Cover Story
Film therapy: How neurologically different adults benefit from filmmaking
The lights dim and the crowd grows quiet as the whir of the projector lights up the screen, filling it with the magic of filmmaking, where drama unfolds, bad guys get their comeuppance, and heroes are made. Most Americans love movies, but cinema takes on added layers of meaning for members of Adventure Club SLO,…
Down in the database dumps: Lawsuit highlights concerns for database misuse within California law enforcement
Imagine serving honorably in the military, then coming home and years later finding out that there’s a child you never knew you had. Such an unexpected surprise happened to Jeffrey Jerome Whitson, a 29-year-old Kern County resident and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Last February, Whitson discovered that he was the father of an 8-year-old boy,…
To protect the U.S., vet refugees
I appreciate your asking to hear from me regarding the invasion of “Syrian refugees.” As a legal immigrant from Finland and being from a family whose members have been refugees, I have a personal perspective on the issue. First of all, you should note that Obama laid out a template for handling refugees back in…
Santa Maria considers medical marijuana cultivation ordinance
Legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in October is causing city and county governments throughout the state to reconsider their medical marijuana ordinances. Santa Maria joins Arroyo Grande and the city of Santa Barbara in discussing changes to current ordinances as well as the potential banning of commercial and/or private cultivation of medical…
Inmate dies in Santa Barbara County custody
Johnny DeWitt, 49, of Santa Maria collapsed on the morning of Nov. 26 while in custody at the medical dorm of Santa Barbara County’s Main Jail. He was pronounced dead at the hospital less than one hour later. Dewitt had been in custody with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office since Sept. 28, booked under…
What is your favorite form of art and why?
Abigail “Abby” Sanchez AHC student “I like movie-making because I’m actually able to see the art. I feel like film brings out emotions in people.” Eloisa “Ello” Delapena AHC student “I like writing. When you write, it can be about anything. And nobody has to read it except for you.” Jonathan Cuevas AHC student “Drawing…
Jacqui Prober
In softball, there are five tools athletes need to succeed, according to Righetti High School senior Jacqui Prober: hitting for power; hitting for average; speed; a strong arm; and the ability to play a solid defense. “I think I’ve got a good balance of all five,” she said. UCLA thought so too. Jacqui recently signed…
Steve Sax returns to Santa Maria
When Steve Sax visited Santa Maria earlier this year, he spoke with more than 300 youth and community leaders over the course of a few days. Now, with the end of 2015 quickly approaching, the baseball legend is returning to the area. He’ll share updates on his youth mentoring program offered through the Steve Sax…
Second chances
Apparently Dec. 1 was Giving Tuesday (#givingtuesday), at least according to all the emails in my inbox from places like the Surf Happens Foundation and CASA of Santa Barbara County asking for donations. #givingtuesday is a mighty bit better than #cybermonday and #blackfriday and #nationalsinglesday (China is GREAT at making single people feel fantastic, offering…
Track the Democrats
What is wrong with Donald Trump? Can you believe he wants to register Muslims and survey mosques? Just because every terrorist who has caused carnage and destruction since and including the 9-11 attacks has been a Muslim, why would any rational person want to keep track of them? Further why would we want to close…
Santa Maria High School to perform holiday music concert
The community is invited to get into the holiday spirit with the Santa Maria High School Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band on Thursday, Dec. 3. The Winter Concert, which has become a tradition for the Santa Maria Valley, begins at 6:30 p.m. inside the historic Ethel Pope Auditorium. Non-holiday music will also be played. Nearly…
Community support helps Santa Maria schools
Several schools in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District benefitted from the generosity of the community recently. In early November, employees from Home Depot in Santa Maria spent a day at Alvin School doing projects to spruce up the campus. The Home Depot volunteers dug out the garden area near the front office, built planter boxes,…
Santa Maria Saints Racing Team helps family during Thanksgiving
The Santa Maria High School Saints Racing Team was able to spread holiday cheer to a family in need this Thanksgiving. The idea for the community service started in early November when advisor Art Foster told the team and new freshmen to start thinking about their community and in what ways they can give back.…
