Cover Story
No clear answers: One year later, the parents of Ivan Nunez still have questions about their son’s disappearance and death, which local police ruled a suicide
The day Ivan Nunez turned 16 years old, he threw a party and invited family and friends to his house in the 500 block of West Hermosa Street. It was the day after Christmas. There was music and dancing in his backyard that evening and everyone was having a good time, except for Ivan. Without…
Local kids can get professional art instruction at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum
Have you forgotten what it was like to be a kid? Let me refresh you. There was probably a lot of, “Don’t eat the paste,” “No, you can’t draw on Mommy’s wall,” and, “No glitter allowed on the dining room table!” going on. Instinctively, you knew that making things (with Play-Doh, crayons, and hand-painted macaroni)…
Los Alamos celebrates Restaurant Week with more than just dinner
Restaurant Week is not for the lazy. At least, not until now. When I first heard news of the Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Week, I’ll admit I was practically giddy. From Jan. 22 through 28, the annual event offered diners the chance to sample three courses from local restaurants for the bargain price of $20.17.…
The Central Coast celebrates Valentine’s with songs of love
You can always tell a love song. Even if a song is sung in a language foreign to you, the sound of romance and love is universal—everyone knows what it’s about. That’s why, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, local venues and musicians know to spice up their lineup or set with some music that tugs…
Trump’s recent EPA policies won’t affect Casmalia Superfund site
The road leading southwest from Santa Maria to the Casmalia Superfund site is inconspicuously marked with a sign reading “Casmalia Landfill.” It cuts through a cow pasture, and ends at a guard shack at the top of a hill. Past the gate is a small office building, and beyond that is the opening of the…
Dozens gather in Santa Maria to protest Trump’s travel ban
More than 50 people gathered on the corner of Broadway and Main streets in Santa Maria on Feb. 3 to protest President Donald Trump’s recent executive order temporarily barring incoming foreign citizens from several countries in the Middle East. The order affects seven countries—Syria, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen. Hassan Murshed with the…
Staying grounded
I recently survived the process of building a new home. When I say I built a home, I don’t mean I stood on a ladder and smashed my thumb with a hammer while hanging drywall. What I did was much more difficult than that. I sat in an air-conditioned office next to my wife and…
Expect a response
Did anyone notice I was right? It’s OK; I understand that the scrawling of a coffee-swilling, deadline-crunching canary isn’t at the top of everyone’s list. But still, I was right. Last week I warned that President Donald Trump would probably hear from the legislative branch of the government after his spate of executive orders. According…
Why is it important to have a free and fair press?
David Stover student at Delta High School “It’s good for America. Like the saying goes: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Danielle Elliot student at Allan Hancock College “It’s important because people shouldn’t be making decisions based on a biased view.” Jacob Swanson student at St. Joseph High School “I believe…
Lompoc Library seeks local artists to exhibit in Grossman Gallery
The Lompoc Public Library is calling for Central Coast artists to submit work samples to be considered as an exhibitor in the library’s Grossman Gallery. Works chosen will be on display from November 2017 through December 2018. To be considered, artists must submit at least six exhibit-ready pieces that will be evaluated for technique, expression,…
Santa Maria Library Foundation holds Valentine’s Day fundraiser
The Santa Maria Public Library Foundation hosts its third annual Love Your Library fundraiser on Feb. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Shepard Hall. The event is a Valentine’s Day themed afternoon of entertainment, wine tasting, and food. The Central Coast Chordsmen (pictured) will perform romantic music at the event. A Street Café will…
Lompoc Recreation Division hosts annual Father Daughter Dances
Due to popular demand, the Lompoc Recreation Division is holding its annual Father Daughter Dance event on three different evenings, Feb. 10 through Feb. 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each night. The semi-formal dances are for girls ages 3 to 18 and their dads or other father figures. Tickets are $18 per couple. Additional…
Get your mahjong on at the Elwin Mussel Senior Center in Santa Maria
Donna Eschen, moderator of American mahjong at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center in Santa Maria, received her first mahjong set as an inheritance from her mother. “I would watch my mom play mahjong as a kid, but I never understood it,” Eschen told the Sun. “I didn’t learn how to play myself until after she…
