Cover Story
Art in the Internet Age
Jimmy Riggs was laying down a driving rhythm on his acoustic guitar and singing a heartfelt tune at a local music venue when his manager, Dale Clotiaux, slid a small paper card into my hand. Clotiaux made sure every member of the audience received one, which wasn’t a typical business card, but featured a coupon…
Too fit to quit
Guess what? I’ve started a new health regimen! I know, I know, it sounds cliché, but staying healthy is important. What, may you ask, triggered this new health kick? No, it’s not a New Year’s resolution. Here’s how it went down: I was sitting on my couch the other night, chowing down on some buttered…
Obama targets Proposition 8
News surfaced the afternoon of Feb. 28 that the Obama administration planned to file an amicus brief in support of efforts to overturn Proposition 8. Within hours, a copy of the brief, which calls for the U.S. Supreme Court to strike California’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, appeared on the Internet. The administration…
The Benchwarmer
You know that feeling you get in your head—that pressure that makes your skull feel like it’s going to split in two? That’s what I’m experiencing right now. Like a computer that’s about to short out, my brain is in shock—unable to comprehend the appalling news about the Olympics. I’m sure many of my fellow…
Big stats for the Bulldogs
The Allan Hancock College softball team is off to a roaring start this season, already ranked high in the Western State Conference (WSC). According to Hancock Athletics, player Kristine Ramos is leading the WSC and the state with eight stolen bases, while Tawney Nunes is ranked third with a .500 batting average in 20 at…
Feeling lucky?
On Saturday, March 2, Vendetta Pro Wrestling will present the “Shamrock Slam” at the Santa Maria Fairpark; proceeds from the event will be donated to Tunnell Elementary School. The show will feature three local wrestlers who attended Tunnell: Mike Menace, who went on to play football at Santa Maria High School; Sunami; and Billy Blade.…
Athlete of the Week: Itzy Pinon
Itzy Pinon (No. 8, pictured above) just wrapped up her senior season of soccer at Righetti High School with an impressive 14 goals on the year and helped lead her team to a second-place finish in the Pac 7 conference. The talented forward started playing soccer when she was 5 years old; she said that…
The Benchwarmer
You know that feeling you get in your head—that pressure that makes your skull feel like it’s going to split in two? That’s what I’m experiencing right now. Like a computer that’s about to short out, my brain is in shock—unable to comprehend the appalling news about the Olympics. I’m sure many of my fellow…
In general, what do you use the Internet for?
Paul Robinson assistant principal “I use the Internet to research educational issues and find data.” Sam Wells food service “Online video games, oh yeah!” Maria Perez student “Instagram, Pinterest, checking my e-mail, and online banking.” Mike Funkhouser coffee shop manager “I use the Internet mostly for paying bills and seeing what’s online at QVC.”
A musical brew
The Information Age has been very good to us, allowing the unbridled pursuit and expansion of art and culture in any direction, with all of human history to draw upon as we jump into the future. One sub-cultural meme in particular has been the subject of much creativity and attention due to its creative outlook…
Time for stories
The Orcutt Branch Library will be host to a free story time for preschool kids every week through March. “Mouse Tales”—led by volunteer storytellers Carol Gregor, Sheri Willebrand, Betty Gunn, and Diane Handlos—will run on Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m. from March 5 to April 23. Pre-registration is required for interested participants, but once a child…
One more shot to join the talent
The Rotary Club is holding one last audition for the Santa Maria Has Talent 2013 show, which is open to all area soloists, ensembles, groups, singers, dancers, actors, acrobats, and instrumentalists. Unfortunately, bands can’t be accommodated. The last audition is March 2 at 11 a.m. at the Orcutt Presbyterian Church, 993 Patterson Road, Orcutt. There’s…
Share the style
The first-ever Cinderella’s Closet Santa Maria event needs your help to get started. The program is dedicated to promoting and enhancing the self-esteem of Central Coast high school girls in the form of free prom dresses and accessories. Anyone with new; vintage; or clean, gently used dresses can donate them to Cinderella’s Closet Santa Maria…
Celebrate V-Day
PCPA Theaterfest is celebrating V-Day, a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls, with a production of The Vagina Monologues in Santa Maria. All proceeds from the event will go toward the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center. The Vagina Monologues was written by Eve Ensler, a playwright and activist…
Chase the storm
Powerful forces are building at the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts, swirling together into a potent hail of visual, aural, and emotional might. In the chaos of the storm that is William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a light breaks, illuminating the truth of matters as deep as the ocean itself, truths that are further examined…
Daytripper: Cruise up the coast
If you’re anything like me, an excuse to meander destination-less and drive around a new place is the perfect way to spend the day. It’s a good way to explore, and for me it’s the best way to drop the heaviness that sits between my shoulders after a week of work. I got the chance…
Here comes the king
I think my wife is so smart, wise, and fantastic that I honestly believe she would be a great queen. I only say this because if she were a queen, that would automatically make me the king. And I have big plans as king. First and foremost, I want to be the real king—not this…
Keep presidents to two terms
There is a proposed new law that has not been passed by our Congress (U.S. House of Representatives, Senate) called H. J. RES 15 that will allow a future president of the United States to serve more than two terms by doing away with the 22nd Amendment. I am against repealing that amendment, because it…
