Cover Story
The height of flight
There’s a main rugged artery that winds around the Santa Maria Airport field like an old-timer telling a story: “That used to be a dairy, and over there is where they train K-9 dogs.” You can almost hear the road say it. It bends past an ag preserve, passes by a recently updated terminal and…
DA finds shooting of Santa Maria police officer justified
A Santa Maria police officer was justified in using deadly force in the shooting of fellow officer Albert Covarrubias, Jr., the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office concluded on June 19. In a detailed, 18-page report, District Attorney Joyce Dudley determined officer Matthew Kline reacted appropriately to a “life-threatening situation” when he shot…
DA releases findings on Covarrubias shooting
Read the complete report at http://www.countyofsb.org/da/msm_county/documents/Report_OIS_AlbertCovarrubias.pdf.
Flower power
With the Live Oak Music Festival passing by, it might seem that people in Santa Barbara County looking to enjoy an outdoor music festival will have to take a road trip, but the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival has proved that notion wrong. The Flower Festival is a five-day event that, if it weren’t for the…
Go on a photo adventure
The Town Center Gallery will take visitors on a “Photographic Adventure” with an exhibit by featured artist Howard Ramsden. Ramsden is a fine art photographer specializing in natural landscapes, historic architecture, and Native American rock art. An artist’s reception will be held Friday, June 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Gallery, 312 Town…
Dance for youth
Young people can get their feet moving this summer by enrolling in summer dance classes for youth at Allan Hancock College. Summer youth dance classes begin June 18, meet in the afternoons, and include ballet for ages 4 to 18 and hip-hop/jazz for ages 4 to 14. Class fees vary. Detailed class descriptions are online…
Wild, creative chairs wanted
A call for creative chairs is under way for the Los Alamos Chair Faire, to be held Saturday, July 28. Entrants may sell their chairs, display them only, and/or be a part of the competition. Chairs will be judged in five categories: Most Pristine Antique, Best Art Chair, Chair with the Most Potential, Cutest Children’s…
Wild skies
Climbing and soaring with a ruffle of feathers, a swoop, and a snap, birds can reveal a side just as wild as some of the more fearsome fellows in the animal kingdom. Wild abandon, quiet contemplation, and tender moments are caught on film and on display in the latest exhibit at the Wildling Museum. “Wild…
Zombie overkill
Can we stop with all the zombie stuff? For all the talk about the impending Zombie Apocalypse, I’m beginning to believe it’s here. Maybe it’s because I’m a bit challenged when it comes to zombie trivia. I’ve never seen a zombie movie, so when the topic comes up and I say things like, “Well, why…
It’s all happening at the zoo
What’s your favorite place to visit?” If you asked me this question when I was 5 years old, I would have given you this answer: “Grandma’s house … and the San Diego Zoo!” Not much has changed in the last 20-plus years; I’m almost 28 years old and I still love sleeping over at my…
What was your childhood nickname?
April Cooper florist “Ape.” Angelica Guerrero Girl Scouts regional director of membership “Lleye.” Bonnie Sheehy $1 Bookstore manager “My dad called me ‘Grace’ because I was klutzy.” Lauren Schoneman Central City Market server “Lolo.”
On the roster
• City summer camp: The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department’s Summer Day Camp is being held at the Minami Community Center from June 18 to Aug. 10. The eight-week program includes activities designed to encourage physical activity, creativity, self-confidence, cooperation, problem solving, and responsibility. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the camp moves to the Paul…
New times for Hancock football
Football games at Allan Hancock College will kick off a little earlier thanks to a rule change by the Southern California Football Association. Starting next season, all home games will now begin at 4 p.m., instead of the usual 6 p.m. Most Hancock away games have also been switched to 4 p.m. The change was…
Learn the basics of BMX
Learn about what it takes to become a better BMX rider at the Free Agent/Rockstar Clinic at Santa Maria BMX on June 23. U.S. Olympian Christian Becerine, Marcus Hampton, and members of the Free Agent BMX team will conduct the two-hour clinic, covering the basics of BMX racing. Pre-registration is $35, available at the track.…
Summer programs kick off at the Y
With summer on the horizon, the Santa Maria Valley YMCA is the place to be, with summer camp for kids and new fitness classes for adults. Camps for children include Splash Camp, where children will learn 45 minutes of swim instruction each day, as well as participate in traditional camp activities. Other camps include the…
Athlete of the Week: Meghan Zimmer
When local swimmer Meghan Zimmer heard the news that she was going to compete in the Olympic trials, the first thing she thought was, “I finally made it.” Zimmer missed her chance at the trials in 2004 and 2008, but never gave up her goal of going to the Olympics. “I’ve been training for so…
For the love of the game
Though he’s now a successful dentist with his own practice in Santa Ynez, Dwayne Elder still dreams about pitching. Literally. A former college hurler at the University of Utah, Elder later pitched for an independent minor league baseball club. Even at 52, he’s never lost the desire to play. In one way, Elder continues living…
Medicinal needs? Yeah, right!
