Cover Story
Toxic Canyon: A quarter-century later, Casmalia is still waiting for Superfund cleanup
It’s 3:30 p.m., and in one hour the Hitching Post begins serving its “world famous” barbecue. That familiar, drifting smell of burning red oak sweetens the breeze. Thirty-one years ago, a vastly different smell penetrated the air. “The way I remember it smelling was this weird blueberry smell,” said Louis Meza, a chef at the…
Hancock pushes toward comprehensive aquatics program, adds women’s water polo
Allan Hancock College will introduce a women’s water polo program come fall. The team will be funded in part by money formerly allocated to Hancock’s women’s cross country team. Practices are set to begin on Aug. 15, and the team will begin competition in September. Ben Britten, assistant coach for Hancock’s nascent swim team, will…
Should businesses that have contributed to the creation of Superfund sites–through dumping hazardous materials–be held liable?
Mauricio Herrera student “Yes, they should. If you make the mess, clean the mess.” Antonio Ibarra student “Yeah. If they were the ones dumping, then yes.” Alicia Morales student “Well, yeah, I think that [the question] answers it. They contributed to it, so yes.” Adrian Novoa student “If they had permission, they shouldn’t be held…
‘What’ is the problem
The University of California system has decided that my son is some sort of academic genius. He was accepted into both UCLA and UC Berkeley. Yes, I am a proud father, but since I know him so well, I find it a bit odd that the universities think he’s a genius. Sure, on paper, his…
WonHeart gives Battles students musical tools to abate bullying
WonHeart facilitators Joelyn Lutz and Patrick Mahan improvised a rhythmic minor jam as Battles Elementary School third and fourth graders filed into the school’s cafeteria on a recent Friday afternoon. Even before they found places to sit, some kids were tapping their feet or bobbing their knees in rhythm with the bluesy beat. Though Lutz…
Leadership Lompoc Valley holds fundraiser for Lompoc Theatre Project
Leadership Lompoc Valley’s class of 2015 and board of directors named the Lompoc Theatre Project as its fundraising beneficiary this year. The public and Leadership alumni are invited to a fundraising event featuring live entertainment by Lompoc performing arts groups, wine tasting, and food on April 30 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the La…
Art of Recovery show seeks submissions
The Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) is preparing for the 2015 Art of Recovery exhibition, a collection of media created by locals recovering from substance abuse or mental illness. The exhibit will show in Santa Maria during May in support of Mental Health Awareness Month, but submissions can be made through April 30 at 5 p.m.…
Ag pen pals explore local vineyard
The Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau’s GAATE Foundation Ag Pen Pals Program includes Los Olivos Elementary School’s third-grade class led by Mrs. Branquinho. The class visited its collective pen pal Kevin Merrill of Mesa Vineyard Management on April 15 among the vines in Los Alamos and gained first hand knowledge of how local grapes are…
Hancock College hosts first-ever poetry slam
Poetry is word music: It’s a language composed of rhythm and melody, and its multiple layers of meaning can help readers see and express things in fresh and unique ways. Northern Santa Barbara County now offers community members more opportunities to recite poetry through open mics at the Solvang Brewing Company, Lucia’s Wine Co. in…
The Lompoc Civic explores relationships with ‘I Do! I Do!’
