Cover Story
Sleuthing in the cyber age
The Madonna Inn, a historic spot right off of U.S. Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo, is well known for its amazing cakes. What isn’t as well known is that the inn’s restaurant and bakery leaves its doors unlocked even after closing time, so workers and local law enforcement agents can come and go, explained…
Local group files a voter initiative to ban fracking in Santa Barbara County
The Santa Barbara County Water Guardians—an all-volunteer group of concerned local citizens—filed papers with Santa Barbara County on March 18 for a voter initiative aimed at banning enhanced oil extraction techniques such as hydraulic fracturing and cyclic steam injection. Rebecca Claassen, a volunteer with the water guardian coalition, said that after the county looks through…
What would you never post on social media?
Dillon DeBacker sales associate “There’s not a whole lot of shame in my game. I guess I wouldn’t upload pictures of my ex-girlfriend naked.” Philip Young retired “I would never talk about my religious beliefs on Facebook.” David Torik freelance writer “Personally, I don’t prefer to post anything on social media. I don’t want to…
Standing Sun Winery kicks off a concert series with Carlene Carter
Watch a video of a previous performance at Standing Sun Winery. A dedication to utmost quality is a practice that has been proven again and again. When a certain level of skill is attained, it offers a consequent awareness of abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Architect John Wright and General Hospital star Laura Wright—neither having experience…
Arts Briefs
Lompoc Mural Society needs artists The Lompoc Mural Society has issued a “call for artists” to help in the restoration of several historic murals that need upkeep due to long exposure to the elements. Interested and qualified artists can submit a résumé and photos of previous work. Artists will be required to have liability insurance…
Springville is a tiny gateway with lots of charm
After following a semi-truck for an unknown number of miles on a two-lane road flush with traffic—so, not enough time or space to pass—accelerating onto U.S. Interstate 5 is an exhilarating feeling; two lanes going in one direction, a speed limit of 70 miles per hour, and traffic in the fast lane going 80 to…
The Lompoc Civic Theatre presents ‘Clutter’ by Mark Saltzman
Homer and Langley Collyer, the inspiration for a play by Emmy award-winning writer Mark Saltzman, are infamous for one thing in particular, which should be obvious to anyone reading the stage production’s full title: Clutter: The True Story of the Collyer Brothers Who Never Threw Anything Out. The Collyer brothers’ story provides a mid-20th century…
What’s on Deck? 3/20 – 3/27
Thursday, March 20 Baseball Allan Hancock vs. LA Pierce College @ AHC, 2:30 p.m. Boys’ Volleyball Pioneer Valley vs. Orcutt @ PVHS, 5 p.m. St. Joseph vs. Mission Prep @ SJHS, 5 p.m. Santa Ynez vs. Templeton @ SYHS, 5 p.m. Santa Maria vs. Morro Bay @ MBHS, 5 p.m.…
Joining forces
The tennis courts at Los Olivos Elementary School have been looking a little ragged and in need of some care. With this in mind, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is joining forces with Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation to give the courts a new, state-of-the-art surface. A press release revealed that the Los…
March Madness for Kiwanis
It’s time for the 24th annual Kiwanis Central Coast All-Star Basketball Spectacular on April 5 at the Allan Hancock Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. The tournament will feature the best of male and female basketball players, with Northern Santa Barbara County facing off against San Luis County. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, the girls’ game will…
Simone Swain
When the Sun spoke to basketball star Simone Swain, she had just returned home from the state games in Fresno. The junior said despite having a strong first quarter, Valley Christian Academy lost to Emmanuel High School in the first round of CIF play. Regardless of the outcome, Swain said she is happy with how…
Under the sea: A look at the fifth annual Diver Education Conference
It was Saturday; the sun beat down hotly on my shoulders as I opened the doors to the PG&E Educational Center in Avila Beach. As I stepped into the cool air, I wasn’t sure what to expect at a diving conference—scuba diving, that is. Recovered treasure? Skeletons of fearsome creatures? There were display tables in…
Naturally good: The Natural Cafe isn’t just for veg-heads
The sign above the door reads The Natural Cafe. So it’s natural that people might assume that the Southern California restaurant chain serves mostly green, leafy vegetables. While many salads are on the menu—and tasty ones at that—one might be amazed to learn that the ingredients in the best-selling dishes at The Natural Cafe are…
Lame Vegas: Seeing Sin City is not the same with the woman who has kept me out of trouble since 1974
How do you get a group of cowboys to turn their mosey into a full sprint across Las Vegas Boulevard? Shout “Run!” Easy enough, right? The thing is, I wasn’t yelling at them. Just days before my birthday, I flew to Las Vegas to escort my mom on an impromptu trip to see a relative…
Police are still looking for the ‘pepper spray’ attacker
View security camera footage of the incident, courtesy of the Santa Maria Police Department. Santa Maria police officers are trying to identify the man who attacked patrons March 6 with what’s suspected to be pepper spray at a restaurant and bar located in the 500 block of North Broadway. According to a press release from…
How does half the country support this party?
