The city of Santa Maria, which continues to be affected by severe financial deficits, announced on Nov. 9 it will continue its 13-day Mandatory Time Off program (also known as furloughs) for non-sworn employees for 2012. The program is designed to reduce operational costs; according to spokesman Mark van de Kamp, the city will save […]
KRISTINA SEWELL
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A new ‘fight club’
A local gym offers the best of all fighting worlds
As one of the world’s oldest and most celebrated sports, boxing is popular among people of all walks of life. In the 21st century, the sport’s discipline and intensity draw large crowds at both the professional and amateur levels. Boxing’s popularity continues to grow even here on the Central Coast, with a number of boxing […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
From coast to coast
A Nipomo firefighter makes a marathon bike ride to fund his sister’s specialized vehicle
John Byrne, a Nipomo firefighting engineer, was tired and yawned heavily during an interview with the Sun. But it’s not his job that’s making it hard for him to stay awake. Byrne, a native of Newark, Calif., recently returned from a 36-day marathon bike ride from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge. The […]
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Lompoc school board candidates weigh in
The Sun talks to the five candidates running for three Lompoc school board seats
Academic improvement status, sexual harassment among teens, sex education, and budget cuts are among the issues facing the Lompoc Unified School District. With three open seats on the school board, the Sun sent each of the candidates a list of questions designed to learn more about their platforms. Included are excerpts from a biography of […]
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Fresh faces and new visions
Candidates discuss how they can move small-town Guadalupe forward
Keeping the library alive, city beautification, and attracting business were among the key topics discussed at Guadalupe’s City Council candidate forum on Oct. 18. For more than a decade, Guadalupe residents have grown used to the familiar faces on the City Council. But considering three vacant spots on the Nov. 6 ballot, residents gathered […]
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Residents share what they want in Santa Maria’s next police chief
A fresh set of eyes. Someone community minded. Someone who’s not afraid to address issues within the department. These are among the attributes Santa Maria residents want to see in their next chief of police. Locals gathered on the evening of Monday, Oct. 22, to generate a list of such characteristics at City Hall during […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Not so black and white
Being a football official isn’t as easy as it looks
The human appendix is one of those things we never really notice is there, until something goes wrong. Similarly, football referees are something we pay little attention to—until they screw up. In light of some recent questionable calls in the NFL, football referees have gained some unpleasant notoriety, making it painstakingly clear that football officiating […]
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Shuttle helps stranded veterans get medical attention
Oct. 15 marked the start of a new veteran shuttle service, put in place to take vets throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties to their various doctor appointments, according to project coordinator Milt Batson. The Central Coast Volunteer Veterans shuttle will serve veterans five days a week, eight hours a day, and transport […]
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Remembering the fallen
Domestic Violence Solutions of Santa Barbara County holds its 25th annual Candlelight Vigil
This year in Santa Barbara County, at least four women so far are suspected to have been murdered at the hands of their lovers during a domestic dispute. Every year, Domestic Violence Solutions of Santa Barbara County (DVS) holds a candlelight vigil to honor such women, who died as a result of domestic violence. October […]
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DJ Farms inches closer to development
Guadalupe City Council members were expected at their Oct. 9 meeting—after the Sun went to press—to finalize the resolutions needed to move forward with the DJ Farms housing project. The 209-acre parcel of farmland at the intersection of Highway 166 and Highway 1 has stood undeveloped for years. The project was first introduced to the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete of the Week: Karl Fredrickson
Santa Ynez High School senior Karl Fredrickson has it right when he says water polo is a sport that most people don’t understand. People don’t seem to get why anyone would want to play a sport that requires players to swim back and forth constantly, drowning in pool water–all the while being beat up by […]
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Spotlight on: Uniforms & More
Vicki Trejo, owner
A lot of feeling good comes from looking good—at least that’s what Vicki Trejo believes. A native of Santa Maria and former employee of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, Trejo is now the owner of Uniforms & More. “My husband and I drove around looking for a needed business,” Trejo explained, adding […]