Gary, I don’t think the issue is with actual people who are sick getting marijuana (“Why get mad about marijuana, and not alcohol?” 6/7), it’s the extreme number of 18- to 30-year-olds with bad backs, migraines, glauoma, etc., etc. It’s the people gaming the system to get their weed that seems to be bothering people.…
Let’s get back on track, energy-wise
In River Lockhart’s letter titled “To close Diablo, or not to close Diablo” (6/7), the writer asks the question: Should we shut down Diablo or not? I say no, and here is why: Shutting down the current reactor merely leaves the waste problem for the future. Building a new reactor using Integral Fast Reactor designs…
Dignity Health will stay the course
To the Santa Maria community: You may have recently seen activity regarding labor negotiations between SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and Dignity Health. As you may know, Marian Regional Medical Center and French Hospital Medical Center are Dignity Health hospitals on the Central Coast, which have technical and clerical staff employees represented by SEIU. Registered…
Get money for college!
Effective summer 2012, enrollment fees at all California community colleges rose $10 per credit, from $36 to $46, according to Allan Hancock College officials. Community college enrollment fees are established by the state legislature, and funds generated by the fees go to the state general fund. At Hancock, it’s anticipated that because of the fee…
Pioneer Valley’s Magni keeps bringing in the awards
Pioneer Valley High School science teacher Riccardo Magni is having the best year ever. Last month, he was named Santa Barbara County’s Teacher of the Year, and he raked in several grants for his students. On June 6, Magni received a presidential award plaque from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at a ceremony in Santa…
Hobnobbing With Helen
It was a proper English afternoon. The guests arrived, wearing hats and gloves. Honestly, you would have thought you were in the tearoom at London’s ritzy Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Patricia Shields, violinist in the Santa Maria Philharmonic, had been high bidder for an authentic English tea at a recent Philharmonic fundraiser. She invited Diane Borad-Mirken, Melissa…
Cats, cats, and more cats!
Celebrate the American Humane Association’s national Adopt-a-Cat Month by picking out a special feline friend at the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society on Black Road in Santa Maria. During the spring and summer months, area shelters take in hundreds of homeless kittens. Of course, there are plenty of older cats that need loving homes, too.…
Spotlight On: Pacific Coast Landscape
These days, the Home & Garden television channel is full of do-it-yourself shows, instructing people how to complete their own home renovations for a better price. In these tough economic times, cheaper seems to be better. According to local businessman Damon Boggs, more people are taking pride in owning their houses. “People everywhere are losing…
A hero’s welcome
Veronica Forest can’t remember which team won the Super Bowl this year, but she clearly remembers the excited frenzy that surrounded the sporting event. She remembers discussing with her husband and friends why people make such a big deal about a football game. “We were sitting around talking—the Super Bowl had just happened—and we were…
Camp to Change
Most of the graduates of 2012 have already taken the stage and turned their tassels—and the same goes for young men at the Los Prietos Boys Camp in the Los Padres National Forest. The camp has steadily improved its educational and vocational training programs for juveniles sent to the camp by the county. The aim…
The debate over TAP continues
Representatives from Lucia Mar Unified School District’s administration and teachers union are scheduled to meet June 22 with a neutral third party mediator to discuss the System for Teacher and Student Advancement Program (TAP). Earlier this month, members of the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers Association approved some minor changes to their general contract, but failed…
Santa Barbara County Grand Jury urges transparency in patrol car recordings
Following up on its 2011 endorsement of cameras in all county patrol vehicles, the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury is recommending law enforcement allow public access to recordings obtained during incidents or arrests. In a report released June 1, the jury examined government code regarding citizens’ ability to view or listen to recordings captured by…
Bill would hush state officials’ opposition to tribal fee-to-trust
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors is formally opposing a bill in the state legislature that could impact the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ bid to annex 1,400 acres of tribal property under the federal fee-to-trust process. Since last year, the tribe members petitioned lawmakers for legislation allowing them to transfer property they…
Local nonprofit presents plans for a new low-income senior community
Seniors living in Santa Barbara County will soon have a new, affordable option for retirement living. Local nonprofit The Rona Barrett Foundation has partnered with the Santa Barbara County Housing Authority and several other organizations to create The Golden Inn & Village, a low-income living facility for seniors. “This is about every one of us—baby…
Fill ‘er up
If you spend any amount of time drinking wine or visiting California wineries, you probably know at least the basics of winemaking, grape growing, and/or my personal favorite: wine appreciation. But how many people give any thought to the final step of the winemaking process> After all, wine doesn’t just magically appear in a bottle.…
