Cover Story
The born identity: Why it’s so important for transgender people to change their documents, and how it’s now easier to do so
The one thing Aaron has been asked about that most other people will never have to answer is the shape and condition of his genitals. It’s a question he clearly doesn’t like to answer, but it’s a question he’s been all but forced to answer almost any time he’s had to use any form of…
Sculptor, ceramicist, and paintbrush artist Glenn Grishkoff shows and performs at Allan Hancock College
Listen to the full interview with Glenn Grishkoff. The paintbrush is nowhere near a new invention; it’s been used to create some of humanity’s most aged masterpieces. The modern example of the age-old technology is that of uniformity: neat rows of bristles perfectly shaped for any utility, often sprouting from colorful petroleum-based handles devoid of…
Do you think that the name/gender changing process should be easy? Why?
Bianca Melendez student “Yes, because it should be easy to express who you are.” Jennifer Graham student “No. If that is the route you are taking, it should be well thought out and worth doing. A life-changing event should allow time for reflection.” Robert Senior professor “The process by which anyone’s civil liberties are affected…
Ewe-phoria: No matter how you slice it, The Santa Ynez Valley Cheese Co. is a cut above
View a slideshow of the Santa Ynez Valley Cheese Co. We have our slogan, ‘If you’re not a cheese lover yet, we’ll make you one,’” Kristin Collins declared. That fondness of cheese started as a passion and is now a business for Kristin and her husband, Russ. The Santa Ynez couple loved eating cheese so…
Back to the future
I loved reading the comics when I was a kid. My favorite was Dick Tracy. I thought the coolest thing about Detective Dick Tracy was his watch, which other characters on the police force also had. They used these to communicate with each other and could see one another as if on television on that…
Boyz II Men come to the Chumash Casino Resort
Watch Boyz II Men performing Better Half live. How does a group of high school boys working on harmonies after choir class grow into men who shatter billboard records set by Elvis and The Beatles? “Your guess is as good as mine,” said Shawn Stockman, the vocalist who makes up one third of the best-selling…
Artists Guild of Santa Ynez Valley hosts art marketing talk
The Artists Guild of Santa Ynez Valley is presenting an Artist Salon event with Mitra Cline, who will discuss How to Market Your Art in the Digital Age on Feb. 19 in Los Olivos. The free lecture is open to the public and will include information on social media use, copyright protection online, marketing, organization,…
Lompoc Public Library holds call to artists
Artists interested in being featured in the Lompoc Public Library’s Grossman Gallery and the Vandenberg Village Library are welcome to provide at least six exhibit-ready pieces of art that are representative of style and expression for consideration at the Lompoc Library’s Art Advisory Committee meeting on Feb. 5. Interested Central Coast artists must deliver their…
Filipino-Americans capture their shared experiences in a new song
The officers of the Filipino-American Association of Santa Maria Valley Inc., have collaborated to create a new song that captures the shared experiences of Filipino-Americans. Titled the “FIL-AM Song,” the lively jazzy song will be performed and premiered on Feb. 7 as part of the association’s meeting—at the Magic Dragon Restaurant in Santa Maria—that will…
The Melodrama presents the espionage-themed ‘Bullshot Crummond’
I have to admit, I had my own inner doubts when I saw the Great American Melodrama’s program for its current show Bullshot Crummond. It said that the entire show, including the closing Coffee House Vaudeville Review, would be performed by only five cast members. That’s quite a difference in the number of performers when…
Hancock shows off its new industrial tech building
Allan Hancock College celebrated the completion of its last major project funded by a $180 million bond passed in 2006 with the grand opening of the $17.6 million Industrial Technology Complex on Jan. 30. “We are just starting the second semester in the new building, and it’s just fantastic,” said Danny Prewett, an auto tech…
Political Watch 2/5/15
• State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson introduced a bill on Jan. 28 that would prohibit drones from trespassing on private property. California law already prohibits someone from entering private property without the owner’s permission, and prohibits them from photographing or recording conversations. Senate Bill 142 would clarify that those trespassing rules also apply to entry by…
Community Notebook 2/5/15-2/12/15
MONDAY, FEB. 9 • The Santa Maria City Block Grants Advisory Committee has its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. • The Solvang City Council has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. agendas are available…
Hobnobbing with Helen
It was impossible to be bored at the free, fifth annual Nat Fast Children’s Art Day held at the Discovery Museum on Sunday, Jan. 25, from noon to 4 p.m. The event honors the late and beloved local artist and educator Nat Fast. Children’s Art Day was like an indoor street carnival with face painting,…
