Cover Story
Going coastal
When former SLO County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian stepped away from his long-held position with the board after being elected to the State Assembly, he not only left a vacancy with the county, he also resigned from his regional post on the California Coastal Commission, the powerful state regulatory agency tasked with preserving the aesthetically exquisite…
What’s your favorite thing to do at the beach?
Morgan Martinez unemployed @font-face { font-family: “Times”; }@font-face { font-family: “Geneva”; }@font-face { font-family: “Calibri”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }p.Briefshed, li.Briefshed, div.Briefshed { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 14pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; font-weight: bold; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } “Walks on the beach. It…
Smaller school districts can combine to better survive
It has been my observation that during these very trying times many people, businesses, organizations and educators are and have been looking for new and innovative ways to maintain their level of work ethic, and quality of their product. Here in Los Alamos, we work hard every day to be certain that every school age…
We’ve survived recessions because we’re not stupid
As any reputable economist will explain, recessions have only one basic cause: a fall in “aggregate demand,” or, in English, people stop spending money. There are many reasons why people stop spending, like too much debt, not enough income, lost job or belief they will lose a job, etc. Nearly every advanced government in the…
Put yourself in a firefighter’s shoes
As the wife of a firefighter, I can no longer sit silently and listen to the public and the media trash my husband’s profession. These public servants work 24-hour shifts and sometimes are away from their family for 48 hours, 96 hours, and even two weeks at a time. They may work Christmas, Thanksgiving, and…
How do Santa Barbara and SLO counties compare?
I’m with Mike Stoker on this: We have got to break the circle of government employee union dues going to finance the campaigns of politicians. The politicians award the employees grandly with wages and benefits. The taxpayers pay the bills. There have been lots of assertions about the public employees’ work schedules being shorter than…
Fight back, now: It’s urgent
I had my “I’m mad and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” moment last week. The day had started with a high purpose: Representatives from the world’s governments, along with members of non-governmental organizations and global researchers, were meeting at the United Nations to discuss their country’s progress toward eliminating gender inequality. At one session,…
Lompoc will see low-speed autocross
The Vapor Trail Vettes are holding a low-speed autocross event on March 26 at the Allan Hancock College campus in Lompoc. Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. All makes and models of cars are welcome. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Vapor…
All-star seniors to shine on the court
Senior high school basketball stars from Northern Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County will show their stuff at the Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria Valley’s 21st annual Central Coast All-Star Basketball Spectacular on March 27. The girls’ game takes place at 3 p.m., with the boys hitting the court at 5 p.m. inside…
Liftoff, we have liftoff
Exit the Ruff Rollerz, and enter the Rocketeer Rollers. Last summer, Santa Maria came face to face with the spectacle of roller derby, with the Ruff Rollerz drawing raucous crowds to the Fairpark’s indoor flat track on a regular basis. However, issues with team management caused a rift among the players, and organizers walked away…
Sean Hollinshead
When Sean Hollinshead, 11, isn’t at KT’s All-Star Gym, he can be seen walking around his house on his hands. “He just learned how to run up a wall and then do a back flip,” said John Hollinshead, Sean’s father. “He flips whenever he can.” Sean is in his first season of gymnastics, but he’s…
Still searching for talent
Final auditions for Santa Maria Has Talent will be held at 10:30 a.m. on March 12 at Orcutt Presbyterian Church, 993 Patterson Road in Orcutt. Santa Maria Has Talent is sponsored by Santa Maria Rotary Club South. The top act will win the Coast Hills $1,000 Talent Award. For more information, call 937-8910.
