Cover Story
Starting over
A lot has been said about the bankrupt Lompoc Housing and Community Development Corporation (LHCDC) and its decision to close the city of Lompoc’s two emergency homeless shelters—the Bridgehouse and the Marks House—in the middle of winter, with very little notice. There have been dozens of city and county meetings focusing on the issue. There…
What’s the most memorable April Fool’s joke you pulled on someone or someone pulled on you?
Carolina De La Cruz contractor sales for Direct TV and Dish “My cousin called me and told me my sister had an accident and was in the ER. I was hysterical. They let me believe that for 30 minutes.” Samantha Mae student “I pulled down my little brother’s pants at a family party one year.”…
On the roster
• Cachuma Lake Trout Derby: The Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake is holding the 17th annual Trout Derby April 14 and 15. Prizes include $5,000 in cash, plus thousands of dollars in merchandise for anglers who reel in the biggest fish. Registration is $35 for adults until March 31, and $40 thereafter. Children…
Learn tennis with the Ark program
Want to learn tennis fundamentals in a fun environment? Ark Tennis is once again offering its youth spring break tennis camps April 9-12 at Orcutt Junior High. Varsity tennis coach Patrick Ortiz teaches the camps, which are broken down into three Monday through Thursday sessions; beginners from 9-10:30 a.m., intermediate from 10:30 to noon, and…
Powerlifting event to benefit local Marines
Local powerlifting record holders Ken and Mary Tawser are taking registrations and donations for their annual Patriot Games Challenge, held on May 26 at the Santa Maria Athletic Club. This year’s event is sanctioned by the United States Powerlifting Association and features powerlifting, bench press, deadlift, and push-pull competitions. The competition is dedicated to Aaron…
All-day festival to mark Orcutt trail opening
Spend the day on Orcutt Hill and be a part of history at the Santa Maria Valley Open Space’s first-ever “Orcutt Trailpaloosa” fundraiser on April 21. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. when the Open Space group opens the first multi-use trail system in the Santa Maria Valley at the Orcutt Community Park on…
Athlete of the Week: Hunter Walker, Righetti
The Sun spoke to Righetti High School’s Hunter Walker as he laced up his kicks in preparation for taking on the area’s best basketball players at the Kiwanis Central Coast All-Star Basketball Spectacular on March 31. Walker has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember, but it wasn’t until junior high, after…
Weighted numbers
Are Santa Marians getting skinnier? The answer appears to be yes—if you’re to believe a Gallup-Healthways obesity survey released in March. In fact, the survey ranks Santa Maria, when combined with Santa Barbara and Goleta, as one of the “skinniest” metro areas in the country for 2011. At 16.4 percent, the region is the fifth-least…
An honored band
He glitz and glamour that Hollywood has pumped up around the idea of a rock’n’roll band has hardly ever been accurate. Late nights, heavy equipment, and lots of driving come with the professional lifestyle. But, as is the case with the local Mean Gene Band, all the toil is worthwhile for the time on the…
God help this woman
You know there’s trouble brewing when you come into the house and hear these words: “Oh my God, what were you thinking? She’s going to kill you!” Spoken by my grandson, the Britween, to my husband, the Brit, they hold ominous portent, especially when followed by the Brit’s utterance that can only mean total mayhem…
Bring on the strings
The Santa Maria Philharmonic will present its fourth subscription concert of the 2011-2012 season at 7:30 on April 28 at Grace Baptist Church, 605 E. McCoy Lane. This concert primarily features the members of the string section of the orchestra. The repertoire spans the early years of the 17th century to the middle of the…
PCPA to present Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s most popular romantic tragedy, plays in the Marian Theatre April 19 through May 13. It’s a timeless story of young passions caught between the feuding families of Capulet and Montague. Director Patricia M. Troxel said the excitement of this production lies in the “radical” choice of setting the play in the…
Civic Theatre ends season with Battle
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre ends its 53rd season with the comedy Battle of Shallowford, the last play of the 2011-2012 season. Written by Ed Simpson and directed by Richard Dresp, the show runs April 27 and 28, May 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19. All performances are at 8 p.m. at the theater…
Creating buzz
Jewelry often makes a statement, but jewelry by artist James Cleland tells a story. Using metals, gems, and intricate overlay, Cleland sets his work apart with his forging, piercing, and hand-engraving techniques. He crafts ornate designs inspired by natural forms combined with elements from his Irish and Scottish heritage, Celtic art, and Japanese symbolism to…
The chair affair
Part of what makes reading a good book a pleasurable experience is finding a good place to read it. Santa Maria Valley artists have created unique chairs to add flair to a cozy nook or quiet corner, helping to create the perfect reading place. A lower-level storefront in the Santa Maria Town Center contains dozens…
