Cover Story
Sunset on Holly: Two years after the Refugio oil spill, Venoco gives up Platform Holly, a move that underscores the debate over local oil industry
Platform Holly has stood alone in the South Ellwood oil field for decades as the Santa Barbara Channel’s last oil rig in California’s state waters. But it may not stay standing for much longer. The platform’s owner, Venoco, announced on April 17 that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy—which allows the company to reorganize assets—and…
Lompoc Braves dominates track and field season with solid runners and varied team
While technically a team sport, the success of a track and field squad comes down to the performances of individuals. Besides the events that involve relays, the outcome of a meet is determined by a series of athletes competing independently yet together. Lompoc High School’s Braves showed the ability to come together and utilize the…
Should Santa Barbara County allow new land-based oil drilling projects?
Jerry Cornell retired “Yes, because the County is losing $6 million a year because they won’t allow American Pipeline to be fixed.” Weston Scott directing intern “No, we should be subsidizing alternate, longer-lasting energy sources.” Sierra Arguijo works at AHC bookstore “No, because there are better things we can use the land for.” Chris Lambert…
The Hitching Post Casmalia celebrates 65 years of tradition
When Bill Ostini returned after time away from the family and asked his father for a job, the restaurateur had one request of his son. “Dad gave me a steak, said, ‘Cook it medium rare,’” Bill said. So he put the meat on the grill at The Hitching Post in Casmalia and seared it off.…
The Dustbowl Revival to perform cuts off new album at Standing Sun in Buelton
When you think old-time string band, the logical next step is not a horn section. But, it’s a winning combination for The Dustbowl Revival. The eight-piece Americana group performs at Standing Sun Wines in Buellton on May 19, bringing a set filled with cuts off the group’s new album, due out June 16. Titled The…
Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society presents a history of women’s shoes
If you’ve ever looked a pair of women’s shoes and thought, “How could anyone wear that?” you’ve likely never seen the footwear women had hundreds of years ago. Thanks to the Costume Council at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum, visitors can get a look at the evolution of shoes from around the world. Kathleen…
Canary is a twit
Your anti-Trump tirade in your last column is unbelievable (“Warheads,” May 4). After eight years of that idiot, Obama, how can you complain about any president, especially an outstanding one like Trump? It just shows what little twits you tabloid publishers are. For we 80-something seniors, who have seen and heard all of the presidents…
Make some sense
Good letter, Mr. Scott (“Dead democracies require ill-informed electorates,” May 4). Do me a favor and tell us what it is about. The Democratic government of Venezuela? The moral and ethical reasoning of people you don’t agree with? The nuclear (neuculear?) option? Threats of legal action, lawsuits? You seem very passionate about it. Whatever it…
Argue the facts
Taking his cue from the man in the White House, Richard W. Neufeld opens his rebuttal (“Obamacare needs to go,” May 11) to my May 4 letter (“Trump’s an underachiever”) with an ad hominem attack suggesting I live in “La La Land” (of course, if that’s the place where Emma Stone lives, take me there).…
Restrained: Local police explain practice of handcuffing suspects who’ve been shot
Lompoc Police Chief Pat Wash heard the incident on his radio. According to a county District Attorney’s report, the chief rushed to the scene along the bike path next to the Embassy Suites hotel on North H Street. There, Lompoc Police Cpl. Charles Scott had shot Michael Ducaine Giles, 27, twice. Giles died from his…
West Santa Ynez annexation lawful but lacked coordination
The Santa Ynez Community Services District (SYCSD) and the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) followed the law to annex West Santa Ynez into the district, according to a county grand jury report released on May 11. However, the process lacked coordination and communication with the more than 500 homes in the affected…
Political Watch 5/18/17
• The firing of former FBI Director James Comey on May 9 came as a surprise to many Americans, but not for a handful of U.S. Senators, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who reportedly received a courtesy call from President Donald Trump shortly before the hammer dropped. Fox News reported that Comey learned from a…
Culinary rube
I may be a food and wine writer now, but I wasn’t born with any kind of dignified understanding of food or even the basic understanding of how to prepare food on my own. I went through my 20s living off leftover pizza and whatever hangover food Denny’s offered on Saturday mornings. But part of…
Drawing awareness: Santa Maria Utilities Department awards third-grade artists who crafted water wise posters
Although everyone had to shake the dust off of their raincoats for the recent rainfall, the drought still weighs heavy in the minds of those at the Santa Maria Utilities Department. That’s why Myra Ritchie, a water conservation specialist with the department, continued the annual Water Awareness Poster Contest despite the wet season. Third grade…
Michael Sterling
After graduating from Allan Hancock College in 2016, Michael Sterling relocated to Bakersfield to continue studying kinesiology at CSUB. Sterling, 25, tries to visit his hometown, Santa Maria, as often as his school schedule allows. Apart from reconnecting with family and friends, Sterling’s favorite thing to do when he gets home is jump on his…
Blood and oil
