Cover Story
Paring down: Drought conditions are forcing the county’s cattlemen to sell off their livelihood
A quick glance toward the hills prompts a second look these days. It’s hard to believe that after so many months of all sun and no rain, there’s actually a hint of something other than dead brown on the Central Coast’s gentle slopes. Ruminate on that. It actually rained. Green grass is beginning to sprout…
PVHS teacher arrested on suspicion of having sex with a minor
The Santa Maria Police Department announced in a press release Feb. 20 that officers arrested a Pioneer Valley High School teacher on suspicion of sexually assaulting a minor. According to the department, Santa Maria Joint Unified School District personnel told law enforcement Wednesday afternoon that sexual assault allegations had been made against Brian Hook, a…
Wandering Dog Wine Bar’s ‘Friday Night Wines’ educate and titillate
A good wine is one you like; a bad wine is one you don’t. It’s that simple,” said Wandering Dog Wine Bar’s CT Williams, who has co-owned and operated the wine shop in Solvang with his parents and wife Jody since 2007. They sell boutique wines from the Central Coast and around the world, and…
Local music venues must fork over hundreds of dollars to provide live entertainment
If it seems like there are fewer places at which to play or listen to music on the Central Coast, it’s because there are fewer events. Recent efforts by organizations designed to collect music-licensing fees on behalf of writers and publishers have prompted a number of venues to limit or even stop offering music altogether.…
Are you concerned about the drought?
Michael Hughes wine manager “Yes. I’m concerned when you look at the impact of water reduction on farming and agricultural communities. The denial about climate change is ridiculous.” Meggan Rodarte case manager “I’m more aware than concerned. I know this area is prone to dry cycles.” Larry Nash manufacturer “Yes. No one knows what next…
The AJM Band celebrates its new album with a performance at Shaw’s
The crackle of a distorted electric guitar or the explosive power of a barred chord is the musical equivalent of an illegal firework: It packs a punch. The same excitement that ignites in the heart of any young pyromaniac is stoked by the sizzling energy of rock ’n’ roll, a genre of music that has…
Crafty kids at Michaels
Michaels offers crafting events for kids ages 3 and up. A “Craft Foam and Felt Butterfly” event is scheduled for Feb. 22 for 30-minute sessions from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the store. Cost is $2. Michaels is located at 1934 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More information is available at 349-8801 or michaels.com.
New gallery in Orcutt welcomes first featured artist
The Frame Gallery, Orcutt’s new frame shop and art gallery, welcomes local artist Betsy Jones and her original acrylic paintings. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is located at 1157 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. More information is available at 287-9402.
Dunes Center needs help preserving ‘Ten Commandments’ set
Though the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center helped facilitate and now houses the fruits of an archeological excavation at the set of Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments. Much of the set still lies submerged beneath the dunes sand. The Dunes Center recently submitted a proposal for funding from the Santa Barbara County Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund to…
Lompoc celebrates Black History Month
The Lompoc Museum is collaborating with Club Arcturus to bring the work of lauded Santa Barbara poet and artist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle to the museum in celebration of Black History Month. The exhibit, Black Street: An Exhibition of Poems and other Cultural Artifacts, will feature Rolle’s poetry as well as artifacts and assemblages to accompany…
PCPA takes a stab at Hamlet
Shakespearean theater is truly intended to be heard and seen, not read. Studying The Bard’s work in school was enriching, but lacked the true directness of the story, almost like reading a Beethoven score rather than listening to a symphonic performance. It’s when the words are not just spoken, but spoken by people who truly…
Driving drums: Get the beat on local author Mark Parsons’ debut YA novel
View a video trailer for ‘Road Rash.’ There’s an old adage in the world of wordsmithing: Write what you know. Mark Huntley Parsons knows drumming. Here’s a partial list of bands in which he’s handled the beat: Patch of Green. Tamerlane. Hero’s Welcome. Plains. Kiq. The Fear Brothers. Lures Kite. Bottoms Up. Tequila Mockingbirds. The…
Pioneer Valley’s Lady Panthers clinch PAC 7 title
The black panther is an incredibly powerful and daring animal, feared by many for its aggressive nature. It would seem that the Pioneer Valley High School girls’ basketball team is taking Panther Pride to heart. Like the “ghost cats” of the jungle, the Panthers have stalked the court this season with prowess, composure, and tenacity.…
The Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association disbands
The vintners association that has represented and promoted wineries and vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley for a decade announced earlier this month that it will dissolve. The Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association made the decision late last year after several roundtable discussions with members. It becomes official at the end of February. The…
Political Watch 2/20/14
• With the release of an updated scoping plan for California’s clean energy and climate law—Assembly Bill 32—comes praise from the American Lung Association in California that things are moving in the right direction. “The AB 32 scoping plan draft helps steer California to a future of clean air and healthier families,” a press release…
Community Notebook 2/20-2/27
MONDAY, FEB. 24 • 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. • The Solvang City Council has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. agendas are available at cityofsolvang.com. TUESDAY, FEB.…
Walk together, right now: First-ever Unity in Community prayer walk
Santa Barbara County and Santa Maria officials are joining forces to “take back the city—Peace by Piece” from drugs, violence, and gang activity through the first-ever Unity in Community prayer walk and event on March 1. Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, Police Chief Ralph Martin, Fire Chief Dan Orr, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill…
