Cover Story
Stars of wonder
Sometimes, when planning for the future, nonprofits reach for the stars. This year, for the Sun’s annual presentation of local nonprofit wish lists, we decided to appoint you, the community, as those stars. Pretty shiny, huh? Don’t worry: You won’t have to remember where you fit into Ursa Major or hang in the sky for…
Which New Year’s resolution are you most likely to make and break?
Jessica Rietzke manager “Saving money. Things always come up.” Amber Lynn student “Quitting soda. It’s not good for you, but I’ll drink it anyway.” Jessica Durst student “Losing weight. It’s easier than it sounds.” Jessica Delfin student “Saving money. I love music and spending money.”
Political Watch – 12.23
California Sen. Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) has hit the governmental ground running. The newly appointed chair of the Committee on Reform introduced the first elements of his 2011-12 legislative package earlier this month. His first bills as a state Senator include legislation limiting political campaign “robocalls”—automated pre-recorded messages used during election season. The bills…
Community Notebook – 12.23
FRIDAY, DEC. 24 Have a merry Christmas! MONDAY, DEC. 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.
Federal lawsuit settlement leads to Los Padres land protection
More than one million acres of undeveloped federal forestland will stay undeveloped, thanks to a long-awaited agreement between conservation groups and the U.S. Forest Service. Four national forests, including Los Padres, will be the beneficiaries of a settlement between the state of California, the Forest Service, environmental groups, and off-road vehicle users. The settlement concludes…
She’s the boss
A month and a half into her job as Santa Barbara County’s CEO, Chandra Wallar already has her work cut out for her in managing the county’s massive budget gap. However, the financial distress hasn’t put a damper on the enthusiasm she’s brought to the office since taking over for the retired Mike Brown on…
Baby new year
Santa Maria’s Jane Rooney knows the life-or-death impact of having a neonatal intensive care unit close to home. In 1982, Rooney and her newborn daughter Caitlin were rushed via ambulance to Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. Born four weeks early, Caitlin’s lungs wouldn’t inflate, and the closest unit—often referred to as a NICU—was more than…
Names for Santa’s ‘Good List’
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department named its employee and firefighter of the year at the Fire Department’s Annual Holiday Party on Dec. 14. Sandra Viola was surprised by her employee of the year award. “I was helping check people in [to the party],” Viola said. “I didn’t expect it all.” She has been a…
Traffic is flowing on Union Valley Parkway
It’s finally happened: The city of Santa Maria officially opened a portion of Union Valley Parkway on Dec. 16. The one-mile stretch includes a new three-way traffic signal at Highway 135 and Union Valley Parkway, connecting the highway to Blosser Road. Construction of Union Valley Parkway has been on the city’s to-do list for more…
WikiLeaks fallout reaches Vandenberg
In response to leaked U.S. State Department cables by the Internet site WikiLeaks, the U.S. Air Force has blocked a list of news websites that published the material at bases around the globe—including Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc. Vandenberg spokesperson Jeremy Eggers confirmed on Dec. 21 that various websites, including the New York Times,…
Record rainfall floods Guadalupe neighborhood
It’s raining and it’s pouring, and it’s more than just a nuisance for some Northern Santa Barbara County residents. Serious flooding forced people living in Guadalupe’s lower Pioneer Street neighborhood to evacuate their homes and other buildings on Dec. 19. According to Guadalupe Fire Chief Jack Owen, the Santa Maria River swelled to capacity, and…
Lompoc Museum has Polar Express display
Lompoc Museum’s current exhibit, “All Aboard: America’s Romance with Railroading,” will feature The Polar Express train through the holidays. People of all ages are invited to come see and “pilot” this icon of the Christmas holidays first made famous by Chris Van Allsburg’s book and later by the animated film. The museum is open to…
Town Center offers art for kids
The Town Center Gallery is now accepting registration for two sets of weeklong Winter Kids Art Workshops. The classes will be held Monday through Friday, Jan. 3 through 7. The classes are taught by professional artists and teachers who aim to help kids ages 5 to 15 focus their creative energies into art projects. The…
Motive-ated
While some bands travel with bodyguards, Motive moves with an entire built-in support system. That’s probably because the members don’t need guards. Even sitting in the Sun’s conference room with his petite and pigtailed cutie of a daughter in his lap, drummer Brian Campbell had a bigger-than-life presence—until he began to recap the band’s successful…
Hanging for winter
I’ve lived in California all my life. And though I’ve lived in a variety of cities, all of them have been on the Central Coast. That means I don’t have a tolerance for major temperature shifts. For me, 72 degrees is optimal. So I totally understand why tens of thousands of monarch butterflies travel for…
Class & Meetings
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Spiritual
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Farmers Markets
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Barbecues
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Health
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } ONGOING THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR BALANCE AND HEALING offers free energy balancing sessions from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every third Saturday of the month at…
Art
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE LOMPOC MUSEUM presents “All Aboard: America’s Romance with Railroading,” featuring historic photographs, railroad memorabilia, vintage model train cars and structures, and a working model railroad…
Learning
