Cover Story
Park problems: Nipomo residents say fees paid by its development unfairly funded facilities elsewhere in SLO County
An abandoned mattress. A rotting wooden pallet. Crumbling cement parking stops. Graffiti. Plastic Solo cups. Broken glass. These are the things to avoid when skateboarding the spot where the Nipomo Community Center used to stand. It burned down in the early 2000s. The building was privately owned at the time—no longer part of the community—and…
Spotlight on: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Santa Maria
There’s no rule stating that someone must reach a certain age in order to become a restaurant franchisee. Gary Chhina became one at 24 years old. Chhina, a Ventura native, owns three Dickey’s Barbecue Pit restaurants across the Central Coast, including the one in Santa Maria, located at 2212 S. Bradley Road. Chhina’s other restaurants…
Where’s your favorite place to hike?
Kendra Losee student “Bishop Peak because you can see the ocean from the top.” Shane Marriott student “Lopez Canyon is my favorite. I’ve been going there since I was a kid.” Sadie Marriott student “Trinity County. There are so many granite lakes.” Shane Davis works at UPS “Point Sal because it’s so secluded and the…
Lompoc retains Tree City title for 28th year
The city of Lompoc was named a 2016 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its dedication to effective urban forest management. The city also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and a high level of tree care. This is the 28th year in a row…
PCPA’s production of post-Civil War drama ‘The Whipping Man’ explores race, religion, and deception
From the moment a newly freed slave embraces a wounded Confederate soldier and utters a line in Hebrew, it’s clear The Whipping Man is not the typical Civil War drama. Ostensibly about the days immediately following the end of the Civil War, the play touches on issues of self-delusion, and the lies we not only…
Coastal Voices holds annual benefit Spaghetti dinner with karaoke
Every year at the annual Spaghetti and Song event put on by Santa Maria’s only community choir, the Coastal Voices, members usually entertain throughout the evening. But choir members won’t get to hog the microphone all night at this year’s event. For the first time, the fundraiser dinner event will feature karaoke, so attendees can…
Head for the hills: Hikers can find a geological gem outside of Guadalupe at Point Sal
When the weather is right, there are few places better to be than atop the Point Sal hiking trail, staring out at Lion Rock, calves still burning from the steep uphill climb. Only a short drive from the small town of Guadalupe and adjacent to the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Point Sal at this time…
SLO County upholds denial for Phillips 66 project
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted on March 14 to uphold its denial of Phillips 66’s proposed oil train project, which would have run through Santa Barbara County. The SLO County Planning Commission denied the project in October 2016, which Phillips 66 quickly appealed. On March 7, the Santa Barbara County Board…
Cuyama water district formed, still needs county approval
On March 13, the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) formally certified the formation of the Cuyama Basin Water District, drawing objections from several residents due to fears of water availability. The commission first approved the district on Sept. 1, 2016, but required a special election, which was held on Feb. 28, 2017.…
Projected county budget deficit increases
It turns out the county’s budget deficit is even worse than previously thought. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors crunched the numbers at its meeting on March 7, and the updated cost of major fiscal issues for the 2017-2018 fiscal year now totals $17.6 million—whereas in December, the costs were reported as $10.8 million.…
Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Santa Maria Police
The family of a man killed on July 20, 2016, formally filed a lawsuit against the Santa Maria Police Department, which is accused of negligence and excessive force in the shooting death of their relative. Last year, 31-year-old Javier Gaona was killed in a police-involved shooting at the intersection of Broadway and Enos in downtown…
Women winemakers of Santa Barbara County celebrate International Women’s Day
It is not uncommon for Jessica Gasca to pour a glass of the wine she makes at an event and hear the question, “Who is the winemaker?” “The answer is, ‘I’m the winemaker,’” she told me at the Women Winemaker’s Dinner on March 8. “And it’s interesting to see the expression change.” Gasca, winemaker and…
Collision course
I know what I’m about to write won’t be new information to most people. However, I have recently learned that not all of society is hip to the following fact: Most cars need this thing called gasoline to get from Point A to Point B. That is correct, it turns out filling your car with…
Santa Maria Stake celebrates 175th anniversary of Relief Society
The Santa Maria Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (CJCLS) hosts its annual Stake Women’s Conference/Relief Society Birthday Party on March 17. The party celebrates the 175th anniversary of the Relief Society organization of the CJCLS. All women are welcome to attend. Members of the Relief Society participate in various projects…
New Santa Maria history book tells a long story in memorable pictures
History buffs in Santa Maria have a new book to refer to on trivia nights. The Santa Maria Valley Historical Society’s newest project highlights the history of Santa Maria through personal stories of many of its founders and residents. Historic Santa Maria Valley chronicles the years from when Santa Maria was a fledgling frontier town…
Eric Lund
Twenty-five-year-old Eric Lund of Lompoc only bowls for fun, but he takes the sport seriously—even seriously enough to argue for its inclusion in the Olympics. “When you compare bowling to other sports in the Olympics, it seems like a no-brainer,” Lund told the Sun. “It’s competitive and demanding, and it takes more skill than most…