You can’t spell ideology without idiot. Well, OK, they’re not exactly the same, but you get the point. According to Merriam-Webster.com, ideology loosely means “a systematic body of concepts.” But that doesn’t tell the whole story. I’ve always taken ideology to mean a worldview that is impervious to contradiction or outside influence. Maybe that’s what…
Responding to Mr. Kahn
If Mr. Kahn and your readers are interested in a “open letter” discussion about Islam I am willing to start with some questions for Mr. Kahn to answer, and he is welcome to ask questions about Christianity. Question one: Is Mr. Kahn Sunni, Shia, Wahhabi, or Sufi? Question two: Since many Muslims are threatened with…
Speak up in Buellton
The movement to overturn the Buellton RVs, boats, and trailers ordinance (which severely limits or bans the possession or these items on private property) is gaining momentum. We now have three council members who are willing to revisit this ordinance. But the fight is far from won and we cannot do it without your support!…
Trump’s mental health a real concern
With approval ratings for the first 100 days at times as low as 38 to 40 percent, lower than any other new president’s ratings, President Donald Trump has managed to be the main topic around the large majority of American dinner tables as we all discuss ways to rid ourselves of this real danger to…
Kids’ summer ranch camp kicks off season
Circle V Ranch Camp in the Santa Ynez Valley has begun accepting applications and scholarship requests for its eight 2017 summer sessions, each of which features a different theme. The sessions, which run from the end of June through the end of August, offer outdoor activities such as archery, hiking, swimming, sports, and campfires—along with…
Hancock students head to SkillsUSA nationals
Five students from Allan Hancock College will travel to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the SkillsUSA National Championships, which aim to recognize students in trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations education. This year’s national competition, scheduled for June 21 through 23, will mark the second consecutive year in which Hancock is represented at the championships.…
Discovery Museum partners with Vandenberg for educational exhibit
The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum has joined forces with the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base to present the Discovery Space Shuttle, which museum and base officials unveiled on May 10. The shuttle will join the Vandenberg Launch Experience science exhibit, which simulates rocket launches using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)…
SMHS coach arrested for alleged child molestation
A Santa Maria High School (SMHS) assistant soccer coach was arrested on May 9 for allegedly annoying or molesting a minor and for allegedly contacting a minor to solicit lewd photographs, according to a press release from the Santa Maria Police Department. The suspect, 34-year-old Santa Maria resident Francisco Hernandez Sanabria, also coaches a local…
Spotlight on: Casmalia Corner Market
What’s a Casmalia resident to do if they run out of sugar, beer, or any variety of canned goods? They’d make a trip to the convenience/grocery stores in Tanglewood, Orcutt, Guadalupe, or Santa Maria. Not anymore. Norman Watt got tired of constantly having to make the trip to town so he opened up the Casmalia…
Guadalupe inspection ordinance raises concerns for rental tenants and landlords
The city of Guadalupe may face legal action for alleged violation of residents’ Fourth Amendment right to protection from unreasonable searches, according to attorney Stew Jenkins. Jenkins has teamed up with a group of 17 Guadalupe residents—both landlords and tenants—who claim the city’s rental inspection mandates could lead to warrantless searches of rental homes. He…
Laura’s Law pilot program gets another year of county funding
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 at its May 16 meeting to fund the county’s Laura’s Law pilot program for another year. Laura’s Law, or the Behavioral Wellness Department’s Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program, has operated for four months as a pilot program, aiming to provide extensive outreach and engagement to Santa…
Police respond to double stabbing on Newlove
A Santa Maria man allegedly stabbed his parents during an incident on the 300 block of Newlove Drive on the morning of May 12, according the Santa Maria Police Department. When officers arrived on scene, they found 40-year-old Silvia Narciso and 41-year-old Ricardo Ramirez both suffering from stab wounds. The suspect, 21-year-old Jhordy Ramirez, was…
Forest Service seeks to restore parts of La Brea Creek area
The public comment period for the proposed La Brea Restoration Project is winding down, slated to close on May 21. Until then, individuals and organizations may write in their comments on the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed project, which aims to restore damaged portions of the North Fork La Brea Creek area for recreational access. The…
PVHS Drama students attend Broadway workshop in New York
Fourteen drama students from Pioneer Valley High School (PVHS) recently spent several days in New York City, attending three Broadway shows including School of Rock, a production the school plans to put on next year. The students also got to meet Tony-nominated actor Alex Brightman, who plays Dewey, and learned the choreography for the show…
Abraham Lincoln impersonator to visit Lompoc Public Library
John Voehl, Abraham Lincoln impersonator and historian, is visiting the Lompoc Public Library on May 23 for a free presentation. Voehl will discuss “The Gettysburg Address” and other highlights of Lincoln’s life. The presentation starts at 6 p.m. in the library’s Grossman Gallery. Over a career spanning 20 years, Voehl has hosted more than a thousand…
