Cover Story
To wit
Once upon a time, there was a land with an unlikely ruler who came to power, and the jesters rejoiced for he carried with him fodder for their voracious wit. Even the comics of mediocre humor showed talent in shining light on the follies of the misguided leader. When the ruler spoke, people leaned in…
What was the best prank you pulled on someone?
Cheyenne Larson student “My cousin is a heavy sleeper, so a bunch of my strong friends carried him while he was asleep out to a field.” Caleb Wallace entrepreneur “Putting red Kool-Aid powder in someone’s shoes. Then, when they are walking around and their feet get all sweaty, they get red all over their feet.”…
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 at 6:30 p.m. in the Altrusa Theatre of…
Spiritual
BAHA’I interfaith worship services are the second Sunday of each month. Info: 489-4172. Children’s classes are the first Saturday of each month. Info: 937-9451. Study circles about The Life of the Spirit are ongoing in Santa Maria. For questions, dates, and times: 614-0963. Info: 937-9451. BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH holds worship services Sundays with Holy…
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…
Health
SANSUM CLINIC presents a cholesterol management class April 1 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the clinic. Cost is $10. A diabetes essentials class is April 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the clinic. Cost is $10. The clinic is at 1225 North H St., Lompoc. Cost is $10. Info: 737-8700. WISDOM ISLAND…
Art
COFFEE AND COMPANY presents the art of Sean Grady Carroll for the month of April in the coffee shop’s Lucmann Gallery, 245 Town Center West, Santa Maria. Info: 928-6492. THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents the exhibit “Shifting Sands of the Central Coast” by Cathy Gregg showing April 1 through 30 in the Shepard…
Learning
THE LOMPOC PARKS, RECREATION, AND URBAN FORESTRY DEPARTMENT presents its first “Jump Start Career Camp” for teens between ages 14 and 19 April 6 through 9 at the Anderson Recreation Center, 125 West Walnut Ave., Lompoc. Cost is $10. Info: 875-8100. WORTH THE DRIVE EDEN AUTISM SERVICES and Innovative Learning present an autism…
Recreation
ONGOING A MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BEACH FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE with four-on-four teams, no contact, is every Sunday at the beach in front of the Sandcastle Inn, Pismo Beach. Cost is $3 per player. Rain cancels. Registration: 489-1340. ARK TENNIS LESSONS for third through eighth graders are Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.…
KIDS & FAMILY
THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY YMCA offers spring break camps April 2 through 9 at the YMCA, including “Teen Xtreme” camp for ages 11 through 14, swim camp, and skate camp. Swim lessons for kids 3 years and older are available Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. through May 1 at the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, 3400 Skyway…
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…
Stage
HE IS RISEN is an Easter musical play April 3 and 4 at the Royal Theater, Guadalupe. Info: 343-1887. KITCHEN WITCHES is a comedic dinner theater production April 17, May 8, and May 29 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Lompoc. Cost is $50. Info: 735-2281. WORTH THE DRIVE THE SANTA BARBARA CONTEMPORARY ARTS…
Concerts
WORTH THE DRIVE CAL POLY presents Los Lobos and Leo Kottke in a concert of acoustic music April 1 at 8 p.m. at the Cohan Center for the Performing Arts Center, SLO. Cal Poly presents the University Jazz Band Swing Dance concert April 3 from 8 to 10:30 p.m. in the Chumash Auditorium in…
Special Events
THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents “A Twisted Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste” with cartoonist Leigh Rubin April 1 at 7 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library, Shepard Hall, 421 South McClelland St., Santa Maria. Info: 925-0994, Ext. 117 or dhildinger@ci.santa-maria.ca.us. THE SANTA MARIA ELKS RODEO accepts entries for the mutton…
Political Watch 4.1
On April 10, there will be a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s candidates forum, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Black Lake Golf Resort banquet room, 1490 Golf Course Lane, in Nipomo. The Nipomo Incorporation Committee for Education is hosting the forum. The moderator will be Andy Caldwell of KUHL 1410 A.M. The…
Community Notebook 4.1
TUESDAY, APRIL 6 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Agendas are available at santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Vandenberg Village Community Services District has its regular board meeting at 7 p.m. in the District…
Keeping it lean
