It’s a little after noon, and I’ve been driving down the road for the last five hours. I’m still north of San Diego, and traffic is stop and go. Suddenly, icy fingers grip the back of my brain as it hits me: I may not make it in time. The “it” I’m steadily heading […]
Nicholas Walter
Posted inNews
Education knows no borders
A local scholarship fund helps students regardless of citizenship status
Libros sin Fronteras: In English, it means “Books without Borders.” The scholarship fund, set up by the Youth Committee of Santa Maria with help from PUEBLO and the Santa Barbara Youth Committee, was originally intended for local students with AB 540 status—also known as undocumented students—who didn’t qualify for any other form of federal or […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Take me back to the ballgame
Little League isn’t new in Santa Maria
Anyone in the neighborhood of Tunnel School over the last week probably heard cheers. Clapping. Maybe some yelling. Santa Maria’s Little League All Star Tournament is well under way. With the event in full swing, the Sun tracked down some of Santa Maria’s kings of baseball. These guys played or coached Little League in Santa […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
It’s all about spin
Disc golf at Waller is way more than just Frisbee in the park
I have a confession to make: Though I’ve lived in Santa Maria for more than 10 years, until recently I’d never played disc golf at Waller Park. After finding out that the Professional Disc Golf Association will be hosting the Santa Maria Open at Waller and Preisker parks on July 18 and 19, I decided […]
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Santa Barbara supervisors go solar
Santa Barbara County residents will have an easier time harnessing the power of the sun thanks to new initiatives from the county Board of Supervisors. The board recently voted 5-0 to direct staffers to work on an Energy Efficiency Improvement Financing Program and to streamline the permitting process for residents who want to install rooftop […]
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Out of ammo
Increasingly hard-to-find ammunition triggers gun-owner theories on scarcity and a national run on bullets
Ammunition suppliers and manufacturers seem to be running short on the bread-and-butter of their trade these days. If gun shops aren’t already completely out of stock, they’re hawking bullets for about $1.50 each, depending on the caliber. Customers at Range Master of Santa Maria have had reason to balk—or at least raise their eyebrows—at such […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Bugs, kids, and books
The Santa Maria Public Library gets a whimsical new mural
As you make your way into the children’s theater at the Santa Maria Public Library, a look outside might convince you you’re in another world: children at play with bugs of all sorts decorating the wall directly across from the theater. Artist Glenda Stevens’ newest mural for the library was made possible with a donation […]
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Under construction
College will see new buildings, technology, and facilities upgrades
Just as students are breathing a sigh of relief at the end of finals at Allan Hancock College, construction crews are getting ready to start a host of projects on campus. This summer kicks off a wave of construction projects at the college’s Santa Maria campus that are expected to last three to five […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria’s model flyboys
Hit the skies with the Tri-Valley RC Modelers
I’ve already taken one wrong turn when I notice a bright red model airplane doing what could only loosely be termed as “flying.” A better description would be “flinging itself drunkenly through the air,” as the pilot dances the little plane across the sky. Unofficially, guys have been meeting to fly model airplanes in Santa […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
First-person shooter
Intrepid reporter (doesn’t quite) strut his stuff at the gun range
The bad guy was holding a gun to the hostage’s head. “Okay, Nick, you’ve only got one shot here,” I thought while bringing the pistol up in both hands. I stepped back slightly with my left foot and lined the sights up with a spot just above the bad guy’s sunglasses. I took a […]
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Winds worry Jesusita Fire fighters
Unfavorable weather conditions have fueled the destructive blaze
Fire season hasn’t officially started yet, but the hills above Santa Barbara are burning. What’s now known as the Jesusita Fire began on May 5 at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the Cathedral Peak area. Fire crews from Santa Barbara Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Montecito Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service have been […]
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There are jobs in the Army
Recruiters watch as more students turn to the military for work in this economic climate
It’s no secret that people looking for a job lately have been having a tough time of it. But with the economy in its second year of recession, there’s at least one job sector that’s doing well: the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Department of Defense recently reported each branch of service meeting or […]