Cover Story
Illness, incarcerated: As residents with mental illnesses cycle from the streets to cells, county officials struggle to create a new system
The dimly lit hallway seems to grow narrower as I pass through it, trying to ignore the balmy air’s musty stench. I fix my gaze on the grimy-looking floor as I step past a row of metal doors, barring inmates in their isolation cells. They bang on their windows, yelling at me and my escorting…
Color your world at Santa Maria Public Library’s adult coloring program
Coloring isn’t just for kids anymore. The philosophy behind the Santa Maria Public Library’s adult coloring program says that coloring provides a creative and artistic outlet for adults, which helps to relieve stress. The program takes place in the Shepard Hall, where community members are invited to sit down, relax, and color for an hour…
Court upholds county closure of recreation complex
A bid by Lompoc City Councilmember Jim Mosby to operate a sports/recreation complex on a piece of land zoned for agricultural use was denied by an appellate court on Jan. 17. Mosby petitioned the California Second Appellate Court in 2015 after Santa Barbara County ordered him to close the complex, which included a paintball course…
‘Safe havens’ good for Santa Maria
First of all, I want to thank our local school board for passing and adopting the “Safe Haven” policy for the safety and well-being of all our children, but most of all for keeping the fabric of our community intact. The concept of “immigration or immigrants” is as American as “apple pie or baseball.” Legal…
What’s a good place to get a pet?
Ariel Gonzalez student at Allan Hancock College “The Animal Kingdom pet shop in the mall.” Chelsea Gallagher housewife “The animal shelter! That’s where I got my Chihuahua.” Brent Parker works at Walmart “Wherever they sell Tamagotchis. Those are the best pets!” Justin Castillo works at Walmart “The Humane Society. That’s where I got my first…
Northern Santa Barbara County wineries see a sunny 2017
Your Christmas tree is in a pile in the garage and you’re still trying to find the cellphone you lost during that New Year’s Eve party. But that was last year—it’s time to focus on what 2017 has in store. And whether you’re a fan of the many wineries in our area, or a newbie…
Taco theft
There are four things a mom never gets: credit for what she does, enough rest, a hot meal, and time to herself. On the eve of an important morning for me, I decided I was going to try to get at least two of those things by picking up fast food for dinner so that…
Douglas Tomooka explores other realms as Saiku Sapien
Music has evolved much like life, in familial fashion. Genres inspire others, with the common ancestry of styles apparent in their sound. That’s why when an artist comes along and produces music that defies the typical labels, sounds authentically different from anything else, you have to wonder how the leap in evolution occurred. The first…
Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum offers Saturday science programs
The Santa Maria Utilities Department announced the start of three new educational programs for Science Saturdays at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. The subjects include vermicomposting, paper making, and storm water management. “These new programs will connect young people and families with professional scientists and expose them to a multitude of hands-on experiments that…
Santa Maria seeking bands for Concerts in the Park
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is looking for bands and musicians to perform during the upcoming 2017 Summer Concerts in the Park series. Family-friendly bands of all genres are encouraged to apply. Up to five bands will be chosen to perform for the concerts, which take place at different city parks…
The Santa Ynez Valley Classical Music Series presents solo violin concert
St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church hosts a solo violin concert on Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. as a part of the Santa Ynez Valley Classical Music Series. Los Angeles Philharmonic violinist Paul Stein will perform. Stein has been a member of the LA Philharmonic for 35 years and is a soloist with symphony orchestras throughout Southern…
Santa Maria Public Library seeks artists for Shepard Hall
The Santa Maria Public Library is seeking artists interested in exhibiting their work in the Shepard Hall for up to 10 to 12 months. Artists are encouraged to apply at any time. Art is accepted through a juried selection process conducted by the library’s Art Advisory Committee. The library advises applicants to read its policy…
Hancock’s annual Fine Arts Student Art Show to open January 24
The paintings are hung and the sculptures sit on pedestals at Allan Hancock College, where Gallery Director Marti Fast organized the annual Fine Arts Student Art Show. Located in the Ann Foxworthy Gallery on Hancock’s Santa Maria campus, the annual exhibition showcases a spectrum of different media, highlighting the talent of this school year’s fine…
Malina Bourbon
Malina Bourbon off the wrestling mat is a polite, responsible, and respectful young lady. But once she hits the mat, Bourbon becomes a fierce competitor whose legacy at Pioneer Valley High School (PVHS) speaks for itself. In her senior year and fourth season as a varsity-level wrestler, Bourbon is currently sporting a 26-7 record and…
The Benchwarmer: Shame on body shaming
I don’t know how else to say it so I’ll just be direct: QUIT F***ING BODY SHAMING FEMALE ATHLETES! For those of you who don’t know, body shaming is defined as “the action or practice of criticizing/humiliating someone for their body shape or size.” Readers have probably figured out I am a female columnist, former…
How things get worse
Don’t be rude, and don’t ask the wrong questions. That’s what I learned from Donald Trump’s recent press conference, anyway. As a bird, I know that it sucks to have your feathers ruffled, and it’s safe to say that’s what Buzzfeed and CNN have done to the Donald. But it was Buzzfeed that really stirred…
