Cover Story
Santa Maria couple says ‘I do’ in Costco frozen food aisle
View a slideshow of photos from the Santa Maria Costco wedding. Robert Bonilla was walking down the frozen food section at the Costco in Santa Maria. It was Dec. 21, 2013, days before Christmas and the aisles were crowded with shoppers eagerly stacking their carts full of those gigantic Costco-sized containers of food for their…
A medical marijuana dispensary is proposed for Nipomo
Since the federal raid of a Morro Bay medical marijuana dispensary in 2006, attempts to permit storefront dispensaries in Nipomo, Oceano, Guadalupe, and Orcutt have failed, and several incorporated cities in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties have outlawed them. Now, Ethnobotanica Patients Cooperative, a mobile dispensary—potdeli.org—operating out of Watsonville to deliver in Monterey…
Hancock basketball players enter not guilty pleas on murder charges
On Feb. 3, Ali Mohammed and Lavell White entered not guilty pleas to the charge of murdering a former Allan Hancock College student, Terence Richardson, in late December. Mohammed and White both stood before the Santa Maria court judge wearing collared shirts, shackled in handcuffs that were chained to a thick leather belt at their…
Taking the vineyard vow is as close as Santa Barbara County wine country
Lincourt Winery’s old windmill creaks through a lonely existence in February, spinning sporadically above the brown, spindly winter vines that line up below it. In a couple of months, the vineyard’s front acreage of sauvignon blanc vines will green up, playing off the yellow of the cottage-like tasting room that sits on the hill overlooking…
Would you ever get married in a store? Why?
Meggan Tjarks stay-at-home mom “Probably not. Weddings are supposed to be special and intimate, and stores are neither of those.” Kitty McDow personal trainer “I’m pretty open to it, but I am married and had my wedding in a limousine at a drive-thru chapel.” Mykey Zepeda car salesman “No, because that is not romantic.” Linda…
Reality bites
I received a random email from a television producer asking if I was interested in being on a new reality television show about building and racing cars. Being a gearhead and racecar driver, I responded to the email immediately, saying, “YES! Of course! What took you so long?” I was hoping the future television endeavor…
Harmony is perfect for the musically minded wedding
From the moment my wife and I first wandered through the red brick courtyard of Harmony, Calif., and entered the quaint chapel there, we knew that it was the place we would one day have our wedding. We eloped last year, enjoying a courtroom marriage in San Diego, and this year, we will be reserving…
Santa Maria Public Library Foundation forms
Santa Maria’s city librarian Mary Housel announced the formation of the Santa Maria Public Library Foundation, a new nonprofit organization, in a statement issued by the city of Santa Maria on Feb. 5. The launch follows public support of the nonprofit organization by the Library Board of Trustees and Friends of the Library board members…
Santa Ynez Valley artist guild calls for artists
The Artists Guild of the Santa Ynez Valley is currently accepting applications from artists for the 2015 Art in the Park events, which are held the second Saturday of the months of April, May, June, July, and September. The events are fine arts and artisan affairs open to all original and handmade objects and their…
Pioneer Valley senior takes first place in county’s Poetry Out Loud competition
The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission hosted the county’s Poetry Out Loud competition at the Santa Barbara County Administration Building on Feb. 4, ultimately awarding Pioneer Valley High School senior Aldrin Allen Ysip first place. Students from 18 of the county’s schools recited poems, and Ysip earned the distinction that qualifies the teen to head…
Santa Maria Civic channels the God of Carnage with wit and fury
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre is a truly versatile home for the theatre arts on the Central Coast, providing family friendly entertainment as well as contemporary stage plays with more dramatic overtones and adult themes. The Civic Theatre’s current production God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, opens upon an extremely…
AeroOptix offers a drone’s-eye-view of weddings
There are some angles even the most skilled photographer just can’t get. For those moments when a striking angle is desired, any variety of crane, ladder, or precarious perch might do the trick, but for a sweeping, panoramic shot of a special event, like a wedding ceremony or reception, sometimes it pays to call in…
Wine that salutes: Jarhead Wine Co. makes robust reds that honor vets, young and old
Like the very best wines, some homecomings are meant to be savored. When U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Nick Firestone returned home to the Santa Ynez Valley after a 10-month deployment in Afghanistan last November, his parents, Adam and Kate Firestone, were overwhelmed with elation. “When his mother gets to hug him, safe and sound, we…
Political Watch 2/12/15
