Cover Story
Just beginning: Most local high school grads aren’t eligible for the UC and CSU systems, and students want change
Samantha Basulto was only a junior in high school when she had to let go of her first big dreams. As a bright-eyed freshman who had never before struggled to make the honor roll, Basulto had imagined her future self running off to a four-year university immediately after high school graduation, leaving Santa Maria and…
Library Shop to close after tiff with Library
It was a warm Friday afternoon just days before the 4th of July, and still customers trickled into the Library Shop on June 29, in search of the low-priced but high-quality used books the store has sold for nearly 10 years. As volunteer Beth Schneider restocked gift cards, a customer asked about the ongoing sale–bright…
Remembering Andrew: Friends and family celebrate Andrew Rubin’s life and music
I first met Andrew Rubin in 2011, when he was in high school (and the year I began writing this column), and he made an immediate impression as an artist and musician. I’d heard of him before (“Your dad’s the cartoonist, Leigh Rubin, right?”), but I hadn’t seen his talent firsthand. Even as a teenager,…
PCPA’s ‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ is the good kind of hot mess
Good news. You don’t have to be an expert on the work of Russian playwright Anton Pavlovich Chekhov to enjoy the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. But a little inside baseball knowledge won’t hurt either. The play, written by Christopher Durang in 2012, tells the story of an oddball…
Nailed it
My job often takes me to certain places that require that I at least give the impression of having my collective shit together. This would be fine if I didn’t find a way to exquisitely screw it up every time I’m called upon to mingle among the “Beautiful People.” A few weeks ago, I was…
Central Coast Competitive Cheer
The Central Coast Competitive Cheer team may be new to the game, but its members are ready to be aggressive, B-E aggressive. Experienced coaches Kira Farrell and Candace Robertson-Farrell cheered at Cal Poly and Robertson studied dance at Allan Hancock College–have their sights set on a national championship. But Farrell and Robertson said the cheer…
Brunch munch: Kay’s Orcutt Country Kitchen is the go-to brunch spot
They used to say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I’d like to update that adage. I think brunch is the most important and best meal of the day. And in the Santa Maria Valley, one of my favorite brunch spots is Kay’s Orcutt Country Kitchen. Kay’s has a wonderful and long…
Squire Foundation animal sculptures come to Preisker Park
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is hosting a temporary exhibition of animal sculptures this summer at Preisker Park. The exhibition was brought to the park on June 27 and consists of four sculptures. The animal sculptures were created by late Santa Barbara County artist Morris Squire and are on loan from…
Movies in the park to show ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department and the People for Leisure And Youth, Inc. (PLAY) invite the community to the Movies in the Park for a screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi on July 7 at Preisker Park. The film is a science fiction saga following the adventures of General Leia…
Wildling Museum hosts Nature Imagined reception
The Wildling Museum in Solvang invites the public to an opening reception on July 21 for Nature Imagined, a special exhibition that celebrates nature through the imagination of artists Cheryl Medow, Ellen Jewett, and Hilary Brace. Inspired by nature, these artists use diverse materials and methods to create environments that engage the imagination. The viewer…
Make ’em laugh: Comedian Brian Regan comes to the Santa Ynez Valley
Brian Regan is not on “tour.” At least, that’s not how he likes to think of his long schedule of upcoming shows. Regan sees it not as a set time frame with a stop and start point, but rather a continuous set of shows for his fans. “I always think that’s an incorrect word,” he…
‘Rigging’ elections
I haven’t had many reasons to laugh lately, but a new group backed by pretty much every major conservative donor organization in Santa Barbara County has me chortling so hard my feathers are flying off. I’m talking about a new ballot initiative that that may get placed on the November ballot after its authors gathered…
Even with budget issues, Santa Maria capital projects receive funding
Santa Maria may have issues keeping its budget balanced, especially with its general fund, but its capital projects are by-and-large well financed, according to city officials. “We’re going to be spending more money on those projects,” Mark van de Kamp, the city’s public information officer, told the Sun. In all, the proposed capital projects budget…
Victor Martinez found guilty of murdering Marilyn Pharis
A Santa Maria Superior Court jury convicted Victor Martinez on June 27 of first degree murder for the July 2015 rape and death of Marilyn Pharis. According to a press release from Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley’s office, Martinez, 32, will “face life in prison without the possibility of parole as a result…
Ballot initiative aims to redraw county supervisorial districts
A new group claiming to represent the “radical center” in Santa Barbara County aims to change how the municipality creates district boundaries for its Board of Supervisors. The self-described “social welfare organization,” Reason in Government, had its ballot initiative presented to the supervisors on July 3 with 16,000-plus signatures, more than enough to place the…
Locals protest immigration policies at Santa Maria ICE facility
To the steady beat of two conga drums, a crowd of more than 200 protesters chanted slogans at the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) facility off West McCoy Lane in Santa Maria after 5 p.m. on June 30. “The people, united, will never be divided! The people, united, will never be divided!” the group chanted.…
Sovereignty
Michael Smith may not think President Trump is a Republican (“Trump’s not a Republican,” June 28), but most Republicans are not Republicans–. For some time now there hasn’t been a cat whisker’s difference between Democrats and Republicans. Other than puffing out their chests in indignation, the agenda of social justice and globalization marches on as…
Compliments, Canary
Compliments on your article (“Embrace the change,” June 28). I’m no “canary,” but I claim to be a “cockatiel.” I am a dyed-in-the-wool progressive, though. At my age and present ability, I am pretty much just a petition signer and help out at the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley office, but I appreciate it…
Canary is right about housing
So impressive to see the real truth regarding the city of Santa Maria (“Embrace the change,” June 28). Approximately 600 new homes starting in the low $500,000 bracket are being built at Rice Ranch, Orcutt Hill, Bradley. What happened to affordable housing? Not to mention the impact on our infrastructure: water, gas, electricity, roads and…
Rough sailing with legal pot
Measure T, approved by voters, will serve to tax marijuana operations located in the unincorporated areas of the county. The measure taxes every level of operations and the county hopes it will generate millions, if not tens of millions of dollars in revenue each and every year. As it stands right now, Santa Barbara County…
Spotlight on Community roundup: Local events and business highlights
The hot dogs have been be grilled, the fireworks launched, and holiday parties–at least for the time being–complete, but there’s still plenty of goings-on in and near Northern Santa Barbara County. So many, in fact, we thought it might be fun to highlight a few that caught our attention. Speaking of parties, this 4th of…
Dumping ground: EPA announces final Casmalia cleanup plan at surprise ceremony
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt made a surprise visit to Santa Barbara County on June 28 to sign and announce the final cleanup plan for the Casmalia Resources Superfund Site. Pruitt’s presence was welcomed only by a handful of reporters, three county supervisors, and a smattering of other local officials, as he…
