Cover Story
Burn rates: The Alamo and Whittier Fires required tens of millions of dollars to fight, but those aren’t the only costs
The drive into Tepusquet Canyon from its south end offers rolling hills, ranch homes and ancient oak trees, coyotes dodging between grape vines, and deer grazing in pastures. But on the approach from Santa Maria, a long skyline of bruised black hills reveals the devastation wrought by the Alamo Fire and the real threat it…
What do you do to prepare for wildfire season?
Jan Debruin retired “Keep the yard clean and get rid of dry weeds.” Jordyn Thomas student “We water our plants and rake up all the dead leaves.” Jim Murman retired “We make sure to keep our weeds cut down.” Janelle Murman sales “We make sure to keep the fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in working…
Political Watch 8/3/17
• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in sending a letter to White House Counsel Don McGhan seeking answers from the White House regarding a recent decision to publish emails containing sensitive personal information from citizens concerned about President Donald Trump’s Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. According to…
A tax exemption that is no longer justified
When Congress originally established credit unions in the 1930s, they were granted a federal tax exemption because they existed to provide small-dollar loans to close-knit groups of people of modest means. However today, many credit unions are virtually indistinguishable from taxpaying community banks, and they have leveraged this taxpayer subsidy to aggressively grow—becoming a $1…
Growing concerns: Community members speak out on cannabis cultivation at county scoping meeting
Aside from a few knowing glances, snarky scoffs, and rolling eyes, the tone of Santa Barbara County’s July 27 environmental scoping meeting remained passive-aggressive, if not submissive, despite many attendees’ vehement concerns over the meeting’s topic: cannabis cultivation. Noise, traffic, odor, water—roughly 10 community members shared their most pressing cannabis-related fears at the meeting in…
Spotlight on: Lily Stitches
Lisa Adam remembers telling her mom when she was in her 20s that she hated sewing and she’d never do it. Her mother replied with a skeptical “OK,” and since then, Adam has sewed every day. Now, she’s made a business out of it. Adam opened Lily Stitches last year, which started as an embroidery…
Dank dinner served: Weed-infused wedding fare makes for a high time
I’m at an undisclosed location nestled off a dirt road atop a hillside across the way from the SLO airport. With a quaint yellow farmhouse, rolling green lawn, and epic sunset view, the setting feels very much “the Central Coast wedding venue.” On this evening, everything is decked out like a bride’s dream Pinterest board:…
Adult children
My youngest offspring—my only daughter, my little girl, the apple of my eye—turned 18 recently. This means I’m old. I can’t run around and act like a kid if my own kid isn’t a kid anymore and is actually an adult. I only have myself to blame for this situation because years ago, when my…
Local musicians can submit new albums and songs to the New Times Music Awards
It’s that time of year again, when local singer-songwriters, bands, rappers, and composers seal their EPs, albums, or recordings with a bow and send them into the New Times Music Awards. Is this the year you’ll finally enter, or are you going to watch someone else take home the coveted Newtie? The competition is open…
Allan Hancock College receives Makerspace grant
Allan Hancock College was one of 24 colleges to receive a CCC Maker Implementation Grant from the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office. The college was awarded $350,000 to build an inclusive makerspace community in collaboration with the Santa Maria Public Library and the Santa Maria Discovery Museum. In January, CCC Maker awarded Hancock an…
Santa Maria Public Library awarded bilingual book grant
The California State Library’s Immigrant Alliance Project gave the Santa Maria Public Library System a $7,500 grant to purchase bilingual children’s books for the main library and all branch library locations. The books will feature printed text in both Spanish and English, to help meet the needs of families in various local communities. The library…
Daytripper: Walk the plank to the Needles Lookout in Giant Sequoia National Monument
My hands are shaking slightly as I tentatively try to take an iPhone panorama with one hand while hanging on tightly to my dog’s leash in the other. My mind is telling me that maybe this wasn’t the best choice, but I’ve adapted to ignoring that insistent little whisper. And the payoff is almost always…
‘Tree’ novel chronicles California history through an unusual narrator
