Cover Story
Protect the plain? The Carrizo Plain National Monument is under review by the federal government
At about 6 a.m. on April 2, I feel like I’m the only thing awake for miles. Yellow goldfields, tidy tips, and green grass on the Caliente Range across the valley are starting to pick up that special blend of orange and red as the sun’s first rays rise behind me. Below, Soda Lake Road…
If you were to go to the Olympics, what sport would you compete in?
Alexis Chavez seventh grade “Boxing.” Monica Novoa eighth grade “Swimming.” Angela Espinoza eighth grade “Swimming.” Javier Pinon seventh grade “Soccer.”
Rock Front Ranch’s exotic jujube fruit is superfood for your body and good for the planet
The first thing I noticed about Alisha Taff was her electric smile and bright, glowing skin. Even under the less than flattering fluorescent lights of the SLO Guild Hall, the farmer flaunted an inner radiance that belied her age. Amid the commotion of local food purveyors at the Slow Money SLO meeting, her product—a mysterious…
Bring out your dead weight!
My husband, The Brit, and I have been living together since January 2006, marrying in March of that year. When two people of our generation forge a connubial relationship, they bring along lots of baggage, and boy, we each had more than our share! I don’t mean emotional baggage. I mean material baggage. You know—all…
Margie Bowker celebrates 20 years of creating art in Santa Maria
When she was a 9-year-old student in South Africa, Margie Bowker’s teacher pulled her aside one day and told her she was going to be a famous artist someday. “She had collected little pieces and paintings I had done,” Bowker said. “I didn’t understand, I thought everybody did the same thing. When she said that,…
County grand jury report questions water agencies’ management of Cachuma Reservoir amid continuing drought
A recent Santa Barbara County grand jury report questioned the efficacy of local water agencies and their ability to collaborate effectively in managing local water supplies. Aimed at addressing ongoing issues exacerbated by the drought, the report said there is “inadequate coordination” among local water purveyors. The report also listed a number of measures to…
805 Country Music Festival to benefit Band of Brothers
The Central Coast is celebrated for many things, but the level of philanthropy found here is definitely a jewel in the area’s crown. Locals are generous for sure, but they are many other things too, like live music fans. Pairing fundraising and live music was a no-brainer for local country artist JD Hardy, who reached…
Santa Barbara Library System receives grant for bilingual children’s books
The Santa Barbara Public Library System was given a $10,000 grant to purchase bilingual books for children. The grant comes from the California State Library as part of the California Immigrant Alliance Project and the Technology Act. The grant will allow the Santa Barbara Public Library System to expand its existing collection of bilingual children’s…
Lompoc announces Mobile Mural winners
In an effort to connect to the community through artwork, the city of Lompoc’s Public Works and Utilities Departments held its first Mobile Mural Contest in the 2017 National Public Works Week theme, Public Works Connects Us. The eight winners, including the grand prize Hall of Fame winner, submitted artwork that represented their vision of…
The Great American Melodrama delivers a hit production of ‘The Karaoke Kid’
In 1984, a little film came out about a lonely boy who had just moved to a new town and had trouble fitting in. He met a beautiful girl, befriended a wise man with a lot of unfinished chores, dressed as a shower for a school dance, beat the bad guys in an epic showdown,…
Alex Ketcham
When Alex Ketcham walks her dog, she tends to take “the scenic route” as much as possible. Rather than a casual stroll through their neighborhood, the 20-year-old and her 6-year-old pit bull, Jewels, usually opt for something a bit more adventurous. “Being able to hike with my best friend is the best,” Ketcham told the…
Take a hike: The Benchwarmer thinks everyone should opt for more time outside
If you aren’t a teacher you’re going to be wildly annoyed by the following sentiments, but I just can’t help myself—it’s summer break. After just finishing my third year of teaching, I have dubbed this post-school bliss as the “summer glow.” Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching and enjoy teaching high school students (cue…
Ain’t it grand?
