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Best of Northern Santa Barbara County 2017
Calibrate your visual processors and defrag your disks, because Best Of Northern Santa Barbara County 2017 is here with the Robo-Best! We did it up in precision style this year, reaching out to the businesses, people, and androids Sun readers think are at the front of the assembly line. And we have a robot! Watch…
PCPA hosts young performer auditions for ‘Freaky Friday’
The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) plans to hold auditions Aug. 20 for young male performers for Disney’s Freaky Friday the Musical. The theater seeks a boy to play Fletcher Blake; the character is about 10 years old. Auditions are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at PCPA’s rehearsal studios. Rehearsals for the play are…
Camp 4 decision to go before House of Representatives
The U.S. House of Representatives’ Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously on July 26 to move a bill to the House floor that would affirm the Bureau of Indian Affairs decision to add Camp 4 to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ reservation. The bill would also deny any further appeals to the decision. House…
What is the best thing about Santa Maria?
Yzelle Fonscca employee at Macy’s “The weather.” Chris Andrade employee at Smart Phone Fix “The barbecue.” Ken Guge owner of Leisure Time Games “Leisure Time Games in the Santa Maria Town Center mall.” Nate Landwehr student at Del Mar Elementary “The mall and the movie theater in the mall.”
Chef Drew Terp celebrates a year and beyond at Los Alamos’ Pico
It takes a certain kind of confidence to get yelled at by one of the world’s greatest chefs and come away feeling the better for it. When Chef Drew Terp recalls the first time acclaimed restaurateur and chef José Andrés yelled at him, he does so with fond laughter. I had asked Terp what it…
Teen Queens
If you ever happen to look around the mall and wonder where America’s teenage girls are, don’t worry. I found them. They’re all on YouTube doing makeup tutorials. I’m not kidding. Judging by what I’ve seen in the past week, I now firmly believe that every American teenage girl (and some guys) between the ages…
Bent Myggen and the VisionEars perform live in the heart of Los Olivos
Right in the heart of downtown Los Olivos, in sight of its iconic flagpole, there’s one quaint little home that remains in an area packed with fine dining, tasting rooms, boutique shops, and a large hotel. That’s Bent Myggen’s home, and you’re a welcome guest. The Danish-born singer/songwriter hosts concerts during the summer months in…
Solvang Theaterfest gets new executive director
Santa Ynez Valley resident Mary Ann Norbom was appointed the new executive director for the Solvang Theaterfest. “We believe [Norbom] can lead Theaterfest in meeting its strategic goals, while expanding relationships in the community,” board co-chair Dr. Bob Baehner said in an email. According to a press release from the organization, Norbom is an entertainment…
Nipomo author’s book teaches kids to care for pets
While the most popular toy may change with each holiday season, there’s one gift that will make any kid speechless with joy: a puppy to call one’s own. Dog mom and Nipomo author Ethel Landers knows a thing or two about caring for puppies. The SLO Gay and Lesbian Alliance Center art gallery curator is…
Claire Scattini
Is ballet an art or a sport? Ballerina Claire Scattini of Nipomo argues, “Why not both?” Scattini, 18, has been dancing since she was 3, when her parents enrolled her in the California Arts Academy in Fresno, where she grew up. “Ballet is very physically demanding, but it still requires a lot of emotion and…
Local makes custom-order baseball bats at WynnWood Bats
Shawn Wynn sure knows his wood—ash, maple, and birch wood that is. Founder of WynnWood custom bats, Wynn is working to keep a dying art alive. A 28-year-old originally from Taft, Calif., Wynn had a fairly short baseball career. He grew up playing little league only to play one season in high school as a…
Best place to be
I know I’m a pretty critical little bird, but I can’t help it. I have a beak that’s prone to pecking, digging, and chirping about what I’ve found. There’s definitely plenty I could talk about, like the goofy mishap with Lompoc Mayor Bob Lingl and his “finger gun” pointed at Lompoc City Councilmember Jim Mosby,…
Dear Canary
You liberals running these tabloids are notorious for promoting “fake news” as President Trump has reminded all of us (“Money matters,” July 27). You have probably forgotten that that airhead Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it,” the ACA. No, the process by the…
Trump can still do good
Now that the political charade of the Republican attempt to repeal Obamacare is over, maybe Donald Trump can pivot toward actually making America great again and abandon the continual Sturm and Drang that has characterized his new administration. The best thing about Trump, and maybe his only redeeming quality, is his lack of core political…
High School District spends millions on summer construction
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District has spent more than $30 million on a plethora of construction projects this summer as part of its mission to improve its facilities for staff and students, and it’s only the beginning. The district, which is the largest high school district in Santa Barbara County, also plans to…
Spotlight on: Hair Extensions by Emily
Emily Lawson had a revelation while studying psychology at Cuesta College—the same realization many students have at least once in their academic careers—to switch majors. Lawson knew exactly what she wanted to pursue, but it meant changing schools as well. Having nearly enough units under her belt already, Lawson stayed to receive an assoicate degree…
Political Watch 8/10/17
• Gov. Jerry Brown made waves in national and state media when he said that Democratic leadership hadn’t been “clever enough” on an episode of Meet the Press while talking to host Chuck Todd about West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice changing his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Brown pointed to attacks on the Affordable…
Two injured after falling 300 feet from Highway 154
Santa Barbara County first responders used a helicopter and the Jaws of Life to save two people from a car on Aug. 6 after it fell 300 feet from Highway 154 near Windy Gap, trapping the occupants inside the vehicle. The driver of the 2015 Toyota Tundra was Christopher Scott, according to California Highway Patrol…
Stay involved in Buellton
Though it did not affect me personally, I started the campaign against the Buellton city RV, boat, and trailer ordinance to speak out against the impingement on our property rights and freedoms without proper notification and due process. We spoke up, and the ordinance has been suspended, but it will be revised and re-introduced in…
Who does Carbajal work for?
I am totally disgusted with Congressman Salud Carbajal voting against Kate’s Law. His blatant lack of support for the safety and protection of his constituents is indicated by his voting no on the law that would punish deported illegal aliens who re-enter the USA and commit more crime. Is Carbajal sympathetic to the behavior of…
Guadalupe District to provide all students with digital tablets
Guadalupe students are in for a year of virtual excitement. Each student will be receiving a technology tool��”iPads for kindergarteners to second graders and laptops for third through eighth graders��”as part of the Guadalupe Union School District’s One-to-One Technology Initiative. The initiative, its title meaning one piece of technology for every one student, is part…
Finger gun gesture sets off Lompoc police investigation into alleged death threat
Jim Mosby couldn’t believe what he had just heard. It was a typical summer night for the Lompoc City Council member, spent chatting up community members and representing his city’s leadership at Lompoc’s Old Town Market, hosted every Friday in July. As a woman came up to the table to speak with Mosby where he…
Anthem nixes ACA coverage plans on Central Coast
Thousands of Central Coast residents will have to look for new health insurance next year after one of the area’s biggest providers announced that it will no longer offer plans through the state’s insurance marketplace in most California counties. Health insurance giant Anthem Blue Cross said it is pulling out of all but three of…