My Democratic colleagues often wonder how the Republican Party, whose economic policies blatantly support only the rich at everyone else’s expense, continues to exist. The Republicans’ environmental positions even make them look like they are members of an alien species bent on human destruction. Yet they generally receive about 50 percent of the vote. Why?…
We need more northern representation on the grand jury
The Santa Barbara County Civil Grand Jury needs to have more people from North County communities. In going over grand jury reports from 2004 to 2013, I’ve found there are very few jurors from the North County. There was one from Los Alamos, none from Guadalupe, five from Lompoc, and 12 from Santa Maria. After…
Capps requests student entries for a Congressional Art competition
Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-24) is petitioning entries for the 2014 annual Congressional Art competition. The competition allows high school students in the 24th Congressional District the chance to have their winning artwork seen by thousands of visitors in the United States Capitol for an entire year. “This annual competition is a wonderful opportunity to support…
Online school registers grades K-12 for the upcoming school year
California Virtual Academies (CAVA), a full-time, free online public school, is currently open to enrolling students in kindergarten through 12th grade for the 2014-2015 school year. Students at CAVA receive a practical education, both on and off the Internet, with California accredited instructors and an individualized learning plan based on comprehension. In addition to core…
There’s still time to apply for a D.C. migrant/seasonal farm worker internship
Five migrant/seasonal farm worker college students will be chosen and temporarily relocated to Washington, D.C., for a comprehensive eight-week internship and mentoring program. The objective is to present young adults with life-changing experiences and connections so they can progress in life, psychologically and passionately. Rather than spend their summer harvesting crops in the sizzling heat,…
Spotlight on: Plantel Nurseries
It’s a Monday morning and the ocean smell of organic fertilizer made from fish emulsion and kelp extract is ripe in the air of the greenhouses at Plantel Nurseries. A sea of young broccoli, tomato, and celery transplants are currently arranged in rows by pallet, awaiting shipment to their destinations. Plantel is a wholesale provider…
Political Watch 3/20/14
• The three products to make the first-ever list of hazardous substances released by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control on March 13 are: polyurethane spray foam with a chemical linked to work-related asthma, children’s foam padded sleeping products that contain a chemical known to cause cancer, and paint and varnish strippers that contain…
Community Notebook 3/20-3/27
MONDAY, MARCH 24 • The South County Advisory Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Services District Headquarters, 148 S. Wilson St., Nipomo. • The Solvang City Council has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. Agendas are available at cityofsolvang.com. TUESDAY, MARCH…
Hobnobbing With Helen
And the award goes to … That wasn’t exactly the patter at the Women of Excellence Awards held on March 5 at the Santa Maria Inn, but you get the idea. Eleven women with outstanding personal and professional achievements had been nominated. This is a highly anticipated annual Women’s Network event. Choosing four awardees is…
Let the good times pour during Central Coast Craft Beer Week
Grab your beer stein and come to the first-ever Central Coast Craft Beer Week March 23 through 30, featuring special dinners, tastings, and other events at local breweries. Conceived by the new Central Coast Brewers Consortium, the week’s worth of events celebrate the unified spirit and diverse flavors of the region’s craft-beer community. Established in…
Santa Maria high school district focuses on vocational education with approval of a farmland purchase
In an area where strawberry and broccoli fields share space with grazing land for cows and horses, it’s natural that agricultural learning takes place in lockstep with high school education and athletics. Out of Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s 7,500 students, more than 1,500 participate in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and take…
Bob Hatch and Dennis Pearson are moving on
Two well-known Santa Maria leaders are retiring from their positions this year. “Bob [Hatch] and I always joked that we’d retire at the same time. We’re both getting old and cranky,” former Santa Maria Fairpark CEO Dennis Pearson told the Sun on March 13, the first day of his retirement. Pearson, a 16-year veteran of…
It’s back to Brown versus Brown in the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s race
The race for Santa Barbara County Sheriff is down to two candidates again. According to the most recent candidate filing list posted March 10 by the county elections office, UCSB police officer Ryan Smith has withdrawn his bid for sheriff. That leaves incumbent Bill Brown and Sgt. Sandra Brown (of no relation) to duke it…
We have lost a true community hero
The death of Maggie Espinoza on Feb. 13 leaves a deep hole in the hearts of those who have served children and families throughout Santa Barbara County through the Community Action Commission’s Head Start program for the past 40 years. Maggie was a true community hero in every sense of the word. As someone who…
Every move you make, I’ll be watching you
I was really intrigued by this week’s cover story, mostly because I’m intrigued by social media, and I’m intrigued by crime—not intrigued enough, mind you, to commit it myself; I just find it interesting to learn what motivates people to break the law. This is a wired world we live in, with our words and…
PVHS teacher put on leave without pay
A source close to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School district confirmed to the Sun on March 13 that Brian Hook, a former teacher and coach at Pioneer Valley High School, has been put on leave without pay. The district’s school board decided in closed session the evening of March 12 to place the…