Politics pays
Tupac said it best: California knows how to party. We’ve got beaches, wineries, ski resorts, and all sorts of delicious fruit. Our movies have the biggest stars and the loudest explosions. We live large, so it’s no wonder our state legislators are the highest paid in the nation, according to a recent report in The…
Rhône rendezvous
I credit Hospice du Rhône for introducing me to some of the most memorable wines I have ever had the thrill to taste: A luscious lineup of Rhône wines from France’s exceptional E. Guigal Winery, including an exquisite Condrieu Viognier. Alban Vineyards’ intensely intriguing Reva Syrah (we were so intrigued, my youngest daughter was given…
Hobnobbing With Helen
People are still talking about Martin Testa’s wonderful food served at St. Joseph High School’s 27th annual BASH fundraiser, “A Knight in Central Park,” held Saturday evening, March 10. I am still thinking about the ooh-la-la, NYC-theme decorations in the girls’ locker room of the school’s gym, where this splendiferous party is held each year.…
iPads come to St. Joe’s
Starting this month, faculty members at St. Joseph High School will integrate Apple iPad2s in their curriculums to help improve student learning, the school recently announced in a press release. Thanks to some generous donations from the public, administrators and teachers will spend the next 14 months figuring out how to use iPads in the…
Employment nonprofit donates to Hancock
The Santa Maria Employer Advisory Council has donated more than $3,000 to the Allan Hancock College Industrial Technology Department to purchase cutting-edge engineering software that can be used in engineering, manufacturing, automotive, and architecture courses. Representatives from Helical Products, Inc.; the Okonite Company; and the Workforce Investment Act program recently presented a check to the…
Sharing the gift of cycling
Members of the Tailwinds Bicycle Club of Santa Maria shared their love of cycling with students at the Bonita School on March 23 by presenting bicycles and helmets to winners of a school essay contest. Tailwinds members also spoke about the importance of bicycle safety. The club is host to the Windmill Century Ride, an…
Don’t speak
Many local students won’t be talking back to their parents or teachers on April 20. In fact, they won’t be talking at all. Participants in the annual Day of Silence are taking vows to bite their tongues, an action that aims to raise awareness of bullying, particularly of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender classmates—though anyone…
Spotlight on: The Boy’s Restaurant
Yes, even though The Boy’s Restaurant in Santa Maria is under new ownership, they still serve breakfast all day. According to Eric Maciel, son of new owner Francisco Maciel, that’s the most frequent question customers ask when they visit the restaurant, which has been under new ownership since Aug. 1. When the previous owner was…
Care for a swim?
Just about anywhere you see fresh water flowing—or even standing—in or near Santa Maria, Orcutt, Guadalupe, Nipomo, or Cuyama, you can make plans to wade in for a safe, healthy swim. In about 15 years, that is—once all the targets in a newly adopted cleanup plan have been met. By that time, you should be…
Ghostwriter
With her farm and home in jeopardy and at least three banks jostling to recoup their money, Gail Moore and her attorney are trying to figure out why she’s on the hook for a $900,000 loan she claims she never signed. In fact, two other people have disputed they signed similar documents that bear their…
Orcutt preschool set to close
Parents of children who attend preschool at Joe Nightingale Elementary School recently learned the program will end on June 14. School officials said the decision to close the preschool, which will only impact about seven students, was based on several factors, including financial limitations, licensing problems, and questions about the program’s viability. Another factor was…
Records put Adam at the top for fundraising in county supervisor race
Santa Maria rancher Peter Adam had a successful fundraising period over the last few months in his campaign for 4th district supervisor. According to reports filed with Santa Barbara County for dates between Jan. 1 and March 17, Adam raised $29,850 in campaign contributions, for a total of $52,649 to date. These contributions came mainly…
Three teens sentenced to prison for stabbing
On March 28, 2011, a Lompoc High School student was attacked in one of the school bathrooms before leaving the campus. One year later, three teens connected to that attack have been sentenced to state prison. Saul Rivera, 17, was sentenced to seven years in prison and must serve 85 percent of the sentence before…
Etta Waterfield is running for Santa Maria City Council
Republican Etta Waterfield has been living and working in the Santa Maria community for more than 25 years, but she’s probably best known for running against Katcho Achadjian for California State Assembly in 2010. Waterfield didn’t win that race, but she said campaigning taught her some valuable lessons. “Running for Assembly was the best experience…
