adams. Despite the advent of reproducing reds, yellows, and blues, however, some people have stayed committed to the basics. One local photographer in particular is presenting a show of his photography, which includes a black and white treatment of landscapes and…
Education begins with music
I’m still in the dawn of my career as a musical educator. I teach several instruments—piano, guitar, and mandolin, among others—at Music Motive in Nipomo, and I talk to every student I have, from kindergartners to senior citizens, about music theory and the ideas surrounding what they’re learning. As any educator will probably tell you,…
Weighing the options
People have fears. It is natural to be scared of stuff. Fear is important because it keeps us alive. We need to be afraid of things like great white sharks, because if we don’t fear sharks, we could become great white shark food. Being on any species’ diet plan is not good for your thighs—just…
Santa Barbara County wine industry has more places to taste
Summertime 2013 has been a season of growth and renewal in the Santa Barbara County wine industry. Several wine producers spent the summer renovating existing tasting rooms or moving into new locations. One such vintner is Sonja Magdevski, the Malibu beauty who opened Babi’s Tasting Room in Los Alamos a year and a half ago…
Jillian Voyles
She hits chicks and sometimes they hit her back, and it’s all good because in roller derby that’s the name of the game. Jillian Voyles is a space systems operator at Vandenberg Air Force Base and in the summer of 2010 she became a derby girl. She skates under the name SRS BIZNIS and doesn’t…
What’s on Deck? 8/29-9/5
Friday, Aug. 30 Boys’ Football St. Joseph vs. Santa Barbara @ SJHS, 7 p.m. Righetti vs. Ventura @ RHS, 7 p.m. Santa Maria vs. Bishop Diego @ SBCC, 7 p.m. Santa Ynez vs. Dos Pueblos @ SYHS, 7 p.m. Nipomo vs. Pioneer Valley @ NHS, 7 p.m. Cabrillo vs.…
Allan Hancock women’s cross-country seeking runners
Allan Hancock College Athletics announced that the women’s cross-country team is now recruiting both experienced and inexperienced runners to race this season. For more information, contact coach Louie Quintana at 705-3299.
Senior softball at Hagerman Sports Complex
Senior citizens ages 50 and older are invited to come out to Hagerman Sports Complex, 3300 Skyway Drive in Santa Maria, every Monday and Thursday for some softball and fun in the sun. Batting practice begins at 10 a.m. and games kick off at 11 a.m. Senior rules apply; the event includes a monthly pizza…
Micro Wrestling comes back to the Maverick Saloon
Hailed as the “Greatest Little Show on Earth,” Micro Wrestling will come back to the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez on Aug. 29 starting at 8:30 p.m. Mark Burnett of Maverick Saloon said it’s going to be a night of fun and laughter as the professional wrestlers put on an excellent show. “Many people come…
Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Waller Park
On Sept. 28, runners and walkers of all ages are invited to attend the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Waller Park in Santa Maria. Registration at starts at 7:30 a.m. followed by a rules and welcome ceremony at 8:30 a.m. There will also be a kids’ half-mile fun run for ages 10 and younger at…
St. Joe’s school cross-country kicks off
On Sept. 5, St. Joseph High School will host a 5K cross-country trail race at Orcutt Community Park. The girls’ race will kick off at 4 p.m. followed by the boys’ race at 4:30 p.m. Jamba Juice will be available; races will conclude with an awards ceremony and a free barbecue. St. Joseph organizers expect…
The Benchwarmer: Central Coast CrossFit holds fundraiser for fallen firefighers
When someone says “hero,” I often think of a burly man in a blue suit and red cape, or Clay Matthews in his Green Bay jersey. In a world of Hulks, Thors, and Iron Mans, it’s easy to forget that our greatest heroes don’t always come with a cape. On June 30 of this year,…
Two is better than one
I read with interest your article titled “Global education” (Aug. 8). I’m one person who would like to encourage such a development. At age 26, I went to Germany where I learned that the famous German writer Goethe said “a person does not understand his own language until he has learned a second language.” While…
School climate matters
Ed. note: This piece originally came to the Sun in June, but with school starting again for the fall, we felt it would be appropriate to run now. Parents and other visitors to public schools will probably notice a common dynamic: High academic achievement and a positive school climate go hand in hand. When…
What Kids Are Reading: Dogs on Duty
Did you know that some dogs are SEALS? Dorothy Hinshaw Patent opens her book with a hook that brings the reader into the gripping and fascinating world of Military Working Dogs (MWDs): “When people learned that a dog had been a key member of Navy SEAL Team Six in the successful raid on Osama Bin…
Allan Hancock College kicks off new school year with a big bark
