Cover Story
PRIDE 2019: Sun staffers cover gay bars, a new LGBTQ group, and drag
The Central Coast has a thriving LGBTQ community, so where are all the gay bars? BY KASEY BUBNASH As a teen, Rory Uribe fantasized about going to a gay bar or club and finally being able to be unabashedly gay in public. Uribe, who uses nonbinary pronouns, has lived in Santa Maria their whole life, and…
Study finds Diablo closure would be insignificant to Santa Barbara County
State Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and researchers at UC Berkeley hosted a public forum on June 28, where they presented the findings included in a study regarding the economic impacts that the closure of Diablo Canyon Power Plant would have on Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. In the 144-page report, which was required…
Spotlight on: Santa Barbara for Safe and Local Transport
About 140,000 gallons of crude oil gushed out of a corroded pipeline and into the ocean just off the coast of Santa Barbara in May 2015, killing wildlife and blackening beaches. The pipe was owned by Plains All American Pipeline—the Texas-based oil company that was later convicted of a felony for failing to properly maintain…
Central Coast Specialty Foods in Lompoc sells gourmet ingredients and knows how to use ’em
Any time you tuck some foodstuffs between two slices of bread, you’ve got the makings of a passable lunch. Sandwiches aren’t hard. I whip up the same one almost every morning, twice even, for my daughter’s and my daily grind lunches. And they’re not bad sandwiches. I treat myself to bread that’s one step above…
PCPA presents an electrifying production of Million Dollar Quartet
The Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) latest production is truly one in a million, and I’m not just saying that because the word million is in the title. A big part of what makes Million Dollar Quartet, now showing at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria, so unique is the way it utilizes music—not from a…
Unseen No More showcases local, emerging artists at CORE Winery
Even the most surreal dreams are subject to becoming prematurely forgotten, only minutes after the dreamer wakes up—am I right? Or is that just a me problem? This isn’t a worry for Santa Maria native, artist, and writer Edward Chavarria however, whose portfolio often doubles as a dream journal. “Many of my stories are based…
The Great American Melodrama presents ‘Mamma Mia!’ spoof
The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville kicks off its summer season with Pappa Pia!, a parody of the popular ABBA musical Mamma Mia!, which opens Thursday, June 20, and runs through Saturday, Sep. 21. Performances take place every Wednesday through Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 6 p.m.…
‘Coin-Op Carnival’ book tour stops in Solvang
Ryan Claytor, co-author of Coin-Op Carnival: Electrifying Tales of Mechanical Contraptions, will appear at the Book Loft for a presentation and discussion on Wednesday, July 3, from 2 to 3 p.m. The book is the first volume of a planned series that includes game and product reviews from Claytor and co-writer Nicholas Baldridge, as well…
Youth Arts Alive offers free summer classes
Youth Arts Alive, a free arts education program for ages 12 to 18, will be offered at three Santa Maria locations this summer, starting Monday, July 8, and through Thursday, Aug. 8. The program is a project of the Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN), hosted by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department and…
Unfair practices case expected to impact Guadalupe’s budget
A judge recently ruled that the city of Guadalupe acted unlawfully when it suddenly announced in 2017 that employees would no longer be eligible for merit-based salary step increases, and the decision is expected to impact the city’s ongoing budget discussions. In the proposed decision, which was filed by a California Public Employment Relations Board…
Hobnobbing with Helen
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye. That line, from “The Sound of Music” says it all. This column, dear readers, is Hobnobbing’s swan song. After umpteen years of publishing my columns on social events—that focused on nonprofit fund raisers—the Sun is discontinuing “Hobnobbing with Helen.” I hope this is not by popular demand. Shall we…
Five dead after shooting, explosion in mobile home park
An ongoing dispute at a mobile home park on the north side of Santa Maria led to a shooting and subsequent explosion on June 21. Investigators believe Claude Adams shot and killed Kurt Bracke and Richard Hanen near the clubhouse at Casa Grande Mobile Estates over a feud that resulted in Adams’ pending eviction from…
Grant will fund county probation’s youth diversion efforts
Kids struggling with behavioral issues will be able to access services aimed at keeping them out of the juvenile justice system at no cost because of a $795,000 grant that was recently awarded to the Santa Barbara County Probation Department. Santa Barbara County has been working to better aid at-risk youth and their families through…
Hormone therapy now available at Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood offices on the Central Coast started offering hormone therapy through a Gender-Affirming Care program on June 17. After working with partners serving the LGBTQ community on a needs assessment, the local chapter of the nonprofit expanded its services, according to Julie Mickelberry, Planned Parenthood Central Coast’s vice president of community engagement. “That determined…
Lompoc passes budget with cuts, talks sales tax increase
After several months of meetings and contentious conversations, Lompoc City Council approved the city’s 2019-21 biennial budget, which includes numerous cuts to cover a more than $3 million deficit. Throughout this budget process, a debate has centered on whether the city should cover this deficit through a sales tax increase or by cutting expenses. City…
Political Watch June 27, 2019
• A rainbow flag recongizing LGBTQ Pride Month is flying over the state capitol throughout the month of June. Gov. Gavin Newsom requested the flag to be raised on June 17 to show support for members of the LGBTQ community throughout the state, according to a news release from Newsom’s office. “By flying the pride…
Annual Santa Barbara Youth Project Concert held in Buellton
Santa Ynez native Kathleen Sieck is just one of the five artists uniting their efforts to bring this year’s Santa Barbara Youth Project Concert to life. Sieck will be joined by fellow performers Emily Wryn, Jonathan McEuen, Steven Styles, and Amber Durbin for this annual fundraiser, which takes place at Standing Sun Winery in Buellton…
CANARY: Milestones and baby steps
Don’t go on Facebook. It’s bad for your health and your faith in humanity. Unfortunately, I’m really bad at taking the advice I spew in this column weekly. I’m addicted. I just can’t help it! I want to see the drama. I need it! The other day I was just scrolling on the Facespace. And…
The real thing is coming
A letter was printed (June 21) in a coastal newspaper from Ralph Bush of Arroyo Grande. Ralph criticized Democrats harshly for constantly “attacking” Donald Trump. “I can’t understand where all the hate comes from.” Ralph wrote. “What if President Obama had been subjected to all the investigations as Trump is about how he won …?”…
Quick action needed by the Lompoc City Council
Lompoc needs more income, and it will not get it through more cuts, as explained by the city’s professional finance staff. It needs the millions of dollars the sales tax can generate. The council was responsible for shelving the sales tax in 2017 and instead took the funds to place it on the ballot and…
Thank you Jordan Cunningham
I saw on local news earlier this month that Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) was one of the few Republicans to support an extension of the state’s paid family leave program. On behalf of all working moms, I want to extend a big thank you to Mr. Cunningham for supporting this. Going back to…