• In the wake of the recent measles outbreak, California legislators announced a bill that would essentially take away a parent’s choice to opt-out of vaccinating their children unless there is a physical condition or medical reason a child shouldn’t get immunized. Parents would be required to show proof of vaccinations in order to attend…
Community Notebook 2/12/15-2/19/15
TUESDAY, FEB. 17 • 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. Agendas are available at http://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Santa Maria City Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City…
Santa Maria offers Adventure Days for kids
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department will be playing host to supervised recreational Adventure Days for children aged 6 to 12 that coincide with upcoming school holidays. Adventure Days will take place at the Newlove Community Center, 1619 S. Thornburg St. in Santa Maria, on Feb. 16, April 3, and May 25…
Altrusa books arrive at Santa Maria-Bonita
From Feb. 11 through 13, Ontiveros Elementary School and Tommie Kunst Junior High are having special displays of books purchased with funds donated by Altrusa International of Golden Valley. The organization granted the money to the Santa Maria-Bonita School District in September 2014, and the books have finally arrived. Altrusa members are visiting the libraries…
New bill would extend community college discipline to off-campus actions
State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson recently introduced a bill that would permit community colleges to extend their jurisdiction beyond campus borders for sexual assault and other serious student conduct violations. Senate Bill 186 would allow community college districts to use their disciplinary process to expel or suspend students for off-campus behavior determined to be “egregious,” such…
Off to college: The soccer scholars of Righetti High
Three Ernest Righetti High School soccer players are heading to four-year schools on scholarships in the fall. Michaela Olney will play for Cal Poly SLO, Leann Wolf is heading for Massachusetts to join Wheaton College, and Megan Stevens is off to CSU East Bay. The signing ceremony for the athletes was on Feb. 5.
A hairy situation: DIY style from a top SLO salon
According to a very thorough Google search, the average American wedding costs an estimated $30,000. Those must be some mighty hors d’oeuvres and fancy place settings, because that’s a hefty chunk of change. Luckily, there are some arenas in which you can save. Hair is definitely one of them. That’s why I asked a hairstylist…
Spotlight on: Yoga Shine
If you have been looking for a way to stay active and connect with yourself on a more spiritual level, Yoga Shine could be your new favorite place. Nestled in central Nipomo, the yoga studio greets customers with an inviting ambiance: pleasant aromas, bright colors, and smiling faces. More importantly, it plays host to a…
Lompoc takes steps toward negotiating terms for a potential theme park
The Lompoc City Council unanimously passed a resolution during its Feb. 3 meeting, giving more time to a group of corporations refining the terms of a negotiation to build a possible multi-million-dollar space-themed park on 82 acres of city-owned land. The council passed the resolution despite what it considered to be an incomplete proposal submitted…
Local refinery workers show solidarity with strikers
Starting on Feb. 1, thousands of union refinery workers across the country walked away from their jobs, and shockwaves from that strike have registered in Nipomo. Since Jan. 28, a rotating group of members of the Grover Beach-based United Steelworkers (USW) Local 534 chapter have been picketing at the gates of the Phillips 66 Santa…
Another note or two on nuclear
What time is it? I’m glad you asked! It’s time for the next edition of Adventures in Nuclear Non-Proliferation! When we last checked in with our heroes, known as the Republic of the Marshall Islands, they had filed lawsuits against the world’s nine nuclear-armed nations, including the United States. Since their home was the site…
Sovereignty and the legislative platform
Since I questioned the whole idea of sovereignty during a discussion of the County Legislative Platform, there has been much said by many people. Both pro and con views have been expressed concerning my statements. Let me explain how we go about adopting that platform, one specific issue about the Chumash Tribe, and my position,…
John Martinez
John Martinez, a sophomore lightweight who wrestles for Ernest Righetti High School, pinned his opponent in one minute and 20 seconds to clinch a win in a recent match against an opponent from Atascadero High School. Earlier this season, Martinez came within three points of beating a two-time state qualifier who plays for Paso Robles…
St. Joe’s girls’ soccer team takes up Make-A-Wish cause of a young cancer survivor
The Ernest Righetti High School varsity girls’ soccer team crossed the street on Feb. 6 to whoop St. Joseph High School 2-0. It was a bruising blow for the Knights, who are jockeying with Atascadero and SLO high schools for a spot in the league playoffs. Some of the people in the bleachers were talking…
