Cover Story
From the earth: Natural building techniques aren’t part of modern society, but some want to change that
Wisps of wind whip soft sand up from a private road that began in and meanders to what could rightfully be labeled the middle of nowhere. Low-slung buildings creep into view between the squat, stocky vegetation that covers the desert hills outside of Cuyama. Goats snack on shrubs, and a couple of white sheep dogs…
Spotlight on: Downtown Fridays
Springtime comes with about 70 more things to do in downtown Santa Maria on a Friday evening than any other night of the week. This year marks the fourth that the city is hosting Downtown Fridays every spring through summer. The family-friendly event returned to the Town Center West parking lot on March 29 and…
SNAC Culinary Academy event teaches healthy eating amid national, statewide changes to school meals
With opposing national and statewide policy changes recently enacted regarding the food served in public school cafeterias and the drinks served with kids’ meals at restaurants, a local program is holding an event to teach students about healthy eating habits. About 40 students from five 4-H Student Nutrition Advisory Council (SNAC) clubs—four from the Santa…
A new county ordinance outlines exemptions, permits for hoop houses
Santa Barbara County farmers have a new ordinance to navigate. It requires a permit to use hoop and shade structures for crop protection, unless growers meet certain exemptions. Almost two years after tasking staff with preparing an ordinance to clarify the permitting process for hoop and shade structures, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors…
State of the City speech highlights successes, lays out budget challenges in Lompoc
The sound of glasses clinking and silverware scraping against plates died down as Lompoc City Manager Jim Throop took the stage at the Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center April 4. Throop was there to give a brief introduction of Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne, who gave an annual presentation on the state of the city.…
County outlines efforts to divert mentally ill from jail in 2019-20
Santa Barbara County is looking to address challenges with diverting individuals with mental illnesses out of jail and to a facility where they can receive help. In a presentation during the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ budget workshop meeting on April 15, Barney Melekian, assistant county executive officer for public safety, said that over…
Yearbook employee had more young victims, sheriff says
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office investigators said they have identified more victims in connection with a 53-year-old Buellton man accused of committing sexual crimes against area minors. The Sheriff’s Office initially arrested the man, identified as Gregory Scott Ray, on April 9 in association with various charges related to sex involving minors. According to department…
City plans law enforcement shooting range at Los Flores
After nearly four years without a shooting range for its police department, the city of Santa Maria plans to start construction on an outdoor range at Los Flores Ranch this summer. The Santa Maria Police Department has been without a shooting range since the department relocated to its new station on Betteravia Road in 2015.…
Inmate dies two days into stay at SB County Jail
A 62-year-old man died after two days in custody in the Santa Barbara County Jail, marking the second death at the facility in 2019. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office officials identified the deceased inmate as Eduardo Rodriguez, a Santa Barbara-area transient who had been in custody since April 10. Officials believe Rodriguez may have died…
Lip reading in Lompoc
How do you pay for something you want but don’t have money to pay for without bringing in any additional revenue? That’s a tough one, but have I got an easy answer for you. If you’re like every other American in this now Great Again nation, you’ll just borrow more money against the value of…
The root cause of the world’s problems
I’d like to say a word about torture. We hear a lot about it these days; it’s all over the news. We recoil at the thought of torture. And yet, every single, solitary day, we are all being tortured. Now, you may wonder, “How is that?” And that’s probably just because you haven’t yet realized…
Let’s ban glyphosate
Remember, as a child, how we delighted when we saw dandelions in the lawn? Possibly our parents gave us an allowance if we pulled them with a tool. Remember how weeds would pop up in the sidewalk and we’d use a knife to clear them from the cracks? It took time. We had to bend…
Changes in the bus schedule are bunk
To quote Forest Gump, “Stupid is as stupid does.” The Santa Maria City Manager’s Office and the transportation department decided to change the Breeze bus leaving the Transit Center at 6:20 a.m. to now leave at 6:10 a.m. Why? The Colt bus in Lompoc changed schedules in November 2018. It used to stop at the…
Oil oversight
A recent letter in the Santa Maria Times touted the wonderful history and benefits of oil development in the Cat Canyon area. The writer criticized the “few” opponents of the proposed extreme-extraction projects in the canyon, which will triple the number of producing wells there. He also decries the “micromanagement” of the oil industry by…
Political Watch 4/18/19
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) re-introduced the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act on April 10. The bill, House Resolution 2199, would designate nearly 250,000 acres of public land in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness and establish a 400-mile long Condor…
The Hitching Post remains a steadfast icon in changing times
I need to start this column off on a somewhat bittersweet note and tell you all that this will be my last Eats column for the Sun. It’s been a great ride getting to know the food of our community and the people who provide it to us, in so many different ways. I realized…
Justin Jones
As a junior at St. Joseph High School, Justin Jones is a dual athlete on the school’s swimming and water polo teams. His coach for both teams, Bianca McNeil, said Jones was part of a successful season for the boys’ water polo team and has broken numerous personal records as a swimmer. McNeil said Jones…
Valley Art exhibit features local artists John Card, Beverly Johnson, and more
It’s always refreshing to see the work of Orcutt painter John Card on the wall at any gallery or public exhibit. This time it was at the Santa Maria Public Airport, where members of Valley Art Gallery are showing some of their latest work. As usual, the new pieces from the artists are surprising, both…
American Idol winner Scotty McCreery brings his own brand of country to Solvang Festival Theater
The song “This Is It”—no, not the Michael Jackson documentary—could have gone one of two ways. The lyrics spell out a play-by-play blueprint for country singer-songwriter Scotty McCreery to finally pop the big question with his longtime girlfriend Gabi Dugal. “I had the ring in the closet for months and had the day all planned…
Sign up for Mother’s Day perfume workshop at Wilding Museum
The Mother’s Day Natural Perfume-Making Workshop at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature in Solvang takes place on Saturday, May 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. The class size is limited to 12 people, so early registration is highly recommended. Participants will receive guidance in constructing a fragrance, partake in a lively discussion of…
Sinbad to perform at Chumash Casino
Standup comedian Sinbad will perform at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez on Friday, April 26, at 8 p.m. The popular comic was named one of Comedy Central’s “100 Greatest Standups of All Time” in 2004. Sinbad is also widely known for his film and television career, with roles in films like First Kid,…
PCPA’s new musical, ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,’ features one actor in eight challenging roles
For a typical actor, it can take months of detailed preparation to create one role that audiences will find believable, relatable, and engaging enough to invoke their suspension of disbelief during a play or movie. But in the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) latest production, one actor takes on that challenge eightfold. Andrew Philpot plays eight…