Get hooked
It doesn’t take a professional production to present a powerful message through theater. Sometimes the biggest impact comes from a troupe of real people telling a story to which they can deeply relate. That’s the method behind the Poetic Justice Project, which explores prison culture, the choices prisoners and staffers make to survive, and the…
Art wins at the library
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will host its seventh annual Lompoc Empty Bowls fundraiser from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Building at 100 E. Locust Ave. in Lompoc. The annual event is a special Foodbank-sponsored gathering where, for a donation of $20, attendees choose a handcrafted ceramic bowl, enjoy a…
Historical Society loses funds
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center will present a hike to Coreopsis Hill led by Jenny Langford, Lauren Brown, and Dirk Walters of the California Native Plant Society. The hike will begin at 9 a.m. and will be a casual walk through the National Wildlife Refuge to the top of Coreopsis Hill. The moderate to strenuous hike…
Back to her roots
Yulianna Zinovieva is gearing up for a couple of live performances in Los Angeles before bringing her act to Santa Maria. It’s a good thing she has those two dates to “break the ice,” she said, because it’s been two years since she’s performed live, having been wrapped up in recording. “It’s kind of good…
Give a little, sip a little
Santa Barbara County’s winemakers come from a dazzling diversity of backgrounds. Despite their differences, however, they share a generous streak that compels them to step up in support of worthy causes. The members of the local wine community regularly lend a helping hand to both regional and international charities. From the global good works of…
Lompoc Chamber holds luncheon
Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike Gibson will be the guest speaker at the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce’s March Luncheon on March 31. Gibson has held the position of chamber president since 2004, and will speak about his community and the role of the chamber in economic development and tourism. A…
Meeting discusses HR concerns
New human resources concerns and labor laws for employers will be the topic of a Santa Maria Manufacturers Association meeting on March 22. The “Ask the Experts” format will allow attendees to ask questions of forum presenters Sandra Dickerson of Your People Professionals and Michael Sloan of Kirk & Simas. The presentation will take place…
Let them eat cupcakes!
Need to satisfy your sweet tooth? Valley Sweets, a new cupcake, candy, and party shop, recently opened its doors in Solvang. Valley Sweets specializes in cupcakes (two flavors per day on weekdays and four on weekends) with full-size cupcakes priced at $2.50. It also offers homemade marshmallows and old-fashioned Whoopie Pies, as well as vintage…
Jewelry store opens in Santa Maria
Locally owned and operated, F&M Jewelry is holding its grand opening in Santa Maria. The store buys, sells, and trades gold, platinum, silver, and diamonds and offers a clothing boutique on the premises. Owner Francisco Arreola Sr. and son, store manager Francisco Jr., say if they can’t match or beat their competitor’s prices, lunch is…
Hobnobbing With Helen
Wow! What a place to hold a fundraiser!” exclaimed Susan Rees. “This is unusual,” James Murr observed with a contented grin. “It’s great.” About 200 of us were in a WWII airplane hangar that began life at Allan Hancock College, where it was used in the pilot training program. The historic structure was moved to…
Grads learn about community service
Family members and friends filled every seat and the aisle in the Ethel Pope Auditorium in Santa Maria on March 4 to watch their loved ones turn the tassel at Santa Barbara Business College’s North County graduation. During the graduation, Santa Maria City Council member Alice Patino addressed the grads, asking them to delve into…
Sunny Country cares for St. Jude Kids
The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the world’s premier center for the research and treatment of catastrophic childhood diseases. In support of the hospital’s important work, Sunny Country 102.5 will be holding the 12th annual Sunny Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon on March 10 and 11. Over the past 11 years, the…
North Santa Barbara County jail blues
Though November’s voters refused to fund the construction and operation of a new North Santa Barbara County jail, the concept isn’t dead. In fact, some Santa Maria city leaders are saying it’s a question of when—not if—the jail will be up and running to house the county’s burgeoning prison population. Undeterred by the public rejection…
An international air star is coming to Santa Maria
“Anybody that knows any kind of history in aviation will know the name Clay Lacey,” said Patricia Lynn, FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) member and event organizer. “He is an amazing fellow. He’s Mr. Learjet. He’s known internationally, all over the world. It’s an honor to have him in our Santa Maria community.” Lacy has logged…
Hancock pushes an early retirement plan
Facing a potential $6 million cut in state funding for the 2011-12 academic year, Allan Hancock College will implement an incentive program to encourage early staff retirement. Administrative officials expect the program to save the college up to $600,000. At a special meeting on March 1, the Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees voted unanimously…
Santa Maria-Bonita School Board drama continues
Tension among members of the Santa Maria-Bonita School District Board of Education has reached an all-time high. On the evening of March 2, during the board’s closed session portion, Superintendent Phil Alvarado asked a district staff member to call the Santa Maria Police Department. According to a statement from the district, Alvarado “requested the presence…
Common Ground Santa Barbara puts a face on homelessness
Results are slowly trickling in from the far-reaching survey of Santa Barbara County’s homeless population earlier this month. The nonprofit organization Common Ground Santa Barbara recruited volunteers in all parts of the county to gather information about the area’s most vulnerable residents Feb. 28 through March 4. The volunteers approached people living on the streets…