The annual Bulldog Bow-Wow celebrates the return of school by bringing new and current students alike to Allan Hancock College’s campuses. Students will learn about the latest student services, academic programs, and student organizations during the fall semester kick-off event. The Bow-Wow is sponsored by the college’s Associated Student Body Government, and will be held…
Tastes of Mexico fundraiser supports a more active Santa Maria
For the last 10 years, People For Leisure and Youth, Inc. (PLAY) has invited Santa Marians to participate in the annual Tastes of Mexico fundraising fiesta. PLAY supports innovative recreation, park services, and programs offered in the Santa Maria Valley. Mexican restaurants from all over the city are brought in to set up food booths…
Doc Burnstein’s scholarship day supports employees
On Aug. 13, Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab was host to its eighth annual scholarship day, which raked in more than $4,000 to be divided among the lab’s college-bound employees. Aaron Friedman, Macie Burd, Lacey Stewart, Mary-Kate Smith, and Miriya Rubalcaba benefited from the fundraiser. In order to be eligible to receive a scholarship, employees…
Ashley Hylton conquers Extreme Weightloss
Many people have fantasized at least once about running into an ex or attending that high school reunion and causing jaws to drop in awe. Last week, Ashley Hylton got her moment. After a year of diets, workouts, and lots of emotional ups and downs, Hylton revealed a svelte new body and a positive mindset…
Spotlight on: Santa Maria Brewing Company
Well-known brewmaster Dan Hilker of Nipomo and partner Byron Moles of Orcutt have expanded the production process of Santa Maria Brewing Company. Byron said they plan to take their top-quality craft beers that are old, German-style ales to the masses. The business recently relocated from Cuyama Lane in Nipomo to Fairway Drive in Santa Maria,…
Political Watch 8/29/13
• The Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley is playing host to a fundraiser featuring the Santa Maria Civic Theatre and its production of “Dial M for Murder.” The event will be held Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m. Written by Frederick Knox and directed by Dixie Arthur, the play is a classic suspense story of…
Community Notebook 8/29-9/5
MONDAY, SEPT. 2 • Happy Labor Day! TUESDAY, SEPT. 3 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Agendas are available at http://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Vandenberg Village Community Services District has its regular board…
Community Corner: Spend the ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ with Altrusa
Altrusa of the Central Coast is celebrating International Literacy Day on Sept. 7 with “Dog Day Afternoon,” a free event for dog lovers of all ages starting at 11 a.m. at the Orcutt Public Library, 175 S. Broadway, in Old Orcutt. Author and Pismo Beach resident Destry Ramey will read from her pug-themed book series,…
Healthy education
The days of handing out canned food to hungry families are over in Santa Barbara County. Instead, families now receive a grocery bag full of locally grown fruits and vegetables and recipes that teach them how to use the produce. A water bar set up on one side of the Veterans’ Memorial Community Center courtyard…
Corrections
• Central Coast Counseling Center, winner of Best Counselor/Therapist in our Best Of issue (Aug. 22), was listed with an outdated address. The correct address is 900 E. Main, suite 204, in Santa Maria. • The Sun incorrectly listed the date of the grand opening of Broadway Books. The grand opening is Sept. 3 from…
A former ‘Employee of the Month’ is suing the county and SEIU Local 620 over agency dues
A former office administrator with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department has filed a lawsuit against county officials and Service Employees International (SEIU) Local 620 alleging they took full membership dues out of her paychecks even though she wasn’t a union member. Plaintiff Rosemary Banko worked for the county from 1998 until her retirement in…
Santa Barbara County supervisors look at an innovative recidivism reform program
It’s sort of a strange concept: Private investors pay for county programs and only get cash back from the county if those programs are successful. It’s called Pay for Success. Santa Barbara County is looking at how, and if, it would work to address inmate recidivism—going back to jail—rates in the county jail system. The…
Santa Maria educators discuss the pros and cons of having ‘smart’ technology in the classroom
Several Central Coast high schools made headlines earlier this month when the California Department of Education flagged their standardized test results because students posted test-related photos on social media websites. The department identified 242 schools at which social media postings occurred during Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) assessments administered last spring. According to the department,…
