Cover Story
Cities just say no to medical pot
George Alvarez has been many things in his life. He’s been a certified drug counselor, a four-year commissioner on the Santa Barbara County Advisory Board on Drug and Alcohol Problems, a former Guadalupe city planning commissioner, and a distant relative of that city’s mayor. It may seem an unlikely résumé for a man who wants…
California gold
What’s better than traveling up and down the state seeing the beautiful sights California has to offer? Seeing those sights through the creative eye of an artist with a macro lens and digital enhancing prowess. Patricia Stalter and Sharon Foster bring the highlights of California to their two-person exhibition California Gold on display at Shepard…
How worried or concerned are you about the swine flu (H1N1)?
Antonio Steadman student “Not very worried at all. My health is quite exquisite.” Renee Sahagun area supervisor “I’m not really worried about it until it becomes a big issue.” Minerva Camarillo student/mother “If I caught it I would be very worried since there is no vaccine to cure it yet.” Kevin Brewer student/restaurant host “I…
Speaking from the art
[image-3]Expression is more than just a means of communication, often it’s a means of releasing emotion and an aid to healing. For the artists in the Art of Recovery exhibition, being encouraged to express themselves has given them the chance to say what’s on their minds in pictures when words are hard to come by.…
Clubs & Meetings
4-H welcomes anyone interested in the group to sign up now. Find a nearby club by contacting the Santa Barbara County 4-H Office at 692-1730 or zmhughes@ucdavis.edu. ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. of SANTA MARIA, a nonprofit business and professional organization, meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., in the Altrusa Theatre of the Santa…
Spiritual
BAHA’I interfaith worship services are the second Sunday of each month. Info: 489-4172. Children’s classes are the first Saturday of each month. Info: 937-9451. Study circles about The Life of the Spirit are ongoing in Santa Maria. For questions, dates, and times: 614-0963. Info: 937-9451. BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH holds worship services Sundays with Holy Communion…
Farmers Markets
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and vegetables.…
Barbecues
ONGOING FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY barbecues Filipino food at the Smart and Final parking lot, N. Broadway on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu items include tri-tip, chicken, beef kabobs, chicken adobo, salad, rice, and bread. Meals cost $6. Info: 922-3422 or 922-3799. FILIPINO CATHOLIC SOCIETY, under the direction of St. Mary’s Church and St.…
Health
MARIAN MEDICAL CENTER presents an “Understanding Joint Replacement Surgery” class is May 21 at noon at the center, 1400 E. Church St., Santa Maria. A “Heartsaver CPR and AED” class is May 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marian Medical Center, 1400 E. Church St., Santa Maria. A “Smart Eating for Kids…
Art
THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION presents the exhibit Visual Inquiry: Mixed Media, through May 22 at the Betteravia Government Center, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria. Info: 568-3994. ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents “Creating Sanctuary”, featuring abstract paintings by Lawrence Abrahamsen, through May 29 at the Allan Hancock College Ann Foxworthy Gallery, Student Center, 800…
Learning
THE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SANTA MARIA will be host to Carol Walton, CEO of the Parkinson Alliance, on May 22 starting at 9:30 a.m. in Santa Maria. Registration required. Info: 937-7776. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS holds Disaster Training Classes on the third Saturday of the month through May in Santa Maria and the fourth…
Recreation
THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA presents a Memorial Day Recreation Swim May 25 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center, 600 South McClelland St., Santa Maria. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 260. WORTH THE DRIVE THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COAST DISTRICT STATE PARKS DOCENTS and the Central Coast Natural History Association offer hikes…
Kids & Family
ONGOING LA LECHE LEAGUE SANTA MARIA offers pregnant and nursing moms free breastfeeding support and information the third Wednesday of each month. Info: 734-9895 or 938-0789. THE LITTLE VILLAGE offers a daily enrichment program for kids ages 3 to 6 during the summer and fall. Activities include arts and crafts, baking, music, gardening, and creative…
Dance Lessons
ONGOING EVERYBODY CAN DANCE offers classes in ballet dance for ages 3 to adult. Call for schedules. Boys and men receive full scholarships. The studio is located at 800 S. Broadway. Info: 937-6753. COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE CLASSES by Jeannette and Henry are Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. for country two-step lessons and from 8…
Stage
