Cover Story
An eagle or an albatross?
Tucked away just off Buellton’s Avenue of the Flags, the Zaca Creek Golf Course doesn’t look like much these days. Overgrown with weeds, overrun by gophers, and sporting greens more accurately described as browns, it’s certainly seen better days. But the city of Buellton is banking on bringing the modest nine-hole executive course back from…
What famous celebrity—living or dead—would you like to meet?
David Shirley retired “John Wayne. He’s a tough cowboy who don’t take crap from nobody.” Mark Van de Kamp City of Santa Maria analyst “Brad Pitt. I just read about how he gives millions of dollars to humanitarian causes, and I think that’s very interesting.” Monique Alvarez JC Penney associate “Sandra Bullock. I like her…
What’s on Deck?
Thursday, June 16 Semipro Baseball Santa Maria Valley Packers @ Orange County Waves 5 p.m. Friday, June 17 No games scheduled Saturday, June 18 Semipro Baseball San Francisco Seals @ Santa Maria Valley Packers 2 p.m. Sunday, June 19 Auto Racing USAC/CRA 410 Sprint Cars @ Santa Maria Speedway 6 p.m. Semipro…
On the roster
• Allan Hancock College Summer Sports Camps: Baseball camp, open to boys ages 6 through 18, runs June 20 to 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $125 for one week, $225 for two weeks, and $75 for each additional family member. Football strength and conditioning camp is June 20 to 30…
Junior Golf organization seeks new members
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It’s a pool party at Pioneer Valley!
It’s the time of the season for swimming, and the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department will be offering various aquatic programs at the Pioneer Valley High School pool all summer long. Adult lap swims will be held June 20 to Aug. 13—Mondays through Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and weekdays from 5…
Learn to lifeguard this summer
The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department announced it will hold five separate Junior Lifeguard classes for youth, ages 9 to 14 years, beginning June 20. The classes will be offered at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center and at Pioneer Valley High School. Participants will learn basic rescue techniques and improved stroke techniques, life fitness…
Be a happy camper at La Purisima
You thought La Purisima was just a mission? Think again! The La Purisima Mission State Park has 2,000 acres of open land waiting to be explored during the Kids Outdoor Camp, set for July 12 through 14. During the three-day camp, held from 10 a.m. to noon daily, kids will have fun learning and exploring…
The Bleacher Bum Chronicles Vol. XV
Well, it’s official: God hates the Miami Heat. No, I don’t really believe that, but apparently LeBron James does, if his Twitter feed is to be trusted. Just moments after the Heat lost the sixth and deciding game of the 2011 NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks at home, James tweeted: “The Greater Man upstairs…
Chance Machado
For a 13-year-old junior high student who just won the Elks’ Team Roping Championship, Chance Machado is pretty modest. Chance and his father John are part of a father-son roping team who, in the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo’s final round on June 5, roped a calf in 9.6 seconds, putting their three-round aggregate time at…
Dad’s day
When Dad has all the cordless drills and crazy neckties he’ll ever need, it can be tough to choose a gift he’ll like. For Father’s Day this year, why not give him something that’s always welcome and never goes out of style? This gift comes in all sizes, suits all types and personalities, and is…
Attention seniors!