Dozens of students sit hunched over long, plastic tables, meticulously folding and refolding pieces of paper as the teacher monitors their progress with a watchful eye. It’s difficult to see what they’re making under the flurry of smoothing and pinching: Is it origami? Or maybe it’s a gift-wrapping workshop at a local department store? Nope.…
Innovative Learning presents an autism conference
On April 15—the ides of Autism Awareness Month—Innovative Learning will be holding a conference at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott. The event will address and inform families and the community of legislation that directly affects autistic members of society, primarily California’s amending of the Lanterman Developmental Disability Act. The legislation, which was amended in July…
Santa Maria leaders consider E-Verify
Anyone who’s ever filled out new hire paperwork for a job is familiar with the Federal I-9 form, which determines if an employee is eligible to work in the United States. Soon, such prospective workers in Santa Maria may have their documents checked against an electronic database administered by the Department of Homeland Security. A…
Correction
In the March 25 news brief “Not gonna budge,” the person whom District Attorney Alex Simas asked to step down was misreported. Simas said Lori Angello should voluntarily step down. News Briefs is compiled by Sun staffers from staff reporting and local and national media. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail,…
Lompoc helps teens jump-start their careers
In preparation for the summer job season, the Lompoc Parks, Recreation, and Urban Forestry Department is hosting a Jump Start Career Camp April 6 through 9 for teenagers interested in finding employment. Professionals at the camp will offer helpful techniques to a successful career hunt, including how to fill out applications, résumé writing, and interviewing…
Santa Maria-Bonita School District education board denies petition for charter school
On March 24, members of the Santa Maria-Bonita School District Board of Education voted unanimously against a local group’s petition to open a charter school in the Santa Maria area. When making their decision, board members—along with district Superintendent Phil Alvarado, who was present at the meeting—argued that the Santa Maria Valley Charter School petition…
Republican Assembly candidates meet to debate issues at community forum
Marking the opening salvo of the campaign season for the state’s 33rd Assembly District, the four major Republican hopefuls for the seat held court for a question-and-answer session at Santa Maria Fairpark March 24. About 200 attendees gathered to hear candidates Fred Strong, Matt Kokkonen, Etta Waterfield and Katcho Achadjian discuss topics ranging from nuclear…
Art flowers
Art lovers and flower lovers have a double treat in store for them during “The Art of the Iris” art and flower show April 2 through 29, sponsored by the Lompoc Valley Iris Society. The art event is an all-media presentation of iris-themed drawings, paintings, photographs, needlework, and ceramics, representing the work of 20…
Get artsy and wild at Wildling
The Wildling Art Museum is offering “Art on the Wild Side” craft classes in the Museum’s Education Center most Saturday mornings through the end of October. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., each hour-long class will focus on completing one craft and is geared toward kids ages 6 through 12. Classes will focus on egg decorating, mosaic…
Caught in the act
An exploration of the ways photographers depict human interaction will be on display in the latest Santa Barbara County Arts Commission exhibition. Titled “Intersection: Between People and Spaces,” the show hangs at the Betteravia Government Center and is made up of work by regional artists and curated by John Hood, professor of art at Allan…
Digging the dunes
At a certain time of day, on certain days of the week, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes hold a special magic. Any prints left as evidence of life are wiped away, and the massive sand forms become a source of solitude and beauty. They take on a life of their own under various patterns—flat and smooth in…
Not in hot water
My employer scheduled me for a week’s worth of training in another city. Apparently, after 10 years at the same place, I have no idea what I am doing at work, and to get someone to actually teach me how to do my job is so challenging it required the services of someone from out…
Santa Lucia Bancorp declares dividend
The board of directors for Santa Lucia Bancorp, parent company of Atascadero-based Santa Lucia Bank, recently announced a 2 percent stock dividend for the company. The dividend will be issued on or about April 23 to shareholders of record as of March 31. In a press release, Santa Lucia Bancorp President and CEO John Hansen…
Hunt for wisdom
Arrr, matey! Nipomo’s new age bookstore, Wisdom Island, is holding a treasure hunt on April 24. Bags of treasure will be handed out from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bounty will include incense, bookmarks, and coupons for psychic readings and massage sessions. Businesses in La Placita Shopping Center will be contributing vouchers for video…
