Cover Story
To barricade or not to barricade?
Spanning 700 feet, standing 1,200 feet high, and sitting as green as the California oaks growing beneath it, the Cold Spring Canyon Bridge is an architectural sight to behold. It’s recognized as California’s longest steel arch bridge and is considered a Santa Barbara County and State Scenic Highway landmark. But along with these accolades comes…
How do you keep in touch online?
Michael Pennington Air Force member “Facebook. I tried it one day and everybody was on it.” Evan Rorabaugh distribution worker “E-mail, and once in a while I use Facebook. I try not to use Facebook too often—it’s like high school, but online.” Jessalyn Brown student “I use Facebook since everyone has it.” Christian Baker golf…
Political Watch 2.18
On Feb. 10, the three environmental groups negotiating the Tranquillon Ridge Project with Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP) submitted testimony to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Natural Resources protesting the project’s inclusion in the governor’s budget proposal. In their statement, the Environmental Defense Center, Get Oil Out!, and Santa Barbara County Citizens Planning Association…
Community Notebook 2.18
FRIDAY, FEB. 19 • The Santa Maria City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from 10 a.m. to noon at the Betteravia Government Center conference room, 511 East Lakeside Parkway. • The Lompoc City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from noon to 1 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors…
Have spray paint, will tag
Santa Maria is getting more colorful—and not necessarily in a good way. If you think you’ve been seeing more graffiti than usual around town lately, you’re not imagining things. In January 2009, there were 33 logged incidences of graffiti, according to city records. Last month, there were 114. While the majority of tagging is gang…
Time served?
Can a person ever find redemption after participating in murder? Bruce Davis’ supporters think so. Now, apparently, so does a state parole board. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Board of Parole Hearings on Jan. 28 recommended parole for Davis, a former associate—or “Family member”—of the notorious Charles Manson. Davis, 67, has been…
Don’t stop the love
Senior citizens who still want to waltz away for Valentine’s Day, take heart: Though the holiday has come and gone, you can still move to the swooning vocals of the Chairman of the Board. Righetti High School Key Club is hosting a St. Valentine’s Senior dance on Feb. 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. Best…
Body found off Bonita School Road in Nipomo
On Feb. 15 around 6:49 a.m., a man was driving on Bonita School Road when he saw a human body lying on the ground about a quarter of a mile south of Division Street in Nipomo. As of press time, police would only say that the body was an unidentified male. It’s being called a…
Earth First! activists descend on Santa Barbara to oppose Tranquillon Ridge Project
Another environmental group has added its name to the ever-growing list of organizations voicing disapproval of an oil-drilling agreement between Plains Exploration Production Co. (PXP) and a trio of Santa Barbara-based environmental groups. Activists belonging to the international organization Earth First! gathered in protest Feb. 15 at the PXP petroleum processing plant and the headquarters…
State Assembly says ‘no’ to Maldonado, but the contentious nomination process is far from over
Much to the chagrin of many state legislators, the politically divisive battle over the nomination of Sen. Abel Maldonado to the state’s lieutenant governorship could be waged in Sacramento for the next three months. Backing off threats to seek a court decision supporting his choice, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Feb. 12 he would resubmit Maldonado’s…
Community leaders and young people brainstorm ways to prevent youth violence in the Santa Maria Valley
It really does take a village to raise a happy, healthy child. That’s the message coming from leaders in local business, government, and law enforcement who attended a private conference Feb. 9 through 11 to discuss youth violence in the Santa Maria Valley area. “We want to share the message that you can’t solve this…
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District has a survey for you
To improve services provided to students and parents, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District has released two surveys evaluating the district’s resources. In each survey, the participant is asked to identify which school he or she attends (or which school the participant’s child attends), and answer a collection of questions relating to the…
Local machinery company raffles off a tractor to raise money for future farmers
They think your tractor’s sexy—or at least they think it could be. Cal-Coast Machinery, in Santa Maria and Paso Robles, is partnering with Future Farmers of America (FFA) to host a fundraiser raffle ending in April. The grand prize: a 31-horsepower, four-wheel-drive John Deere 4310 compact utility tractor with a new Frontier RC2060 five-foot rotary…
Rizzoli’s takes food donations
With unemployment rates at nine percent in Santa Barbara County, Rizzoli’s Automotive is inviting the community to help the hungry and homeless by contributing to the shop’s food-collection program. What started three years ago as an annual holiday food drive to benefit local food banks is now an all-year, all-out effort to help keep the…
Java Moto motors to the mall