We humans are lucky if we get a solid 100 years on this planet, but imagine what it might be like to live for several centuries, all in the same exact spot you were born. Well, in a fascinating work of magical realism, author Melina Sempill Watts’ novel released earlier this year explores just that.…
Local family agencies merge to offer services countywide
The Santa Maria Valley Youth and Family Center and the Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County (FSA) recently merged to form a single countywide organization that will provide mental health counseling, basic needs assistance, and case management services to more than 28,000 residents a year. Services are now more readily available countywide, according to…
Hobnobbing with Helen: Merry mixer
“Christmas in July.” Oh, my goodness, this pre-holiday happening sounded intriguing! Christmas was the theme of the monthly Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce mixer hosted by Altrusa of the Golden Valley on July 20 at the Santa Maria Town Center mall. The theme was carried out with red and green decorations, holiday napkins, and…
Salud Carbajal opens Santa Maria office
Along with residents of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria voters can now indulge in all the luxuries that accompany having a fully staffed congressional district office within city limits. Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) hosted an open house on July 31 to celebrate the grand opening of his newest district office in Santa…
Santa Maria aims to make Depot/Fesler intersection safer
A recent traffic report conducted by the Santa Maria Public Works Department revealed what many Santa Marians already knew: The intersection at North Depot and West Fesler streets is congested and dangerous. The traffic study was done as part of an environmental impact report (EIR) that was completed when plans were made to develop a…
Buellton City Council agrees to retool RV ordinance
The Buellton City Council saw packed chambers at its July 27 meeting, when it reconsidered an ordinance banning trailers, boats, and recreational vehicles (RVs) from being parked on residential driveways, lawns, and streets. Residents filled every seat, stood, and a line of children sat along a back wall during a charged public comment session. “First…
Lompoc man suspected of attempted murder of police officer
Lompoc resident Steve Aguilar was arrested on Aug. 1 on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly driving his vehicle at a Lompoc Police Department (LPD) officer, who then fired shots at the suspect. No officers were injured in the incident and although Aguilar was not hurt by the gunfire, he did sustain minor injuries from…
Vandenberg announced Minuteman III test launch amid North Korea concerns
Vandenberg Air Force Base announced an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) scheduled for Aug. 2, after the Sun’s Aug. 1 press time. The announcement came just days after North Korea launched its longest range ICBM to date on July 28, which reportedly could reach the Continental United States.…
Maddie Smith
Although 13-year-old Maddie Smith currently resides in Oxnard, Santa Maria will always feel like home to her for many reasons. During winter and summer breaks, Maddie returns to visit friends and relatives. The city has a special place in her heart not only because she grew up here, it’s also where she discovered her favorite…
Santa Maria Swim Club to send seven athletes to the NCSA Junior Nationals
Three girls and four boys from the Santa Maria Swim Club (SMSC) qualified to compete at the National Club Swimming Association (NCSA) Junior National Championships this year. The competition takes place Aug. 1 through 5 in Indianapolis, Ind. The seven athletes make up the largest group of Nationals qualifiers from the club since 2009, Coach…
Grand old discord
First things first, I owe Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) an apology. I chastised McCain last week for his “yes” vote on moving forward to debate the Republican “skinny repeal” bill that would have dismantled the Affordable Care Act. I won’t let him off the hook for that, but I will apologize for besmirching his title…
Repeal the Endangered Species Act!
There is too much environmentalism! This country does not need an onerous piece of legislation like the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA is being used in a way never intended by its creators. The ESA gives carte blanche to bureaucrats to run roughshod over private property rights to promote a socialist agenda. The goal…
Thanks from Casmalia
We’d like to thank the following County staff who were instrumental in getting the Lompoc/Casmalia Road re-opened: Public Works Director Scott McGolpin, Deputy Director of Transportation Chris Sneddon, and all of the behind the scenes staffers. You rock! Additionally, Supervisor Joan Hartman and her staff met with us immediately and kept us informed on the…