Every day, 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 years of age. They’re among the 64 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964, the generation known as the Baby Boomers. Concurrently, our community includes an unprecedented number of residents age 85 and older. As the Area Agency on Aging for Santa Barbara County, so…
Building Bridges
Oscar winner Jeff Bridges has always been a respectable actor—for many reasons. He comes from good stock, that’s for sure. His father, Lloyd Bridges, was an iconic actor who worked in the biz for more than 60 years. Jeff followed in his dad’s footsteps in many ways, but what sets him apart is his music…
The many names of a dog
I have a big household. And with a big household comes a lot of characters, none of them as interesting, however, as Bodhi, my chocolate Yorkshire terrier we often refer to as Porno Dog. I also refer to him by a lot of other names—all with affection, of course. My idea of affection isn’t the…
Tri City Sound awards music students
Tri City Sound, a Sweet Adelines International Chorus serving Lompoc and Santa Maria valleys, recently presented four music scholarships to college-bound high school seniors: Emilee Conforti of Santa Maria (Righetti), Kelsie Earnest of Orcutt (Righetti), Theresa Gonzalez Ortega of Guadalupe (Righetti), and Madeline Lopez of Santa Maria (Pioneer Valley). Each scholarship winner participated in her…
Come to the salon
The Artists Salon, a new social event that brings together artists and people who support the arts, is planning its next social for June 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. This month’s host and coordinator will be Michelle Griffoul, a widely known and acclaimed master of ceramic arts. With her knowledge of manipulation of clay,…
Wildling wants artists
The Wildling Art Museum has announced a call for artists to compete in its fall fine art competition on the subject of “Where Humans and Nature Intersect.” The Wildling, a wilderness art museum, will be accepting entrants until 5 p.m. on Sept. 18, open to all mediums except photography. Artists are invited to look closer…
Join the dance
Every culture has its own way of celebrating the life of a departed loved one and honoring his or her spirit. In some regions, people remember through colorful celebration. Other events take on a more somber tone. Some cultures mourn the departed, while others celebrate the life they led. Every year, Santa Marians are treated…
Step by step
Any musician will tell you that music is almost a calling. There’s either some inner connection with music or there isn’t. Ian Franklin heard the call. After his introduction to music, there was nothing else. He always knew his career path would relate to music. There was never any other option in his mind. “I…
Spotlight on: The Hot Spot Salon
Plenty of salons are sprinkled across the map of the Central Coast, so opening up another one can be risky business. Risk or no risk, owner Denise LaLiberte and her fellow stylists have what it takes to make their new salon successful. The Hot Spot Salon, set to have its grand opening later this month,…
Hancock’s Triste named Southern California’s President of the Year
Eddie Triste, president of Allan Hancock College’s Associated Student Body Government, was recently chosen by the Student Senate for California Community Colleges as President of the Year for the Southern California region. “I thought I could get more done as the vice president and, frankly, I wanted the ability to vote, but when the president…
Local teachers recognized for excellence in the classroom
On June 2, Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone named Randy Hohimer of Vandenberg Middle School and Kathy Bibby of Santa Ynez Union Valley High School the 2011-2012 Santa Barbara County Distinguished Educators of the Year. The committee—comprised of teachers, administrators, PTA members, and school boards—couldn’t decide which teacher to give the honor…
Hobnobbing with Helen
The minute I walked in the door of the Radisson Hotel, I knew I was in for a fun evening. Dressed in Camelot-era costume, “Dame” Marianne Greenelsch (president of Coastal Voices) and “Lady” Margaret Nelson (Coastal Voices artistic director) were greeting guests. While singing a lilting tune, the fair maidens took turns guiding guests to…
Low-income families get a ‘Head Start’
On June 24, the Community Action Committee (CAC) of Santa Barbara County will hold its first-ever educational forum, which will be open to the public, at 9:30 a.m. at the Goleta Public Library and 3 p.m. at the Souza Center in Santa Maria. This forum will discuss the results of the Head Start preschool program,…
For the love of Japan
Just like most people can recall their exact location when news broke that President John F. Kennedy was shot or suicidal terrorists were attacking the World Trade Center, Emiko Gerber distinctly remembers what she was doing when a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc on Japan. “It was just devastating,” Gerber, who has family members…
Correction
In one of its news briefs on June 2, the Sun misquoted incoming Guadalupe Union School District Superintendent Ed Cora. The brief was supposed to read, “Because it’s still mine,” [Hugo] Lara added, laughing. News Briefs is compiled by Sun staffers from staff reporting and local and national media. Information should be sent to the…
First draft redistricting maps released
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission has approved a first round of draft maps for new U.S. Congressional, state Senate, state Assembly, and state Board of Equalization districts. The maps are now available for public viewing, and will precede a public comment period to allow for citizen participation in the redistricting process. The commission released the…
Lompoc mayor hopes city will keep plans to build a California Space Center
The California Space Authority, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the state’s space enterprise, has initiated the process of dissolving its nonprofit corporation status in accordance with California laws. According to a press release received on June 10, the CSA Board of Directors voted unanimously on June 6 to begin the dissolution process. The organization ceased…
Santa Barbara County faces drastic budget cuts
June 13 marked the beginning of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ budget hearings concerning the 2011-2012 fiscal year. With major cuts expected, the budget overview and proposal, provided by County Executive Office employee Jason Stillwell, looked bleak. The new budget contended with such issues as an exponential increase in salaries and pension costs,…
Long-time Santa Maria Public Airport board member dies
Airport administrators, the business community, young golfers—they’re not so much mourning the loss of a friend and colleague as they are celebrating the life of one of the community’s most widely regarded civic leaders. Ted Eckert, 75, passed away June 7 after a prolonged illness, but according to the many community members who knew him—and…