Lompoc’s Zona Seca shutters
Zona Seca, or “dry place” in Spanish, closed the doors to its Lompoc office on Feb. 14, citing financial hardship. The center helped combat the effects of addiction, truancy, and gang violence in the local community for more than 13 years. In a recent interview with the Sun, Executive Director Frank Bañales said the center’s…
Neighborhood Legislature proposes a smaller governing system for California
What would happen if state senators and Assembly members represented only 5,000 to 10,000 people instead of the typical 500,000 to 1 million? John Cox, the head of Neighborhood Legislature, thinks it would “take the money out of politics” and give legislative power back to the people of California. Cox visited Buellton earlier this year…
Santa Maria Joint Union calls for a mediator
After more months of attempting to negotiate a new contract with its faculty association, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District on Feb. 14 informed teacher negotiators of a decision to call in outside help. Carl Lange, a negotiator brought in by the district, told the Sun his clients are planning to file a…
CAUSE petitions for districted Santa Maria City Council elections
As of Feb. 11, several Santa Maria-focused community groups started gathering signatures in support of placing an initiative on the November ballot that would require City Council members to be elected by districts. The Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) is a lead agency on the campaign. The petition calls for council…
Dangerously close: RV aflame on Meredith Lane
The Santa Maria Fire Department responded Feb. 17 to reports of an RV fire outside of Western Propane on Meredith Lane. Battalion Chief Ed Hadfield said witnesses saw a man exit the RV shortly before it went up in flames, spurring investigators to treat it as an arson case. The man was taken into custody…
Somebody needs to speak up
I wanted to write another column about the drought. I know water. Everybody likes water. Then I thought about discussing the music licensing issues raised elsewhere in the paper this week. I know music. Everybody likes music. But this was all just hemming and hawing and putting off the subject I knew in my heart…
Call me biased, but I think it’s common sense
I have to disagree with Tranz Central Coast (“Misguided criticism highlights the need for this law,” Feb. 13). While I don’t have a dog in this fight, I truly don’t care what people want to do with or to themselves. Identify as whoever you want to be. But, I am not going to teach my…
Panga bring people–not just drugs
We keep hearing about them, but what exactly is a panga boat? Panga boats are outboard-powered fishing boats that are used by Mexican drug cartels to transport drugs and unknown contraband into our communities. I think everyone in Santa Barbara County is aware of the horrific violence currently being imposed upon Mexican citizens by drug…
What’s on Deck? 2/20 – 3/1
THURSDAY, FEB. 20 BASEBALL Santa Maria vs. Laguna Beach @ SMHS, 3:30 p.m. SATURDAY, FEB. 22 MEN’S BASKETBALL Allan Hancock vs. College of the Canyons @ COC, 7 p.m. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Allan Hancock vs. College of the Canyons @ COC, 3 p.m. TUESDAY, FEB. 25 BOYS’ TENNIS Santa Ynez vs. San…
Bulldogs on top
It was another strong showing for Allan Hancock College sports this last week as spring teams are gearing up for kickoffs. Bulldog softball moved to 5-3 on the season, with 8-2 and 6-0 victories at the Mt. St. Jacinto season opener. Former Righetti Warrior and stud player Katie Chenault helped lead the team to a…
Yoga and dune restoration at Guadalupe
On Feb. 23, join the Guadalupe Dunes Center for a day of relaxation by doing something restorative for your body and mind. Start off the day at 9 a.m. with a yoga class by Trevor Dieterle from Strength to Be Still at the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve. Post-relaxing yoga, help restore the dunes habitat by…
Hands for Others celebrates successful fundraiser
Hands for Others (H4O), a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit, celebrated success at its Run4Water 5K event Feb. 8. According to a press release, the organization raised $4,000 with all proceeds going toward building water filtration systems in Honduras. Founded by a group of local teenagers in 2008, H4O has helped bring water to approximately 1,500 people…
Ryan Bower
Baseball season and daily practice is in full swing on the diamond at Allan Hancock College. Pitchers throw balls back and forth to one another, and then toss their mitts on the third baseline and join their teammates for a run around the field to end their two-hour practice. Ryan Bower—a sophomore starter and four-year…
‘Insidious’: The Phone Book Edition
I was sitting at the kitchen table typing at my computer when a strange young man caught my eye. He was walking toward the house with a bundle in his hands. He wore a beanie, T-shirt, big sunglasses, and a beard. By his appearance and the bundle he was carrying, I instantly suspected his intentions.…
Hobnobbing With Helen
It is fitting that Community Partners in Caring holds its annual volunteer appreciation luncheon in February—Valentine’s Day month—because this event celebrates people who have a heart. More than 80 big-hearted people attended the luncheon at the Santa Maria Country Club on Feb. 6. In her snazzy red dress, Community Partners in Caring Executive Director Ashley…
Spotlight on: Prasan Parmar, DDS
For Dr. Prasan Parmar, becoming a dentist wasn’t so much a choice as it was an expectation. “I come from a family of doctors,” he said. “I have three uncles and three aunts, and every one of them is either a dentist or doctor. My dad is an orthodontist.” That is not to say Parmar…
New program expands for younger children
Kindergarten registration for schools in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District starts on Feb. 19. Children who turn 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2014, are eligible to enroll in the upcoming 2014-2015 school year. Transitional kindergarten, a program for children who will turn 5 years old between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2 of…
Santa Maria’s high school board gets a new member
Educator Diana M. Perez was appointed to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board on Feb. 12. In statement to the media, she said she is honored to serve the community. “I understand the challenges for students in our schools,” Perez said in the statement. “Every student should have an opportunity to achieve…