One-stop coffee shop Java Moto has moved to a new location in Santa Maria’s Town Center mall. Along with coffee and espresso, the shop sells breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads, and carries treats from Gina’s Piece of Cake, Edna’s Bakery, and Central City Market. The coffee shop’s new address is 144 Town Center East. For…
Pavilion hosts February festivities
Have fun in February and celebrate happiness in the heart with a special night of food and festivities at Cypress Ridge Pavilion on Feb. 20. The public is welcome to enjoy free music and entertainment, $4 specialty drinks, fish tacos, nachos, chicken skewers, and karaoke, all with no cover charge. The event runs from 6…
Spine specialist wins national award
A national orthopedic publication recently named Dr. Alan Moelleken of the Santa Barbara-based Spine and Orthopedic Center as one of the country’s 50 best spine surgeons. Becker’s Orthopedic and Spine Review selected the surgeons based on achievements, leadership positions, reputation of their affiliations, education, and contributions to the advancement of spine treatment and surgery. Moelleken…
Relay for Life kicks off
Relay for Life of Arroyo Grande is asking prospective participants in this year’s event to attend a Community Kickoff party on Feb. 23. Attendees will take part in a birthday party and find out how to get involved in the 2010 Relay for Life, held June 26 and 27 at St. Patrick’s School. The 24-hour…
Try a triathlon
Make 2010 your fittest year yet and challenge your spirit, mind, and body by joining the Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s triathlon training teams. Last year, the teams—open to YMCA members and non-members—helped more than 100 people accomplish their goals of finishing their first triathlons. For more information or to register, call the Santa Maria Valley…
City holds basketball skills competition
The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department, Santa Maria Valley YMCA, and Santa Maria Boys and Girls Club are inviting area youngsters to participate in the iHoops Skills Challenge on March 3. Local youth ages 9 to 14 can showcase their basketball abilities in a time-based, half-court obstacle course. The free competition focuses on basketball…
Running with the big dogs
The scent of freshly cut grass and the thwack of baseballs hitting mitts has returned to John Osborne Field, heralding spring’s imminent arrival. On a recent afternoon, Allan Hancock College head coach Chris Stevens watched his team practice. So far, though it’s still early, Stevens likes what he sees. “They play hard together. They’re a…
Kianna Lujan
Typically, when athletes get injuries that cause them to stop their season prematurely, they usually lie about their houses and watch reruns of America’s Next Top Model. This, however, isn’t the case for gymnast Kianna Lujan, who recently broke her arm, an accident that prevented her from competing in the remainder of the season, and…
Federal library assistance should be increased
President Obama’s new budget proposal calls for a freeze on library funding. Freezing the level of federal funding to public libraries already suffering from budget cuts will severely hurt people in this difficult economy who increasingly depend on them for education, assistance searching for jobs, and for entertainment. It is vital that libraries are able…
Naysayers want America to fail
The Party of No and the Tea Partiers should be ashamed at how they are dishonoring American values and corrupting the system with their negative, childish behavior. It’s hard for many Americans to fathom why the Party of No and the thoughtless Tea Partiers would rather see America fail than work to create jobs, reform…
Service clubs do make a local difference
Although I appreciate the sentiment of writer Bill Rabenaldt (“What if we took an interest in our own communities?” Feb.11) concerning how and where we expend our charitable resources, I feel that it is important to point out some very pertinent facts regarding those efforts. With little fanfare, charitable organizations and service clubs raise and…
I order you to stop listening to Rush
I happened to be passing by Santa Maria recently, and I picked up the Sun along with some real estate brochures. I read the letter by Gary Raine (“Decent people will change the station some day,” Feb. 4) lambasting my hero Rush Limbaugh. Methinks ol’ Gary speaks with a forked tongue! I listen to “Rushbo”…
Turn the bottle on frozen food
When the cupboards are bare, the stores are closed, and hunger strikes, creative cooks turn to that magic box with the subzero interior. And whether dinner means combining ingredients or simply heating up a pre-packaged entrée, they know that a glass of wine adds a touch of elegance to all manner of frozen food. A…
Clubs & Meetings
4-H welcomes anyone interested in the group to sign up now. Find a nearby club by contacting the Santa Barbara County 4-H Office at 692-1730 or zmhughes@ucdavis.edu. ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. of SANTA MARIA, a nonprofit business and professional organization, meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., in the Altrusa Theatre of the Santa…
Farmers Market
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and…
Farmers Market
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and…
Barbecues
ONGOING FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY barbecues Filipino food at the Smart and Final parking lot, N. Broadway on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu items include tri-tip, chicken, beef kabobs, chicken adobo, salad, rice, and bread. Meals cost $6. Info: 922-3422 or 922-3799. FILIPINO CATHOLIC SOCIETY, under the direction of St. Mary’s Church and St.…
Health
