Cover Story
Assembly in the streets: Post-election angst sparks a new wave of protest and activism on the Central Coast
When a group of organizers in San Luis Obispo decided to hold a march in solidarity with large demonstrations scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., and other major American cities, they expected a small turnout of about 200. On Jan. 21, the day of the National Women’s March, the size of the crowd that…
What would get you out on the street to protest?
David Smith works at NBC Sports Radio “If the Lakers start winning games and lose their draft pick.” Elizabeth Guentz works at Marian Regional Medical Center “If every Cheesecake Factory closed down.” Serena Guentz student “If Disney shut down all of their theme parks.” Valen Bernal works at Great Clips “I care about stuff but…
Bacon and Brine in Solvang offers cooking classes for kids
When I found out that the chef at one of my favorite restaurants in the world, Solvang’s Bacon and Brine, was offering cooking classes, I was ecstatic. Here was my chance to sharpen my kitchen skills and maybe pick up some creative recipe tips to impress friends with the next time they were over for…
The Allan Hancock College Concert Band welcomes all ages and tastes to its Spring Pops Concert
The members of the Allan Hancock College Concert Band are many—the ensemble numbers 75 strong—and they hail from varied backgrounds and tenures with the band. Some are Hancock students fresh out of high school, explained band director Greg Stoll, but others are local professionals or retirees who have been performing with the ensemble for decades.…
Lompoc filmmaker Betsy Weiner shares her love of parrots in short documentary ‘The Sky Riders’
A cluster of vibrant colors sweeps by, breaking through the clear blue sky in a blur. The image, almost shocking in its beauty against the stark skyline, is just one of many captured by local filmmaker Betsy Weiner. The Lompoc photographer and filmmaker is set to debut her 10-minute short documentary, The Sky Riders, at…
Spotlight on: Jack’s All-American Plumbing
While local schools push students to learn coding and computer science, Jack Bingham of Jack’s All-American Plumbing in Santa Maria is wondering why no one’s encouraging kids to work with their hands anymore. Despite the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ positive outlook for skilled trades, or the “construction and extraction occupations,” which the agency states are…
Santa Maria Police Department violated public notification system’s terms of service with fake press release
Last December, the Sun revealed that the Santa Maria Police Department issued a fake press release in February 2016 that was reported as fact by numerous local news organizations (not including the Sun). But despite the press release’s fraudulence, the department has yet to remove the post from its Nixle account—an internet-based notification service used…
Price of Neverland Ranch drops to $67 million
Sycamore Valley Ranch, the Los Olivos-area property formerly known as Neverland Ranch once owned and occupied by late entertainer Michael Jackson, just got a price cut. In February, the going price for the ranch dropped by tens of millions of dollars to $67 million, according to joycerey.com, the website of the Los Angeles-based realtor who…
Hancock celebrates International Women’s Day
Allan Hancock College planned to host events in honor of the sixth annual International Women’s Day on March 8, which intended to celebrate women’s social, economic, and political achievements, according to a Hancock press release. It was the college’s second consecutive year hosting the on-campus event, which included guest speakers, performers, organic food, and a…
Santa Barbara Unified School District staff, faculty file workplace harassment lawsuit
A group of Santa Barbara Unified School District employees filed a temporary restraining order against a Santa Barbara Community Academy student’s mother on March 1, citing workplace harassment. Court documents allege that Sabrina Lynk “made a credible threat of violence” against employees at the academy “by making knowing or willful statements or engaging in a…
Lompoc Police Department officer found dead
The Lompoc Police Department issued a release via Nixle and directly to news outlets on March 7 relaying the death of officer Miguel Grijalva. Grijalva was found dead outside of Lompoc city limits early that morning, according to the release from the department. He was not on duty at the time, and a preliminary investigation…
Community rallies to support family of shooting victim
Santa Maria resident Anthony San Juan was shot and killed in the Elmer’s parking lot in Orcutt on March 4. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested spouses Jonathan Highley and Mayra Perez on suspicion of murder and accessory to murder, respectively. San Juan’s wife of nearly 15 years, Sara, set up a crowdfunding…
Lompoc High School on lockdown after vehicle crashes on front lawn
Lompoc High School was briefly placed on lockdown March 7 after a vehicle being pursued by the California Highway Patrol crashed on the school’s front lawn, according to the school’s public information officer, John Karbula. Officers from the CHP in Buellton were in pursuit of the vehicle, according to CHP Public Information Officer John Ortega,…
Supervisors vote to continue opposing Phillips 66’s proposed oil train project