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } ONGOING EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS for inventors, entrepreneurs, new product developers, and creative individuals that feature expert speakers and resources meet every first Wednesday of the month from…
Recreation
@font-face { font-family: “Times-Roman”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } MEGA HOLIDAY ICE SKATING features a real outdoor ice rink with skates to rent, music, and holiday ambiance through Jan. 9 10…
Kids & Family
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE COMMUNITY ACTION COMMISSION and the Boys and Girls Club present a healthy snack program for kids from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. through June 15 at…
Dance Lessons
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } 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:…
Stage
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCondItal”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of Peter Pan through Dec. 23, Marian Theatre, Allan Hancock College, 800 S College, Santa Maria. $28…
Night Life
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BlacExte”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } The following venues offer either regularly scheduled live entertainment or DJ-hosted dance music. Most performances start after 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted.…
Concerts
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY presents its “20th Anniversary New Year’s Eve Pops Concert” featuring popular television and movie scores and New Year’s festivities Dec. 31 8:30…
Special Events
@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-BoldCond”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanD-LighCond”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FOODBANK presents its annual Holiday Food Drive through Dec. 31. The Santa Maria warehouse is at 490 W Foster Road, Santa Maria.…
The Pusherman
At my house, I have been known do something we call “pushing the fun.” It is a situation where I take something that is normally just moderately fun, and push it and push it into absolute extravagant uber fun awesomeness. My wife, whom I love, describes the same situation as “taking something fun and totally…
WEV recognizes new graduates
After 14 weeks of training, Women’s Economic Ventures graduated 20 Northern Santa Barbara County residents from its flagship Self-Employment Training Course (SET) at a Dec. 15 ceremony in Santa Barbara. Of the 114 total graduates, 11 hailed from the Santa Maria Spanish SET course. Startup businesses from the course included “Grandma’s Tamales,” owned by Susana…
Communicate effectively with a free course
As any successful business owner knows, communication and presentation skills are essential tools to making a business productive. The Barnes Institute of Management Productivity and Research Center for Strategic Management would like to help managers, employees, community leaders, and job seekers improve those important skills with a free introductory Speech Communication and Skills Course in…
Give Santa Claus a call
To make sure good boys and girls get what they want for the holidays, Santa Claus has partnered with the elves at Advantage Answering Plus in providing a direct telephone number to the North Pole. All children are invited to leave Good Old Saint Nick a personal voicemail message by calling 546-1121 until Dec. 26.…
It’s a sandy business, but somebody’s gotta do it
It was the last day before holiday break, and some Alice Shaw School students were busy throughout the campus selling sand. Yes, sand. But not just any sand. From Dec. 15 to 17, Valerie Trenev’s fifth grade students sold magnetic sand—a naturally occurring phenomenon—to help pay for a field trip to the Ronald Reagan Library…
Presents of Christmas past and present
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse! The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, and I wrapped all the gifts while he snored like a bear!* Charles Dickens wrote, “Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back the delusions of our…
Jesse DeBone
Keichu-Do is an American martial art composed of karate, grappling, jiu-jitsu, and self defense—very serious stuff. Yet local youngling Jesse DeBone, age 12, has taken to it like a fish to water. “I hope to do it my whole life and will try to make a career out of it,” DeBone said. Although he’s new…
Ice, ice baby
Excitedly lacing up her skates on a warm December afternoon, Jasmine Morales paused to reflect on the novelty of ice skating in the heart of her hometown. “It’s rare,” she said. “It doesn’t happen often for people in California. They can’t just go in their backyard and go ice skating.” The 40-by-85-foot rink she was…
City tee-ball league takes signups
For those not-ready-for-primetime baseball players, the city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is offering a recreational tee-ball league for boys and girls ages 5 to 7. The program focuses on the fundamentals of baseball, sportsmanship, and teamwork concepts. Parents are also encouraged to get involved as volunteer coaches. Registration will be accepted at…
Spend winter at the Y
So the kids are on winter break and they can’t stay home? Bring them to the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, where they can play the Nintendo Wii, bake holiday cookies, watch movies, make holiday crafts, and more. The camp runs until Jan. 14. Financial assistance is available. To sign up or find out more, call…
Hockey kids hit the floor
Parents of children aged 3 to 6 are encouraged to register their kids for Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s Rookie Sports Floor Hockey program. The class is intended to help children develop and practice social, physical, and gross motor skills, with a focus on fun. The cost is $48 for YMCA members and $63 for participants.…
Edible wonders
Between bouts of holiday shopping and fits of party planning, thoughtful minds turn to the mysteries of the season. They juggle not only the timeless wonders of Earth cycles and religious revelations, but also the questions surrounding peculiar food items traditionally dished up at this time of year. For instance, speculation abounds about mincemeat. What…
