Cover Story
Journey to otter space
A California sea otter rescued off the shores of Santa Barbara County will soon be one of the main attractions at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. In early June, 5-year-old Abby will leave her home at Sea World in San Diego to become a trial surrogate mother to otter pups rescued by aquarium staffers and…
Athlete of the Week: Lucas Martin
It’s natural for athletes to hit walls and experience setbacks while they work to improve their game—the hurdles can range from minor to massive. The setback for Lompoc High School’s Lucas Martin, 17, was a devastating car crash in 2010 that left him with more than a 1,000 stitches on his face. Less than a…
On the roster
• Equestrian fundraiser: A joint benefit for the Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program and the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Association on June 2 will showcase world-class equestrians. Equestrian entertainer Ramon Becerra and Cowgirl Hall of Famer Sandy Collier are scheduled to perform, as is Olympic bronze medalist dressage rider Charlotte Bredahl-Baker. The event runs…
Nature Center holds fishing workshop and talk
The Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake will be holding a workshop on June 2 to teach adults basic fishing skills. Local fishing experts will run the workshop from 8:45 a.m. to noon. The registration fee is $10 and limited to the first 30 adults. For more information, call 693-0691 or mail a check…
Cycling director visits Santa Maria
The SoCal High School Cycling League is taking its show on the road for a summer outreach stop in Santa Maria. SoCal League Director Matt Gunnell will be at Main Street Cycles on June 5 at 7 p.m. to provide information about forming high school mountain bike clubs at local high schools. There’s no charge…
High school football stars face off
The top seniors from 14 high school teams in Northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties will clash on the gridiron at the second annual FCA All-Star Football Classic on June 2 at Atascadero High School. The South team will be composed of players from Santa Ynez, Lompoc, Cabrillo, St. Joseph, Righetti, Pioneer Valley…
Requiem for a team
One baseball era in Santa Maria is over, while another, 50 miles up the highway, is just beginning. The Indians, founded in 1944 and the oldest semipro franchise in California, are saying goodbye to Santa Maria, and hello to San Luis Obispo County, where they’ve been resurrected as the North County Indians. The Indians announced…
The piano whisperer
Of all the four-legged beasts that need taming, there are none quite as formidable as the piano. Boasting 220 strings under 200 pounds of pressure—each of which responds to environmental pressures such as heat and humidity—the piano is a living, breathing instrument. When the slightest thing goes wrong with one of these complex creatures, you…
What was your first job, and what did you buy with your first paycheck?
Chelsie DeHavilland Starbucks barista “My first job was at Levi’s, and I bought a pair of jeans from there.” Ed Constant supermarket manager “I worked at a grocery store as a box boy in 1956. I bought candy corn and Turkish taffy. I still love candy corn.” Rod Ross Santa Barbara County employee “I was…
The Wildling takes wing
The Wildling Art Museum will host the Wild Wings exhibition through July 1 at the museum, 2928 San Marcos Ave. in Los Olivos. Photographers from throughout California were invited to showcase their talents as photographers on the subject of birds for the museum’s spring competition. The 25 winning entries were chosen from 230 submitted and…
Ian Franklin releases CD
Ian Franklin, son of a local Reichian therapist, recently released his full-length debut album Breaking Grounds, on the heels of his successful EP Step by Step, which was released in May 2011. Produced by Franklin and Ben Bernstein, who’s produced many well-known projects and played in a few different bands—including New Monsoon—the album carries sounds…
Aquatic center gets art
The Santa Barbara County Community Services Department and the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission recently dedicated the Percent for Art Project in New Cuyama. Artist Douglas Lochner from Ojai created a public art piece for the outer west wall of the Joseph Centeno Aquatics Complex at 290 Wasioja St. The stainless steel patinated relief sculpture,…
City on display
Murals are one creative way cities can boast about their finer points while adding to the aesthetic value of their communities. Santa Maria’s neighboring cities, like Lompoc, can boast a long history of mural projects, and now Santa Maria has one of its own. The Town Center Gallery is in the process of completing its…
He’s not heavy, he’s the Brit’s brother
This month has been a momentous one here at Waterman Manor. Arsenal, my British spouse’s football club (Brit-speak for soccer team), finished the season in the No. 3 slot, qualifying them to compete for the European Cup. Our grandson, Britween, has brought home yet another stellar report card. Hey, I reserve the right to kvell…
Lift off
Space exploration was once a government undertaking, and the role private industry played was in completing contracts to help with government space programs. Now, however, the private sector is increasingly doing the exploring. Author Dan Linehan will discuss the changing face of spaceflight with the public at the next Experimental Aircraft Association meeting at the…
A cut above
It’s pretty safe to say that almost everyone in Santa Maria has sunk his or her teeth into Santa Maria-style barbecue. Tens of thousands—if not millions—of out-of-towners know about it, too. National magazines have touted it as “the best barbecue in the world,” and “a great American regional food you should taste in 2012.” No…
Support Measure U
The city has Measure U on the June 5 ballot. I have heard the presentations on this measure and have watched this community grow rapidly. I understand how important it is to hire more police officers and firefighters, but the city does not have the funding to do so. With our city’s growth, there is…
Prosperity not socialism!