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted at its March 7 meeting to write to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, urging the SLO County board to oppose Phillips 66’s proposed rail spur project. The project would allow Phillips 66 to import crude oil by rail to the company’s Santa Maria Refinery…
All the news that’s fit to fake
When the subject of “fake news” began to dominate the national discourse just after the election last year, I didn’t think we’d still be talking about it all the way here in March of 2017. But it’s a subject and a term that just can’t seem to get past people’s minds or leave their lips.…
Like father like son
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” “Like father, like son.” Take your pick of folk phrases that sum up the characterization that parents influence their children as adults. For years Tony Cravello Sr. had pledged support, provided donations, and was an ambassador of good will to the people around him in his community…
George Washington: Taking back America
When George Washington was elected in 1789 as our first president, he was aware he would be setting a precedent for presidents who would follow. He chose the title, “Mr. President,” over the more majestic names proposed by the Senate. For his inauguration, he had his tailor make him a simple suit of brown broadcloth.…
Avoid cardiac arrest
Imagine getting a billing statement, two years later, from the hospital for treating an emergency health problem for “$101,600 total charges.” Does your heart flutter? The next line sums, “insurance payments and adjustments $100,900.” Your amount due is the difference of $700. You breathe a sigh of relief and say, “Thank God for Medicare!” You…
The war on Trump
The war that’s being waged by the Trump haters is a disgrace. Having lost everything in the last election, how do they react? Instead of giving this president any kind of chance to restore the fabric and identity of America, they riot, mock, ridicule, lie, vilify anyone who dares to disagree, beat people up who…
Feckless Buellton ordinance
The city of Buellton has an elected mayor to represent the city, an elected City Council to decide the city’s direction, and a city manager that carries out directives of the council and the policies and ordinances of the city. It is concerning to me that our mayor and two of our council members have…
Community center adds to colorful history
The new OASIS community center proposed for Old Town Orcutt will add to the long history of the area and needs our generous support. In early 1868, Absolom Stubblefield, fresh from the California gold fields, made his way down the treacherous Cuesta Grade with his family, Indian guides, horses, and 160 head of cattle. Stubblefield…
Hancock’s Women’s Basketball team teaches the meaning of perserverance
Perseverance. It’s a prerequisite for any great story of triumph. In order to truly achieve a grand victory, it seems almost necessary for the victor to have overcome varying degrees of obstacles and long odds alike. In the case of the 2016-2017 Lady Bulldogs, perseverance is found in abundance. The Allan Hancock College women’s basketball…
Lance Wallace
What better way to celebrate a birthday than to swim a mile for every candle on the cake? Santa Maria resident Lance Wallace didn’t want cake or presents for his birthday this year. Wallace turned 65 in January, and his one birthday wish was to swim a total of 65 miles before the end of…
Doctors be damned
When I was a child, my mother took me to see a doctor named Robert Wachs. They were practically best friends, although from what I could tell the only thing they seemed to have in common was their enjoyment of discussing the gross things coming out of my body. We lived in a small community,…
Wildling Museum reaches campaign goal of $1.8 million
The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature met its campaign goal of raising $1.8 million in order to secure the purchase of the building it currently rents. The total purchase price of the building is $2.6 million. The family foundation of former Wildling board chair, Peter Adams, offered to loan the remaining $1.8 million provided…
Boys & Girls Club celebrates renovations with ribbon cutting
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the recent building upgrades to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Maria Valley location on Railroad Avenue in late February. Major renovations were made to the location’s gymnasium and kitchen. The general exterior of the building also got a facelift. “This…
Gallery Los Olivos debuts new work from jeweler, abstract artist
Abstract art and ornate jewelry take center stage at Gallery Los Olivos in March, for a new exhibit titled Minnie Facets. For artists Patricia Watkins and Minnie Anderson, the exhibit represents a shift in style, as both learn to embrace new media, techniques, and genres in their latest work. Watkins said this exhibit is a…
Political Watch 3/9/17
• California Sen. Kamala Harris (D) and her Democratic colleagues called on U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign after it was revealed that he spoke to the Russian ambassador to the United States twice last year and failed to disclose this information during his confirmation hearing with the U.S. Senate in February. The revelation…
Clarification
In the March 2 story, “Drunk driver charged with murder,” the Sun incorrectly indicated the number of vehicles involved in a Feb. 6 car crash. The incident was a single-vehicle crash.