If the audience’s reaction to the first performance of the Lompoc Civic Theatre’s (LCT) current production is any indication, there’s something special about the volunteer theater group’s take on Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones’ musical I Do! I Do! Volunteer actors Lea Schultz and David Gaertig gave such life to subjects of the show, married…
ManRock Brewing in Grover Beach offers up craft beer, wood-fired pizza, and a lesson in California history
Deshia Hiebner loves to watch the expressions on customers’ faces when she tells them the origin of the name “ManRock Brewing Company.” Eyes usually widen from amused to curious to spellbound, all in the span of a brief conversation. Although the Grover Beach hangout sounds like it was named after an ’80s metal band (or…
Blake Jaekels
Blake Jaekels, a junior at St. Joseph High School, runs track to cross-train for the football season, where he starts as quarterback for the Knights. His goals for the upcoming season are to throw more than 2,000 yards and to rush 1,000 yards. “I’m trying to work on my speed,” he told the Sun. “It’s…
So not cool
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver—that’s the official definition, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, and so are the definitions that follow. There are three common types, listed here alphabetically: A, B, and C. They’re caused by three different viruses, and each can impact the liver in its own way. Hepatitis…
Where there once was water
I know this may sound strange, but, to be perfectly honest, I think your lawn is rude. It’s screaming at me from the top of its thirsty little lungs: “California is running out of water, sure, but my humans don’t care. They like me. I’m pretty, and I’m green, and that’s all that matters. And…
Plans for Pioneer Valley High School’s Performing Arts Center move forward
Pioneer Valley High School is getting closer to the reality of having a new spot to practice and perform the arts. During its April 15 meeting, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s school board approved a contract for preconstruction of the Pioneer’s Performing Arts Center (the rendering is pictured). The board also gave…
Santa Maria-Bonita picks new school’s name
The newest school on the Santa Maria-Bonita School District block will no longer be known as “School No. 20.” The district’s school board voted on April 14 to officially name it Roberto and Dr. Francisco Jiménez Elementary School, after two local men who grew up attending school in the district. “Naming the new school after…
Hancock STEM Center holds open house for incoming students
Allan Hancock College STEM Center staff played host an open house for high school students and their families on April 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event gave students considering careers in STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—an inside look at the center’s facilities, staff, and resources. The evening began with a speech from the…
Spotlight on: Passion Parties
What is a Passion Party? Before we answer this question, do a Google search. The first result says “sex toys parties for women.” Whoa—that’s provocative. “What we do is educate; it can be women and couples to having in-home parties to bring passion to life,” said Alejandra Ochoa, a consultant for Passion Parties Inc. “We…
Political Watch 4/23/15
• A bill to modernize language in California law to reflect the fact that same-sex couples can now marry passed off the Senate floor, 35-2, on April 16. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) authored Senate Bill 414, which would change the portions of California code that use the terms “husband” and “wife” to instead say…
Community Notebook 4/23/15 – 4/30/15
MONDAY, APRIL 27 • The South County Advisory Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Services District Headquarters, 148 S. Wilson St., Nipomo. • The Solvang City Council has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. agendas are available at cityofsolvang.com. TUESDAY,…
local bus company allegedly fires an employee for trying to disclose an unsatisfactory CHP inspection
On an early afternoon in November 2013, a passenger bus was about 40 miles along its approximately 330-mile route from Goleta to Oakland when it ran into trouble. That trouble was in the form of the California Highway Patrol, which stopped the driver of a Silverado Stages bus. An inspection of that bus revealed three…
Santa Barbara County-based coalition pushes for higher infant vaccination rates
Just before the April 17 California Department of Public Health announcement that the measles outbreak is officially over, a Santa Barbara County-based coalition announced its mission to regain a 95 percent vaccination rate in the community. The outbreak started at Disneyland in December 2014, and because no new outbreak-related measles cases were reported to the…
Olive Grove submits appeal to the state Board of Education
Olive Grove Charter School submitted an appeal to the California Board of Education in a bid to keep four of its campuses open. The Olive Grove team will travel to Sacramento for a hearing before the board in early July. The appeal is the latest trial for the charter school program, which the Los Olivos…
HAZMAT team called after suspicious package found in Santa Maria
On April 17, a county HAZMAT team was called to the scene of a building at 1318 S. Broadway in Santa Maria after a suspicious package was reported to police, according to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller. Shortly before noon, an employee working with the county Department of Social Services opened an envelope containing a small…
Lucia Mar teachers ratify the new contract, averting a strike
The Lucia Mar Unified School District’s teachers union ended a year of contentious negotiations and averted a potential strike by finally approving a two-year contract with the district the week of April 16. The district struck a relieved tone in a press release, hailing the ratification as “welcome news” and congratulating the union “for bringing…
Lompoc spars with the county over proposed housing development annexation
The proposed annexation of a housing complex near Lompoc is a point of contention between city and Santa Barbara County officials because of the potential tax revenues it could generate for whichever government has jurisdiction. On April 15, an ad hoc committee comprised of Mayor Bob Lingl and Councilmember Dirk Starbuck met with supervisors Doreen…
Santa Maria is attempting to take over a house on North Thornburg Street after it catches fire
Santa Maria fire fighters successfully snuffed out a house fire on North Thornburg on April 20, and city officials are attempting to take ownership of the property due to a spate of code violations. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and no injuries were reported, according to city Fire Chief Mike Barneich. And…