Truth on trial
Say what you mean and mean what you say, the old proverb goes. Basically, tell the truth. Duh! People go to incredible lengths to avoid that basic tenant though, even when it’s demonstrated clearly that they’ve either outright lied or just missed the mark in truthfulness. Take for example the current defamation lawsuit against CalCoastNews,…
Dear Canary
We’re all very much aware of the tactic of discrediting the person instead of his argument, that’s what liberals have been doing for decades. Unable to win in the arena of ideas, they’ve become the undisputed masters of this technique. It’s impossible to argue with them because while you’re thinking of your next point, they’re…
A budget crisis is coming
There is a looming crisis coming to Santa Barbara County. Forecasters are predicting low county revenue to affect many county departments for several years to come. County financial officers are stating high personnel costs are the main factor among other issues. The Board of Supervisors are going to have to make serious decisions on what…
Seeing red
In the publication from Jan. 26 of the Sun, I know I am late in responding, but Mr. Gale McNeeley’s so-called poem (“A poem for Inauguration Day”) needs to be addressed. This piece was so ridiculous, disgusting, obnoxious, and so un-American, that I was sick to my stomach reading through it. Free speech gets so…
Thanks to Hector Sanchez
I wish to thank Hector Sanchez for championing the right to choose our own councilperson from our own neighborhood in 2018, 2020, and beyond. He did this by challenging the way Santa Maria has elected its leaders since 1905. The city of Santa Barbara recently fought California election law, which supports district elections in cities…
Democracy by force
Oscar Wilde once said, “Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.” In the case of Santa Maria, it is the proposition of Santa Barbara Councilman Jason Dominguez, and losing council candidate Hector Sanchez, who are the “people” who are threatening to bludgeon the people of Santa Maria into…
On how little can we live?
American taxpayers should be up in arms and madder than hell over the taxes they are paying every year. Our taxes are at 50 percent of our income per year. We must work until about May 15 (tax freedom day) each year just to pay our taxes. Most families must have two members working to…
STR’s can reduce the deficit
Santa Barbara County faces a growing budget deficit of about $35 million. There is no upside to blaming the county employees’ pension agreements. When you make a deal—good, bad, or ugly—you live up to your agreement. Similarly, proposing to cut programs should be the last resort. Instead, we should view the glass as half full…
Santa Maria summer program helps promote youth employment
Santa Maria youth can find summer jobs through the county-funded Career Pathways for Youth (CPY) project, which aims to prepare and connect young people in Santa Maria to employment and career opportunities. Luis Servin, program manager for the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board, said in a press release from the Santa Maria Valley Chamber…
Hancock nursing program rocks statewide rankings
An online nursing organization, PracticalNursing.org, ranked Allan Hancock College’s nursing program in the top 4 percent of California’s programs, based on student pass rates for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses. According to the organization’s study, 97.9 percent of Hancock’s students who took the exam between 2011 and 2014 passed it—and between 2011…
Adam School students become animal ambassadors
Adam School will kick off its animal ambassador program on March 25, when more than 30 fifth and sixth grade students will pay a visit to the Santa Maria Animal Center to tour the facility, spend time with the shelter’s rabbits, and make dog treats. The students’ March 25 trip will mark the first of…
Political Watch 3/16/17
• Congressional Republicans may loathe the Affordable Care Act and plan on repealing and/or replacing it, but their Democratic colleagues are trying to expand medical coverage in ways that (maybe) everyone can agree on. On March 8, Central Coast Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal introduced the Strengthening Preventative Health Care for Service Members Act, which would…
Hobnobbing with Helen: Angels of excellence
Women of Excellence. That has a nice sound, doesn’t it? Truth be told, Santa Maria has a lot of women who qualify for the highly anticipated and prized Women of Excellence Awards given annually by the Santa Maria Women’s Network. In the course of my arduous task of hobnobbing, I encounter a slew of amazing…
DUI deaths lead to second-degree murder charges for Santa Maria man
The driver in a Feb. 6 single-vehicle rollover crash that killed two Santa Maria women pleaded not guilty to all his charges, including two for second-degree murder, at his March 6 arraignment. Cameron Oliver, 25, is charged with the murders of Leann Stauffer and Tricia Jensen, plus one count of driving with blood alcohol content…
Santa Barbara County approves private franchise for Cat Canyon oil operation
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on March 14 to grant a 20-year private franchise to ERG Resources to operate on the company’s pipeline system near the Cat Canyon Oil Fields. The board also voted to have the county’s Energy Division bring back a report in six months reviewing all onsite oil…
Pioneer Valley students to learn lessons on distracted driving
Pioneer Valley High School will host the Arrive Alive Tour on March 17, aiming to teach its students about the consequences of bad driving habits. The presentation features videos of two driving simulators to re-create texting or drunk driving experiences, which according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), make car collisions exponentially more…