Monarch CFO earns recognition
Monarch Wealth Strategies announced the firm’s Chair of the Board and Chief Financial Officer Vanessa Patterson has been awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation from Fiduciary360. Out of more than 268,000 financial advisors in the nation, fewer than 3,000 have the title of AIF. Patterson is one of only two people to obtain the designation…
Growers hold an open house
Central Coast Greenhouse Growers’ Association member nurseries throughout Nipomo and Arroyo Grande will open their doors to the general public for the organization’s ninth annual open house on April 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participating nurseries include Ball FloraPlant, Ball Tagawa Growers, Clearwater Nursery, Eufloria Flowers, Excel Floral, Greenheart Farms, Native Sons, Inc.,…
Lucia Mar plans workshop to help ease layoff pains
Lucia Mar plans workshop to help ease layoff pains To help teachers and other staff members facing layoffs, officials at Lucia Mar Unified School District are planning to hold a “Transition Workshop” on April 14 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the district offices, 602-G Orchard St., in Arroyo Grande. At the workshop, the district’s…
Eggs take flight at Orcutt Academy
Rather than hunting for eggs in the grass, students in Orcutt Academy’s Introduction to Engineering class launched the fragile, shelled shapes into the sky March 25 as part of a mathematical experiment. Equipped with tissue and wrapping paper, the students were told to design and construct hot air balloons capable of lifting an egg. Each…
Analise Riezebos
Analise Riezebos, a senior at Saint Joseph High School, went once more unto the breach and came out an MVP at the 20th annual Kiwanis Central Coast All-Star Basketball Spectacular. She racked up a total of 21 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists. This wasn’t the first win for Riezebos, nor the first time she’s…
Saints hold court
To paraphrase a longtime professional tennis sponsor, Santa Maria’s boys’ tennis team has come a long way, baby. After a recent win, the Saints stood at 5-2 and a perfect 4-0 in league play, going into a March 30 match against undefeated perennial powerhouse Santa Ynez Valley. Among their victories, the Saints have beaten St.…
Bunco tourney will benefit city recreation
The People for Leisure and Youth will be hosting a 1950s style Bunco tournament to raise funds for youth recreation in the Santa Maria Valley on April 16. Bunco is a game where players take turns rolling dice, trying to accumulate as many points as possible to win each round. Cash prizes will be awarded…
It’s a mad, mad world
Brace yourselves for the ultimate adventure: the Central Coast Crazy Race, taking place throughout the Central Coast on May 1. It’s described as a cross between Amazing Race, Survivor, and the Ultimate Scavenger Hunt Contestants will gather clues as they travel from Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo, down to Santa Ynez, and back again.…
Do you remember?
Remember when Cecil B. DeMille filmed the movie in the dunes in the ’30s and nobody complained? There have been vehicle activities in the dunes ever since. Remember in the ’70s during vacations, big three- and four-day holidays, and spring breaks when all the motorhomes pulling their sand vehicles with all their families and friends…
Goodbye, American Dream
In one sweeping move, the Supreme Court stripped away the Bill of Rights the American people had been guaranteed in the Constitution. When Justices Alito, Kennedy, Scalia, Thomas, and Roberts stamped their approval against citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, they single-handedly destroyed our party system forever and created a new one called the Corporate…
Let’s fix what needs fixing
I wish to thank our Congresswoman, Lois Capps, for supporting health care revision in this country. We all knew the system was broken, and finally we have a good start for a fix. The USA was the only country where health care was left to the devices of profit-making entities: the insurance industry. I bet…
Corruption is all around
I agree with much of the commentary posted by our friend from Vandenberg Village (“Think of the country, not the party,” March 11). 1. As long as we have seen men in power, even from the first few centuries after the year of our Lord, it has been about corruption. Power corrupts absolutely; we know…
Good eats are no joke
Green taffy peas, candy bars disguised as fish sticks, and meatloaf layer cake “frosted” with pink mashed potatoes don’t show up on the menu every day. But when April 1 rolls around—the dastardly day on which anyone can earn the catcall, “April Fool!”—food often isn’t what it seems to be. Beware of the “chicken potpie”…