Bailey Killough
There is an old saying that home is where the heart is. For Bailey Killough, there really is no place like home. The Allan Hancock College freshman threw a complete game no-hitter on Jan. 28 in the team’s second game of the season against San Diego City College. Killough, an Arroyo Grande High School graduate…
Santa Maria valley high schools change CIF sections
Sweeping change came to the Santa Maria Valley’s athletic landscape as five out of the six area high schools were approved to leave the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) Southern Section and join the CIF Central Section. Starting with the 2018-2019 athletic calendar, 13 local high schools—that’s five from Santa Maria and eight from San…
Show respect for the president
It is unbelievable that any reputable newspaper would use one fourth of a page to publish the detestable, contemptuous, and abominable poem by Gale McNeeley, (Jan. 26, “A poem for Inauguration Day”). I believe the writing calls for the assassination of the 45th president of the United States. In other words, calling on someone to…
Capitalism runs amok
Wealth and power are what matters to the ruthless U.S. Wall Street/corporate class. With their control exercised for a long time over the government of the people for the people whether run by Republicans or Democrats, it is inevitable that our capitalist representative democracy would devolve into a chaotic state. The social and other programs…
A question of Americanism
I’ve had the opportunity to vote for presidential candidates in 11 general elections. During this time, my political views shifted from right to left, as a young man who enlisted in the U.S. Marines, but evolved into a pacifist as an aged one. This was a twisted journey with a disproportionate share of regrets and…
Hancock raises funds for cancer center in honor of basketball coach
Allan Hancock College is collecting funds for the Marian Medical Center’s Mission Hope Cancer Center via the third annual Carney’s Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser. The fundraiser, which runs online through Feb. 13, honors Hancock assistant basketball coach Larry Carney. Carney is a four-time cancer survivor, and also lost his father, mother, and younger brother to…
Righetti breaks ground on new classroom complex
Ernest Righetti High School began construction on its $22 million, 38-room classroom complex on Monday, Feb. 6. The new complex, funded by a school bond from 2004, is under construction on the west side of campus. The classrooms will replace a parking lot and maintenance and operations buildings, which have been relocated. District spokesman Kenny…
Local high school students to combat bullying with mentorship program
Santa Maria’s high school district is tackling bullying with a two-part mentorship program called WAR (We All Rise) Guardians, which kicks off with an event at Santa Maria High School on Feb. 24. The event marks the program’s first part, which teaches Santa Maria Joint Union High School District students and parents about the signs,…
Spotlight on: Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade
Tina Tonascia, the chief operations officer for Elks Recreation Inc., had a big announcement about the 74th Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo at a Jan. 25 press conference. The rodeo is now a scheduled stop on the 2017 Champions Challenge Tour—which will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. “The board of directors has a…
Community fundraises to replace equipment stolen from Boy Scout troop
Members of an Orcutt Boy Scout troop arrived at their storage shed at Saint Louis de Montford Church on Saturday, Feb. 4, to retrieve equipment for an upcoming camping trip—only to find that the shed’s lock had been cut and their equipment stolen. The troop lost about $3,000 in camping gear, including new backpacking tents…
Santa Maria increases bus fares
Santa Maria bus riders will have to shell out some extra quarters starting Monday, Feb. 13, when Santa Maria Area Transit plans to hike bus fares for the first time in 13 years. The fare increases follow unanimous approval of transit service changes by the City Council on Aug. 2, 2016, and aim to help…
Political Watch 2/9/17
• Congressman Salud Carbajal (D), who represents the Central Coast’s 24th District, co-sponsored the Statue of Liberty Values (SOLVe) Act. The bill, which was introduced by California Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) on Jan. 30, nullifies and blocks the use of any federal funds to implement or enforce Trump’s executive order that blocks immigrants from…
Santa Ynez Community Services District won’t challenge Los Olivos CSD
The Santa Ynez Community Services District (CSD) will vote to include Los Olivos into its service area on Feb. 15 but won’t challenge the county’s decision to form a similar district in Los Olivos. A Jan. 27 letter from Santa Ynez CSD General Manager Jeff Hodge to Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)…