By his own words, Obama is a failure of a president
As a senator, Obama voted no on raising the debt ceiling stating raising the debt ceiling is a failure of leadership by the president. As president, Obama wants exclusive rights to raise the debt ceiling. As a presidential candidate, Obama stated the $400 billion deficit and $4 trillion increase in the debt by Bush was…
Here’s the difference Obama makes
Now that everyone’s had a chance to experience Obama’s Alinsky Rules For Radicals up close and personal for the past four years, surely even those on the left are beginning to suspect their gold-plated celebrity president has become tarnished and corroded. Even though their beliefs are based on faulty assumptions, flawed reasoning, or misplaced compassion,…
Avoiding helping the homeless is its own form of laziness
Do homeless people choose to be that way? A recent letter claims most are (“A lot of homeless people choose to be that way,” Feb. 14). I’m responding in memory of my friend. People with brains that function well do have choices. But those who were subjected to abuse or toxic environments in their formative…
Flies and fungus vs. jobs and prosperity
We need to support Gov. Jerry Brown in his efforts to reform CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act. CEQA requires that all projects be analyzed to determine if the potential exists for the project to have a significant impact upon the environment. The devil is in the details! Just what constitutes a significant impact and…
Born to beer wild
It looks really small and unimportant, but there’s some really important stuff going on here,” Firestone Walker Brewing Company co-founder David Walker said about Barrelworks, the new cellar and rare-beer tasting room that opened to the public in January in Buellton. After a private tour and eye-opening beer tasting with Walker, I’m convinced that experiencing…
St. Joseph High awards almost half its student body
Nearly half of St. Joseph High School’s students received academic excellence awards at their annual awards banquet on Feb. 24. During the first semester of the 2012-2013 school year, 205 students earned a 3.5 GPA or higher. Of those students, 135 made the Principal’s Honor Roll with a 3.75 or higher. Fall semester’s highest GPA…
City to celebrate Arbor Day with new tree plantings
Tree plantings at elementary schools are one way Santa Maria Recreation and Parks will honor Arbor Day and celebrate the city’s 32nd year as a Tree City U.S.A. Tunnell Elementary School, Sanchez Elementary School, and Los Flores Ranch Park will get planted the week of March 7 to 14. Tree-planting festivities at each site include…
Cottage Hospital auxiliary offers scholarships
The Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Auxiliary is accepting applications for scholarships from students pursuing education in the health and medical fields. The Cottage Hospital Auxiliary awarded three $3,000 scholarships in 2012. Applications for 2013 will be accepted through March 13. “The Hospital Auxiliary raises every single cent for these scholarships through their incredible volunteer…
The makings of a magical children’s tea party
We are excited to be in the throes of planning a children’s tea party with our fabulous sponsor Moo La La Boutique! Our Tea La La party is Thursday, March 7, 5:30 to 6:15, during our twilight hours at the museum. There’s no charge for the children for this event. Our twilight hours run 5:30…
Spotlight on: Santa Maria Speedway
A Friday morning spent clearing out cement that had been night-dumped by a rogue motorist fell under Ruben Munoz’s new responsibilities as promoter for the Santa Maria Speedway. Ruben and his wife Katy took over operations and the lease from previous promoter Chris Kearns on Feb. 1. While the move may mean a new era…
Spend 10 minutes, save a life
While saving a life isn’t on most people’s agendas most days, Dignity Health of the Central Coast—which includes Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, French Hospital Medical Center, and Marian Regional Medical Center—will be giving local residents just such an opportunity this March. The medical group is organizing three bone marrow registry drives that will take place…
Oil and water
You’ve heard the old Western proverb before, especially if you live in California: “Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.” Santa Barbara County Supervisor Doreen Farr’s third district covers a lot of water—nearly the county’s entire coastline. On Feb. 12, Farr traveled inland to testify in Sacramento before a joint committee hearing on…
Recycling center gets nod despite residents’ concerns
After an opposition force 200 people strong simmered down to a mere 45 minutes’ worth of speakers from the Westgate residential area, the Santa Maria City Council gave SA Recycling the go ahead at the tail end of a five-hour meeting on Feb. 19. The Westgate residents’ appeal to the planned development permit for an…
Santa Maria-Bonita staffers get a raise
Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s salaried employees are going to get a sweet bump on their next paychecks. That bump will come in the form of a 3 percent raise, which is retroactive as of July 2012, giving employees seven months of backdated pay to look forward to. The school board voted 5-0 in favor of…
Locals say they plan to appeal the expansion of Chumash Casino’s liquor license
Some Santa Ynez Valley residents have banded together with a goal to appeal an administrative law judge’s decision to grant the Chumash Casino and Resort an expanded liquor license. Up until now, the casino has had two separate liquor licenses—one for The Willows restaurant and one for the hotel. If approved, the expansion would allow…
City seeks applications for planning commission after Moats resigns
Much like Santa Maria’s City Council, the Planning Commission is also undergoing some changes in leadership. Planning Commissioner and local dermatologist Michael Moats announced his resignation from the commission after its Feb. 20 meeting. In a letter to the city, Moats said it was time for him to focus on his private practice, Moats Laser…