MARIAN MEDICAL CENTER offers a “Smart Eating for Kids and Teens” class meeting the first Monday of each month this year from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Medical Center at 1400 E. Church St., Santa Maria. Info: 739-3578. ONGOING SYCAMORE MINERAL SPRINGS HEALING ARTS INSTITUTE offers a range of classes including yoga and meditation,…
Art
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents its annual Fine Arts Student Art Show through March 3 featuring art of various media at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery on campus, 800 S. College, Santa Maria. An opening reception is Feb. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the gallery. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3252. THE TOWN CENTER GALLERY currently…
Learning
THE SANTA MARIA ARTS COUNCIL presents its 2010 Individual Grants in the Arts Competition informational meeting and application hand-out on Feb. 19 at 6:15 p.m. at the Luis Oasis Senior Center, Orcutt; Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. at the Dance Workshop, Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria; and Feb. 23 at 6:15 p.m. at Allan Hancock…
Recreation
WORTH THE DRIVE THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR BALANCE AND HEALING presents free energy balancing sessions on Feb. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sierra Vista Hospital auditorium, 1010 Murray Ave., SLO. Info: 438-4347 or globalalliance.ws. THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH’s Recreation Division Community Development Department presents tennis lessons for those 8 and…
Kids & Family
THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents a “Bedtime Story Time” event for ages 3 to 5 on Feb. 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library, Shephard Hall, 421 South McClelland St., Santa Maria. A at the Santa Maria Public Library. Free, but reservations required. Info: 925-0994, Ext. 117. THE SANTA…
Dance Lessons
ONGOING BLUE MOON HAVEN BELLY DANCE currently teaches American Tribal Style dance classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in Lompoc and Thursdays in Grover Beach. Info: 709-4686 or BlueMoonHaven.com. COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE CLASSES by Jeannette and Henry are Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. for country two-step lessons and from 8 to 9 p.m. for…
Stage
PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of Macbeth by William Shakespeare Feb. 18 through March 7 at the Marian Theatre, Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Dr., Santa Maria. Cost is $26.25 to $28.25. Info: 922-8313 or pcpa.org. WORTH THE DRIVE THE ARROYO GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE ENSEMBLE presents its production of The Night Thoreau Spent…
Night Life
The following venues offer either regularly scheduled live entertainment or DJ-hosted dance music. Most performances start after 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. IN THE AREA ADDAMO VINEYARD/TASTING ROOM: 400 E. Clark Ave., suite E, Santa Maria, 937-6400. Live music Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. CLUB 805, AKA STINKY’S BAR & GRILL: 2430 South Broadway,…
CONCERTS
VIVA EL ARTE DE SANTA BARBARA presents several concerts featuring Mono Blanco in concert on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at Isla Vista School; Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Theater Royal, Guadalupe; and Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Marjorie Luke Theatre. Info: 884-4087, Ext. 7. THE SANTA MARIA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, under the…
Special Events
THE CABRILLO HIGH SCHOOL AQUARIUM opens to the public on Feb. 18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at 4350 Constellation Road, Lompoc. Info: 742-2888 or cabrilloaquarium.org. THE LUIS OASIS SENIOR CENTER presents a “St. Valentine’s Senior Dance” event Feb. 20 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Luis Oasis Senior Center, 420 Soares Ave., Old…
The salad days
The family decided we should take a trip in the motorhome. I say “the family” because it was a group decision; I voted “no, I don’t feel like spending my vacation emptying the poop tank in the RV,” while the rest of the family voted “yes, it’s not a fun vacation unless dad is dealing…
Auditions open
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre will hold auditions for its final play of the 2009-2010 season. Everybody Loves Opal is written by John Patrick and directed by Don Schuetee. Auditions will be held at the theater on Feb. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. The theater is located at 1660 N. McClelland St., Santa Maria.…
Individual Artist Awards are around the corner
Artists can show they’ve got the right stuff by entering the 2010 Individual Artist Awards from the Arts Fund. The application is now available on the website at artsfundsb.org. Artists can also get applications and additional information by calling 965-7321 or e-mailing info@artsfundsb.org. The Individual Artist Award Program is open to Santa Barbara County’s visual,…
A month of love, hearts, and song
The month of dead presidents and candied hearts just got cooler. Actually, the change occurred in 2004 when four music-minded friends challenged one another to write 14 songs in the month’s 28 days. They posted recordings of their songs online and maintained a flow of feedback for each other’s work. Now in its seventh year,…
Daytripper: Mavericks
“I think they’re going to close the beach,” said the firefighter. “It’s getting pretty big. You can probably get a better view up there—and be out of everybody’s way.” He was sitting on a trail leading down to the beach in Half Moon Bay where the Mavericks surf contest was being held. We took the…