The pressing issues before us in the national elections for president are the same as we voters and taxpayers all face at the local levels. A shortage of jobs, less income, higher deficits, and more taxes are driving the selection of candidates in the up-and-coming local elections as at the national level. Unless we as…
Re-elect Joni Gray; she negotiates and is fair
There is no one better qualified for county supervisor than Joni Gray. She has worked hard to gain the confidence of the other supervisors to enhance their working relationships. It is important that county decisions are arrived at in a fair manner. Joni Gray, being well educated and experienced, knows the importance of negotiation and…
Waiting to die
I want my mom to die. Even knowing I’m experiencing completely normal emotions, I marvel at the sheer power of these words as they connect to the paper. I’m experiencing every emotion she feels, every pain that engulfs her body, every thought that delves to work its way into the limited thought capacity that remains…
Local students get ready for the ‘real world’
On June 12, the El Puente Community School in Lompoc will bid a fond farewell to graduating students from the class of 2012 at Lompoc Four Square Church. According to El Puente teaching assistant Naomi Sanchez, some of the students will be joining the workforce, while others will be enrolling for college in the fall.…
Going the distance for education
On May 25, Pioneer Valley High School received a $5,000 grant as part of State Farm California’s Good Neighbor Citizenship Program. The school, which is being recognized for its environmental science program, will use the grant money to support student-led programs that focus on environmental awareness and community projects. The funds will also be used…
Hobnobbing With Helen
Bravo, Nancy Johnson! A long career of community activism, volunteering, and support of the arts has yielded you yet another tribute. The Santa Maria Arts Council each year honors a community member for his or her contribution to the arts. This year, just after she wound up a demanding two-year term as chairman of the…
Spotlight on: Be Right There
Your pet’s next doctor’s appointment could be in your own living room. Be Right There is a veterinary clinic on wheels. The mobile clinic is based in Nipomo but travels all the way to Los Alamos. It’s equipped with diagnostic and surgical equipment, such as blood analyzers, heart and blood pressure monitors, and surgical tables.…
Scream for ice cream
Students from Family Partnership Charter schools were able to enjoy a night of friends, fun, and their teachers serving them ice cream at a fundraising event held at Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab in Orcutt. Mark Palmerston, assistant director for Family Partnership Charter; Nancy White, Santa Maria Montessori Instructional Aide; and Mindy Lambert, Orcutt Learning…
In hot water?
The husband and wife owners of a Santa Barbara environmental firm are facing felony charges after the California Attorney General’s Office accused them of overcharging and defrauding the state’s water quality agency. On May 10, the Attorney General’s Office filed a criminal complaint in Santa Barbara County Superior Court against Kurt and Julie Hayden, co-owners…
An incumbent’s perspective
It seems like just the other day San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian was running for California State Assembly. Now he’s running again—this time for re-election. The Republican Assemblyman said he’s proud of the work he’s done in state government over the last two years, and he’d like to continue representing the recently redistricted…
Correction
The May 24 cover story Washington or Bust—a question-and-answer session with candidates for the 24th U.S. Congressional District—incorrectly listed the date of the upcoming primary election. The correct date is June 5.
Part-time faculty association files a labor complaint against Allan Hancock College
The state agency responsible for overseeing collective bargaining rights for public school employees is investigating a complaint of unfair labor practices against Allan Hancock College. The college’s part-time faculty association filed the complaint last September, alleging Hancock arbitrarily reduced the hours of several part-time counselors. The state’s Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) issued an official…
Santa Maria high school superintendent leaving?
The superintendent of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District could be vacating his post for another job at the end of the school year. Doug Kimberly told the Sun he was on a short list of candidates for a superintendent position at an unspecified district in Southern California, though the decision hadn’t been…
Firefighters rescue a swimmer at Red Rock
Members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department made a dramatic Memorial Day rescue on May 28 at the Red Rock recreational area along the Santa Ynez River. Two engines, a battalion chief, and a helicopter to responded a medical emergency at the popular hangout, as did members of the U.S. Forest Service and American…
Nipomo’s big gulp
According to Greg Nester, a builder and developer in Nipomo, the next 30 days are going to be very interesting. All eyes remain fixed on the Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) and how it plans to address its ongoing groundwater problems. In short, the latest plan is to stop providing new water connections. On May…
An inmate’s suicide prompts the grand jury to make safety recommendations for Santa Barbara County jail
The Santa Barbara County Grand Jury is recommending changes to the county jail’s safety procedures, in response to the 2011 suicide of an inmate housed in isolation. Last July, jail guards discovered 29-year-old Juan Rodriguez-Zepeda asphyxiated in his “safety cell,” a plastic bag tied over his head with fabric torn from his mattress. The inmate…
Jury finds Leeds legally sane
On May 23, a Santa Barbara County Superior Court jury determined Lee Leeds was legally sane when he shot and killed four people at a Santa Maria salvage yard in 2008. Leeds, now 35, opened fire at Black Road Auto in Santa Maria on March 18, 2008, killing his father Richard Leeds, who owned the…
