Cover Story
Betraying the badge?
In the predawn hours of April Fools’ Day 2004, Santa Maria resident Alane Avila awoke in her bedroom with a start. “I just heard this bang and a flash,” Avila recalled. “I jumped up and my door came flying open, and there’s all these guys with ski masks on and guns pointed saying, ‘Get on…
What is your favorite kind of pie?
Jenell Howell registered dental assistant “I would have said apple pie, but I just had fresh blackberry and now that’s my favorite.” Doug Anonymous salesman “Cherry pie, because it’s fruity and tart with a little sweetness.” Holly Cann substitute teacher “Apple pie, because of the cinnamon.” Mark Costa CVS manager “Ice cream pie, because it’s…
On the roster
• Kids’ Fishing Workshop: Children aged 7 to 15 can learn to fish with the best anglers around at the Cachuma Lake Nature Center on July 23. Children will learn basic fishing skills; knot tying; casting; trout fishing; rigging for bass, crappie, and blue gill; and salt-water fishing, from 8:45 a.m. to noon. Registration is…
Cruzin’ for Life revs up
Cruzin’ for Life is taking donations in the lead-up to its eighth annual benefit car show and carnival, scheduled for Sept. 23 and 24 at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Contributions will go to support Marian Cancer Care Services, the American Cancer Society’s Camp Reach for the Stars, and the Young Cancer Survivor’s Scholarship Fund for…
Hancock holds 10th annual Joe White auction
Allan Hancock College is readying to open the bidding on rare and one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia at the school’s 10th annual Joe White Memorial Dinner and Auction on Aug. 20. The auction will raise money for the Hancock athletic program and will be held at the Santa Maria Fairpark Pavilion at 937 South Thornburg in Santa…
Santa Maria BMX holds ‘Summer Series’
Santa Maria BMX announced it would be kicking off its “Summer Series” of six BMX races on July 22. Races will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria BMX track at the Elks Unocal Event Center on July 22, July 29, Aug. 3, Aug. 5, Aug. 12, and Aug. 17, with the…
Mustang soccer to hold coaches’ clinic in Orcutt
The Orcutt United Youth Soccer League is partnering with the Cal Poly Mustang Soccer coaching staff for a free youth coaches’ clinic on Aug 6. The clinic is part of the Cal Poly men’s soccer program’s Summer Youth Coaching Series. Developed for coaches, the “Pass It On” seminar incorporates warm-up drills to develop skill, vision,…
What’s on Deck?
Thursday, July 21 No games scheduled Friday, July 22 Semipro Baseball Easton Elite @ Santa Maria Reds 6 p.m. Saturday, July 23 Auto Racing Super Late Models @ Santa Maria Speedway 6 p.m. Semipro Baseball Bakersfield Braves @ California Wahoos (DH) 11 a.m. Round Robin Tournament @ Elks…
LUKAS SHECKHERD
There’s water everywhere, splashing in your eyes and mouth while your teammates scramble to get organized. This may sound similar to a Navy Seal operation, but it’s just a regular day for water polo player Lukas Sheckherd. Sheckherd, an up-and-coming water polo star, took up the sport as a hobby in elementary school. “I saw…
The Bleacher Bum Chronicles Vol. XVI
When Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Ron Artest announced in June he had filed a petition in L.A. Superior Court to legally change his name to “Metta World Peace,” basketball fans everywhere snickered. Wasn’t this the same guy who leaped into the stands to beat a Detroit Pistons’ fan who’d thrown a cup of soda at…
A family of genius
A virtuoso is a rare person to come by. A virtuoso is someone who demonstrates a supreme mastery of the fine art of music, usually centered on one instrument. Santa Maria is lucky enough to be receiving not one, but three piano virtuosi in concert. The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society’s upcoming show “Piano for Six…
Stank
Over the years, my body has slowly begun to de-evolve. Physically, I am starting to go back to my caveman roots. My toenails are yellowing and are getting so hard that in order to trim them, I have to go out to the garage and grab a pair of tin snips. My eyebrows are so…
Get the voice
Joelyn Lutz, voice coach for Taylor and Tori Thompson, the Santa Maria singers who were on The Voice, will be holding a Teen Idol Workshop through the Santa Maria Recreation Department on Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Maldonado Center. She’s also teaching an adult class on Mondays at the Minami Center from…
Two local organizations give scholarships
The American GI Forum (AGIF) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) recently joined efforts to award scholarships to seven local college-bound students. Seven students received scholarships to attend Allan Hancock College, Santa Barbara City College, Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, San Francisco State University, and Maitripa College. This was the 32nd…
Ceramist is guest artist in Lompoc
The Lompoc Valley Art Association will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 2 at Stone Pine Hall, 210 South H St., in Lompoc. The guest artist will be Noreen LaPointe, best known as a ceramic artist. She’s also done choreography, costume design, play writing, set designing, hat making, and teaching art. The…
Iris Society holds a sale
The Lompoc Valley Iris Society Annual Rhizome Sale will be held on July 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot adjacent to the Texas Cattle Company, 936 North H St., Lompoc. Proceeds from the sale are used to purchase next year’s new varieties and to support a scholarship for local students.…
Finding faith
Dale Kreiter searched for ways to express himself through poetry and writing. At the same time, he was also searching for faith. The two paths crossed only after many years, converging in a show at Shepard Hall Gallery called “A Wisdom Journey.” There’s a book in the works, too. About 60 images from the book…
Too Gentlemen?