Spotlight on: Holloway’s Christmas Tree Farm
The first thing you notice is the aroma. It’s the scent of Christmas, a mix of Monterey pine, noble fir, white fir, and Douglas fir. Three of those varieties are growing on 15 acres at Holloway’s Christmas Tree Farm. The noble fir is shipped in from a place called Mossy Rock in Washington state. A…
Political Watch 12/3/2015
• On Nov. 19, Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) issued a statement upon the House of Representative’s passage of the American SAFE Act (H.R. 4038), which would effectively end refugee resettlement opportunities for families fleeing from violence in Syria and Iraq. She said in part: “We do not need to choose between strong national security and our values.…
Community Notebook 12/3/15 – 12/10/15
MONDAY, DEC. 7 • The Solvang Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. TUESDAY, DEC. 8 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. •…
Sansum Clinic sued for alleged labor violations
The Santa Barbara-based employment law firm Anticouni & Associates is suing the Sansum Clinic for alleged violations of the California Labor Code, including the failure to pay overtime compensation, and requiring employees to work “off the clock” and during their lunch breaks. The lawsuit was filed on Nov. 25 in Santa Barbara Superior Court and…
Friends and family of Elijah Olivas continue efforts to help with medical costs
Friends and family of the Olivas family gathered at Expressions Salon for a “Cut for a Cause” fundraiser event on Nov. 21, which included a DJ, bake sale, and fun for kids awaiting haircuts. The event is the latest fundraiser following an accident that left Elijah Olivas—the 10-year-old son of Maria and Jason Olivas—in a…
Fine wine and irresistible edibles await at Terravant in Buellton
You typically don’t expect to find fine dining in an industrial strip. Especially not in an industrial strip on a street called Industrial Way. However in Buellton, there sits an exception to the expectation. Or should I say, a pleasant surprise? Terravant doesn’t just sit in an industrial complex, it’s literally tucked away at the…
The Great Christmas Light Race
I absolutely love the holidays. It’s truly a magical time of year. To do my part, I do my best to get my lights up as soon as practical to help turn the city into a winter wonderland. In my neighborhood there is a bit of a competition. All the guys race to see who…
The Moxie Cafe offers a relaxed hangout for quality live music
Santa Maria has enjoyed a fresh face to the live music venue scene for the past several months in the industrial part of town, not too far from the Sun’s office, at the Moxie Café, where local bands and musicians—this writer and pianist included—get to perform live on Thursday and Friday evenings. I performed recently…
Santa Maria Public Library Youth Services offers holiday fun
The Santa Maria Public Library is hosting a series of special holiday events for kids and teens, from crafting times to live performances. Most programs require tickets, which are free but must be picked up at the Youth Services Desk at the library. A Holiday Song Fest includes live music by Craig Newton, who will…
Central City Swing Band presents annual Christmas concert
The Central City Swing Band is preparing a cornucopia of favorite holiday tunes arranged in the traditional big band swing style for its Christmas concert on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The band will perform vintage styles as well as some modern arrangements by Tom Kubis. Bob Swayze—a longtime Central Coast bandleader—directs the 17-musician band…
Altrusa announces fall grant fund recipients
The Altrusa International Foundation of Santa Maria Inc. announced the recipients of the organization’s fall 2015 grant funds. The foundation has supported literacy, child care, and disability programs in the community for years, and gave $20,000 to local organizations for the fall grants cycle. The programs selected for support included People for Youth and Leisure…
Great American Melodrama touches the heart and warms the belly with ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Holiday Vaudeville Review’
The holiday season began early—that’s anytime before Thanksgiving—this year at the Great American Melodrama, which continued an annual holiday season tradition with its three-part production beginning with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The charming little theater’s halls are decked with holly boughs and other friendly festoonery to suit the season, but most welcoming are the…
Solvang’s Julefest brightens the holiday season
When Time magazine declares your little plot of earth one of “The Nine Most Christmassy Towns in America,” you needn’t worry about using too much tinsel or too many twinkle lights. You’ve got full license to go buck wild, like Santa after one too many rum and eggnogs. It’s “go big or go home,” and…