DANA makes learning fun for kids
I am truly grateful for our many Dana Adobe friends. Your generosity and kindness allows us, in our own small way, to introduce and inspire children by engaging them with the natural and cultural resource found at the DANA Adobe Cultural Center. One way we do that is through our educational field trips. These allow…
Nuclear is the best clean energy
Wind and solar for energy are said to be “carbon-free.” In other words, they don’t contribute to global warming. But hold on. They are both “backed up” by burning natural gas when the wind doesn’t blow and there’s no sun. According to the California Energy Commission, 30.5 percent of the natural gas burned in huge…
Liberal hysteria
The leftist tide of anti-Trump loathing and hatred has turned into a tsunami of hysteria that Michael Goodwin says is like sounding five alarms for a dumpster fire. These people are so terrified of a country without liberal progressivism that it’s no longer enough to call Trump a racist and a bigot who hates minorities.…
Public Works pushes for no-stopping zones at Adam and Oakley elementary schools
Santa Maria Public Works’ traffic committee recommended that the city establish no-stopping zones at Adam and Oakley elementary schools, following parking lot construction at both school sites. According to letters from Director of Public Works Steven Kahn, the no-stopping zones would help improve accessibility for school buses. They would help minimize potential conflicts with vehicles…
El Camino Junior High to celebrate 85th anniversary
El Camino Junior High School is turning 85 years old this year—about seven times the age of your average middle schooler. To celebrate, the district is hosting an anniversary celebration on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The anniversary welcomes former students, staff, and community members to stop by the school to…
Santa Maria High School District moves to protect undocumented students
Santa Maria high schools are now safe spaces for undocumented students, following the passage of a “safe haven” proclamation at the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s board of education meeting on Jan. 10. The proclamation stated that “every district site be a safe and welcoming place for all students and their families,” according…
Spotlight on: Birchwood Garden Barn & Home
It all started with a big idea at an unexpected time and place. Lauren Withers had an epiphany one Sunday morning shortly after breakfast, when she headed to Old Towne Nursery in Nipomo—which was going out of business. “I stopped by for their final clearance sale, and this was my first time there. I had…
Political Watch 1/19/17
• California 24th District Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) announced his appointment to the House Committee on Budget on Jan. 13. Carbajal proposed an amendment that day to the budget resolution that would allow states to opt out of the Republican majority’s proposed Affordable Care Act repeal. “I look forward to utilizing my prior budgetary experience…
Hobnobbing with Helen
Hold on to your hats, folks. A great new exhibit is coming to the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. The exhibit is designed and intended for children, but I am sure that I’m only one of many adults who will be ready to simulate a rocket launch at the corner of Jones and McClelland streets. The heart…
Hancock students push to make campus a ‘safe haven’ for undocumented peers
On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump promised to terminate an executive order made by President Obama, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which gave undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children the right to stay if working or in school. Trump said in a recent interview with Time magazine that he’d “work…
Local pet advocacy group strives to rid Central Coast of retail pet shops
View a slideshow of animals available for adoption at the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society. Cristine Collier, founder of a new Central Coast-based pet advocacy group, has one primary goal: Ban local pet stores from selling commercially bred animals. Her reason: Most commercial breeders—and many smaller backyard breeders—fit the bill for puppy mills, where dogs…
Buellton passes moratorium on recreational marijuana businesses
Buellton adopted an emergency ordinance on Jan. 12 that placed a 45-day moratorium on recreational marijuana businesses. All five City Council members voted for the ordinance, which was proposed by City Attorney Steve McEwen as a measure to protect the city and avoid potential legal issues that may arise before proper business regulations are in…
Environmental groups aim to get Phillips 66 lawsuit dismissed
Environmental groups were granted permission on Jan. 12 to intervene in a lawsuit by Phillips 66 against the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission, which in October denied the company’s proposal to construct a crude oil train terminal in Nipomo. The Sierra Club, Communities for a Better Environment, Environmental Defense Center, Center for Biological Diversity,…
New county supervisors to tackle Chumash negotiations
The county has a new team negotiating in future discussions with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, following the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ Jan. 10 meeting. The board’s newest members Joan Hartmann and Das Williams—the 1st and 3rd district supervisors, respectively—will step in for Peter Adam and Doreen Farr as the county’s…
Second trial scheduled for Orcutt rapper accused of threatening victims in a song
A second criminal trial was scheduled in the case of Anthony Murillo, the Orcutt rapper accused of making threats to two victims of sexual assault in a song he posted to the internet in 2013. Murillo’s attorney Bill Makler appeared before Judge Gustavo Lavayen on Jan. 11 to ask for another delay in the case,…