PCPA’s performers and production values are as solid as ever, but this latest production may be too gentlemanly for its own good. William Shakespeare wrote The Two Gentlemen of Verona sometime between 1588 and 1593, and it was published in Shakespeare’s “First Folio” of plays (1623). The playwright’s flair for sharp wordplay is evident here,…
Cool sippers
As summer sizzles, imbibers turn their attention from robust reds to lighter vinous fare. Whether lingering poolside, taking a trailside lunch break, or lounging in the shade, wine lovers crave something cool and crisp to brighten spirits and soothe parched throats. The lasagna reds and casserole Cabernets still deserve a place in the rack, along…
Fix what’s wrong in this country
The following diatribe is this 80-year-old voter’s assessment of what’s wrong with American voting practices and what it really means to vote Republican in the real world. • You favor deregulation of banking practices and Wall Street’s abuse and are against environmental concerns on Earth’s health and welfare. • You want to privatize public education.…
Not with a bang, but a whimper
As I was dressing this morning, I noticed all my clothing was “Made in China.” Americans used to wear “Made in the USA” clothing and drive American cars almost exclusively. I fear America’s huge trade imbalance with much of the world is a condition that potentially may destroy America as a world power nation. If…
Let us vote on district lines!
The redistricting extravaganza at the board of supervisors July 12 meeting should have been billed as a circus attraction and not the accumulation of the new, user-friendly public working agreement that was supposed to be used in the redistricting process. It is sad that the preamble to redistricting constantly expressed by all the county supervisors…
Redevelopment: Mend it, don’t end it
Desperate times are dangerous times, especially when the Legislature and governor grasp for quick fixes. A case in point is the new state budget, which aims to eliminate redevelopment agencies in California, thereby taking away even more local revenue in an attempt to fix California’s chronic budget problems against the will of the people. This…
Cooking up something special
Arroyo Grande High School has something delicious cooking in the kitchen, and it’s all thanks to Rosa’s Italian Restaurant. The award-winning restaurant and its Executive Chef Doug MacMillan donated $5,400 to the Lucia Mar Unified School District Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Culinary Arts Program, with $3,738 going to the ROP program at Arroyo Grande High…
Vacancy opens on Lucia Mar Board of Education
The Lucia Mar Unified School District Board of Education is only as good as the people who serve on it, and, effective July 18, the board will be accepting applications to fill a vacancy due to the resignation of Tiffany Alcantara. After her change of residency to Oceano, Alcantara submitted her resignation in compliance with…
Half a million dollars should expand local school-based health care
For San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County, it feels like it’s Christmas in July. Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHC) was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, included in the Affordable Care Act. This money will benefit the expansion of school-based health care services for uninsured…
Spotlight on: Trikke Tech, Inc.
When was the last time you rode a tricycle? It’s probably been awhile, but the memories come flooding back: a warm summer day with your friends, racing down the street, with laughter filling the air. Why did you ever give it up? If you’re longing for all the fun of three wheels coupled with a…
They draw the lines
As expected, an ongoing redistricting process has created some tension on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. On July 12, the board voted 3-2, with North County supervisors Joni Gray and Steve Lavagnino dissenting, to conceptually approve a new district map for the county. The vote came after months of public outreach and workshops…
State approves Los Alamos-Orcutt school district merger
Starting this August, students, parents, teachers, and other employees at Olga Reed School in Los Alamos will be represented by a new school district. The State Board of Education approved the merger of Los Alamos and Orcutt school districts on July 14. The decision will condense the typically 12- to 18-month timeline of the merger,…
Santa Barbara County Fair reports record-breaking attendance and livestock sales
The fair was apparently the place to be this summer in Northern Santa Barbara County. According to officials at the Santa Maria Fairpark, the Santa Barbara County Fair, which ran from July 13 to 17, drew its largest recorded crowd in history. A grand total of 147,363 people attended the four-day family extravaganza this year.…
Santa Maria airport district board needs more time to appoint director
The Santa Maria Public Airport District is a bit closer to filling a vacancy on the Board of Directors, but board members will still need more time to narrow down their pick from six viable candidates. At the July 14 board meeting, the four directors held a vote on who would fill the seat. The…
Buellton chimes in on SmartMeter controversy
The city of Buellton will send a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission requesting the state regulator mandate that Pacific Gas & Electric offer a no-cost opt-out clause for its controversial SmartMeter program. On July 14, the Buellton City Council voted 4-1, with Mayor Ed Andrisek dissenting, to send the utilities commission a letter…