Spotlight on: William James Cellars
All it took was one Facebook post to announce that William James Cellars was opening its Orcutt tasting room’s doors on Jan. 23, and the people came flooding in. Formerly located in Santa Ynez, William James owner Robin Bouge has built up a small following over the years. Prior to moving, she set up shop…
Santa Barbara County’s health agency pushes for vaccinations after possible measles case
Medical and public health officials in Santa Barbara County are straightforward about addressing the debate surrounding vaccinations. “Simply put, people who choose not to vaccinate are putting others at risk for serious illness,” said Dr. David Fisk, an infectious disease specialist with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. “They are relying on the initiative that others take…
Guadalupe re-ups a temporary ban on adult businesses until zoning issues are resolved
The Guadalupe City Council unanimously renewed a temporary ban on “adult-oriented businesses” during its Jan. 27 meeting, keeping any such business out of the city for another year. The ban was passed as an urgency ordinance and extends a similar ban passed a year ago. The original ban was passed in March 2014 and prevents…
California lawmakers introduce the End of Life Option Act
A group of California legislators, including Central Coast Sen. Bill Monning, has plans to introduce a bill that would give terminally ill adults the option to receive and self-administer aid-in-dying medication in California. Speaking at a press conference on Jan. 21, Monning joined Sen. Lois Wolk and Assemblywoman Susan Talamantes Eggman to unveil the bill.…
Vandenberg and NASA launch first ever soil-mapping satellite
After the initial launch date was delayed by two days due to wind, NASA’s first satellite designed to collect soil moisture data from the Earth’s surface—the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite—launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Jan. 31. According to information in a NASA press release, the launch begins a three-year mission that…
Santa-Maria Bonita looks for community input to name its new school
There are two ways community members can get involved in naming Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s new school: They can submit a possible name or they can volunteer to serve on the committee evaluating those submissions. District spokesperson Maggie White said the district has already received several submissions from community members, including names of well-known educators…
Righetti High School mourns the loss of Breanna Rodriguez
Ernest Righetti High School in Santa Maria is usually busy with the everyday hustle and bustle of its students. But the mood on Feb. 2 was particularly somber. That morning, the school learned that one of its students died in a Santa Maria car wreck over the weekend. Righetti senior Breanna Rodriguez, 17, was the…
Questioning questioning
Last week, I wrote about the issue of tribal sovereignty in light of recent comments made by County Supervisor Peter Adam, and I invited readers to let me know their thoughts on the subject. I must admit that I was surprised by the responses I received. One writer from Orcutt emailed me to say, “I…
In the absence of tangible opposition, bring on the rail
Regarding the Jan. 29 cover story, “To rail, or to rail against,” I hadn’t really formed an opinion on this project; if pressed, I would have sided with Phillips. After I finished reading the article, I find the opposition argument specious at best, which is funny, since they use this exact term to “accuse” Phillips…
An open letter to Supervisor Peter Adam
I was disappointed to read your comments in a recent Lompoc Record article questioning the sovereign nation status of Native American tribes. It is unbelievable that such statements would be made in any context, but I am especially disappointed to see them come from an elected official. I appreciate and respect free speech and the…
Higher education: location, location, location (part two)
Read the first half of Ken Parker’s commentary from Jan. 29. Last week, I left you with the distressing news that higher education opportunities for local students may be very limited at best because of where they live. This alarming remark has already brought responses that have kept my phone ringing and email account full.…
Andrew Eisner
Andrew Eisner is one of those rare high school athletes you may meet—an elusive and endearing combination of passion, intelligence, and eloquence: all of which are characteristics of a powerful leader. But Eisner, a sophomore, is not the type of leader who dominates the scoreboards (although he is successful there as well). Rather, Eisner leads…
The NFL’s got wiggle room when it comes to cheating
At this point, I feel compelled to write Jay-Z and tell him that I, the Benchwarmer—briefly out of writing retirement—have written a football-scandal inspired remix to his 1994 song “99 Problems.” The new version might go something like this: “If you havin’ football problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems and…
