Cover Story
‘One for the history books’: Sun’s 2018 Year in Review
An unprecedented year of flood, fire, elections, and more made 2018 a year to remember It doesn’t matter who you ask, 2018 was filled with the unexpected. Natural disasters swept homes and lives away in moments as the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flows punctuated the beginning of the year. And months later, as Santa…
New faces, fun places: Central Coast foodies found the time to explore new cuisines and welcome new ventures
No matter how you chew it, 2018 was a mouthful. In Santa Maria and Orcutt, new ventures dotted the landscape, as an ever-changing and evolving populace sought out more unique eats. The Santa Ynez Valley continued to increase its presence as the dominant local food scene. It was a year I Rebeccamended everything from big…
Shining stars: Arts on the Central Coast crossed new boundaries in 2018
Another year has come and gone, and for the greater Santa Maria Valley and beyond, the arts proved it still has a strong foothold in the community. And it was a busy year for local artists. Everything from ballet to poetry to abstract art to photography and stage seemed to ascend to an ever-higher perch,…
Creative crescendo: Central Coast musicians performed more songs at more venues for more listeners in 2018
Sometimes, getting through the year is only as good as the soundtrack you have playing. Thankfully, the Central Coast is home to a variety of skilled and talented musicians who set the tone for 2018. There were competitions, awards, new albums, milestone performances, and more venues at which to enjoy live music. And there are…
Remember when?
Well, my feathers are more gray, there are fewer of them, and the bags under my eyes have gotten so big they’re about to get banned in California. It was a busy year (see page 8), with so many important stories competing for our attention on the local level alone, it’s hard to believe it’s…
Cal Poly and SLO Noor partner to offer free health services in North County
Cal Poly and local nonprofit SLO Noor Foundation are collaborating to provide free women’s health and newborn care in Santa Maria and Guadalupe. Suzanne Phelan, who heads up Cal Poly’s Center for Health Research, said the partnership came together easily. Dean Wendt, the dean of the Math and Science Department that oversees the center, is…
Neighborhood places signs to deter apartment dwellers from parking on public streets
A pair of signs placed in a residential neighborhood aim to deter local apartment dwellers from parking on public streets, but it is unclear if they are legally permitted. The signs first appeared on Dec. 20, on two entrances to the Classics on Leigh Street and Bello Road, a Bradley Square housing development on Bradley…
Sheriff’s Office arrests alleged meth dealer in Santa Maria
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Santa Maria man on Dec. 18 on suspicion of dealing and possessing methamphetamine, and possessing a stolen gun and stolen car. The Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Bureau searched a house in the 700 block of West Harding Avenue, where they reportedly found 38-year-old Julio Cesar Aguilar-Lopez in…
Political Watch 12/27/18
• Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown gave a warning about pension costs during an interview with The Sacramento Bee on Dec. 21, saying the state could fall into “fiscal oblivion” if it didn’t do more to address the cost of retirement benefits for government employees. Brown’s comments came weeks after his administration defended the state’s right…
Santa Maria City Council swears in re-elected and new members, honors retiring member
The Santa Maria City Council chambers were packed with supporters and city residents on Dec. 18 who were eager to see returning and new members of the council sworn in. But before re-elected Councilmember Etta Waterfield and newly elected Gloria Soto were sworn in to represent their respective districts, the council issued a proclamation honoring…