I don’t know about you, but when I think of people throwing shade, the last thing that comes to mind is “grand jury report.” These days, people mostly talk trash to each other in comments sections, on Twitter (you know who I’m talkin’ about), in text messages—anything but face to face. And now it seems…
Always negative press
As a newer legal immigrant to the U.S.A., I have unfortunately seen enough California newspapers, radio, and TV programs go on about President Trump and how he is “a horrible president,” “making poor decisions,” “worked with Russia to hack the election.” When will you report interesting, factual news? You want to continue on this Russia…
Partnerships have made the difference
Partnerships are the central thread that runs through the fabric of all we have done here at the Santa Barbara County Education Office for the past 3 1/2 decades. I would be remiss to leave office before publicly thanking and acknowledging our partners, large and small, who have made a difference in the lives of…
Renewable power sources misleading
Those who oppose the use of nuclear power and think that solar, wind, and others will be substitutes do not understand that the real issue is in the numbers. Those nuclear power plants turn out 2 to 3 billion watt-hours of power every hour of every day, night and day! That is enough for 2…
Hancock offers more college credit classes to high school students
Allan Hancock College extended its concurrent enrollment program to include college credit classes to more local high school students. The program allows students to take college credit courses in their own high schools before they graduate. The classes will be available at Orcutt Academy, Family Partnership Charter, Cuyama Valley, Cabrillo, Ernest Righetti, Lompoc, Pioneer Valley,…
Lompoc offers free summer lunch for kids
The city of Lompoc’s Recreation Division and Public Library have teamed up with the Lompoc Unified School District (LUSD) to serve free lunches to kids 18 years old and younger. Lunches will be served at six sites in Lompoc through Aug. 4. The Lompoc Public Library and the Anderson Recreation Center are the city-operated sites…
Hancock launches new community relations program
Allan Hancock College is looking for locals to join The Community Ambassador Program, the college’s new community relations outreach. The program offers a leadership opportunity designed specifically for community influencers and local business executives. Valeria Moya, president of the Allan Hancock College Foundation board of directors, said in a press release that ambassadors would learn…
Arellanes Builders Club honors Olympic boxer Carlos Balderas
Arellanes Junior High students gathered on campus June 14 to honor former student and Olympic boxer Carlos Balderas, unveiling a new banner that reads “Home of Olympian Carlos Balderas.” The students in the Builders Club fundraised and planned for the event since Balderas competed in the Olympics last year. Balderas was scheduled to appear before…
Spotlight on: VTC Enterprises
This year marks the third in a row that VTC Enterprises’ candidate for the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen Contest took home the crown. St. Joseph High School student Madison Hall, 17, was pronounced rodeo queen during the 74th annual event on June 2. Hall and VTC garnered $290,000 in donations—the largest amount ever raised…
Hobnobbing with Helen: Philharmonic fun
Blackberry pie, a la mode. Doesn’t that sound oh-so-summery and too divine for words? That was dessert at the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society’s annual business and dinner meeting held on the evening of June 12 at the Masonic Lodge on Lakeview Road in Orcutt. Before you utter the words, “Oh my gosh, boooring,” let me…
Political Watch 6/22/17
• Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) addressed the June 14 shooting in Alexandria, Virg., at the beginning of a speech made later that day for the National Partnership for Women and Families’ gala event. “My thoughts and prayers are with Congressman Steve Scalise, members and congressional staff, Capitol Police, and all those who were wounded. Our…
Santa Barbara County’s agricultural revenue decreases year over year
Labor shortages continue to affect Santa Barbara County agriculture, according to the recently released agricultural production report for 2016. The report from the county’s Agricultural Commissioner’s Office pegs labor as one of the reasons for a 3.7 percent decline in crop value from 2015 to 2016. The other big reason, according to the report, is…
Santa Maria to appoint new acting police chief
Santa Maria Police Chief Ralph Martin is set to pass on leadership of the department to acting Police Chief Phil Hansen on June 23. Martin was hired as police chief at the end of 2012 after four months as interim chief following a “string of controversial incidents including a number of officer-involved shootings, the tragic…
Santa Barbara supes pass budget, discuss doing more for revenue
With passage of the largest budget in recent memory ($1.08 billion), Santa Barbara County is cutting the equivalent of 178 full-time employee positions for the 2017-18 fiscal year. It wasn’t easy, but with a potential deficit looming, on June 14, the county Board of Supervisors approved about $28.5 million in cuts across county departments such…
Lompoc rallies around teen battling leukemia
A Lompoc police officer’s son took a turn for the worse in his battle with leukemia as the community continues to rally around him. Noah Scott, 14, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in July 2016 and started receiving chemotherapy at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Since then, Lompoc’s community has showered the teenager and…