THE VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY presents its production of Fiddler on the Roof May 21 at 7 p.m., May 22 at 6 p.m., and May 26 at 7 p.m. at the Valley Christian Academy, 2970 Santa Maria Way, Santa Maria. Cost is $10 at the door. Info: 937-6317. THE DANA ADOBE NIPOMO AMIGOS presents a casting…
Night Life
The following venues offer either regularly scheduled live entertainment or DJ-hosted dance music. Most performances start after 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. IN THE AREA CLUB 805, AKA STINKY’S BAR & GRILL: 2430 South Broadway, 614-9316. DJ Davey D Saturday nights. THE COACHMAN: 1531 S. Broadway, 922-5556. Thursday through Saturday: DJ from 9 p.m. to…
Concerts
THE LOMPOC MUSIC ASSOCIATION presents UCSB Professor Emeritus Emma Lou Diemer in concert May 24 at 3 p.m. at the Valley of Flowers Church, 3346 Constellation Road, Vandenberg Village. Cost is $15, $6 for students. Info: 736-8702. WORTH THE DRIVE NEDERLANDER presents Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction featuring Street Sweeper in concert May 21…
Special Events
ADDAMO VINEYARDS presents a Texas Hold ‘em Tournament in benefit of Domestic Violence Solutions on May 23 with tutorial and registration at 3 p.m. and the tournament starting at 4 p.m. at the Addamo Estate Grand Ballroom, 2510 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. Cost is $125 per person, $100 for Red Carpet Club members. Info: 937-6400.…
Andy Pinon
This senior at Pioneer Valley High School is finishing up his last track and field season and is going out in style. Andy Pinon has been involved in sports since he was in elementary school. “A lot of my friends were involved in sports so I decided to try and in high school I began…
First-person shooter
The bad guy was holding a gun to the hostage’s head. “Okay, Nick, you’ve only got one shot here,” I thought while bringing the pistol up in both hands. I stepped back slightly with my left foot and lined the sights up with a spot just above the bad guy’s sunglasses. I took a…
Pioneer Valley hoops benefit
The gym at Pioneer Valley High School is the stage for the school’s inaugural benefit basketball game between students and officers from the Santa Maria Police Department on May 29. Seniors from the school’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will take part in the contest against the city’s finest and all proceeds will go to…
Thrice the excitement
Tri-athletes of all ages are welcomed to participate in the 3rd annual Lompoc Sprint Triathlon and Junior Triathlon July 18 at Lompoc Aquatic Center. Entrants ages 15 and up will compete in a 500-yard swim, 11-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile-run with first heats beginning at 8 a.m. The junior version consists of a 50-yard swim,…
Water polo peekends
Sundays mean fun days in the pool at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center, where the One-Way Water Polo organization conducts water polo workouts. Experienced masters of the sport aged 18 and up can practice from noon to 1 p.m. Youth aged 7 and up can try their hand at the sport from 1 to 3…
Art lives here
First of all, I would like to express my appreciation to Shelly Cone and the Santa Maria Sun for doing a wonderful job of reporting on the art scene in Santa Maria. The article about the Art in the Garden event at the Santa Maria Inn (“Spotlight on Mom, spotlight on art,” May 7) was…
Who invited her?
Where does Wanda Sykes get off blasting the former President, Rush Limbaugh, and the GOP? I find her humor tasteless and inappropriate. She is not just guilty of bad taste; she is guilty of not being funny. I can’t believe no one read her material beforehand and still let her deliver that hate-spewed diatribe. She…
Support the Obama health plan
Obama’s public health insurance option would save us up to 30 percent on our insurance premiums by being more efficient and driving down prices across the board, according to a Commonwealth Fund report. The insurance companies are against the proposal because if the system is efficient they will not make as much money in profit.
Salazar takes a balanced approach
Since taking office in January, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Salazar has made renewable energy a priority, putting the brakes on the preceding administration’s full-steam-ahead approach to destructive oil-shale development and canceling oil and gas leases on the edge of Utah national parks as well as in historic sites on nearby public land. …
Property equals liberty
Only when property rights are protected do average people have a shot at both liberty and prosperity. The question of property ownership goes far back into human history. The right to private property evolved out of a basic moral notion: Private property rights are the hallmark of liberty. According to the Property Rights Alliance, which publishes the annual International…
Attend the NRC meeting
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold two public meetings in San Luis Obispo on May 28, four days before PG&E plans to begin removing spent fuel from densely-packed pools and loading the first dry cask at Diablo Canyon. This is an opportunity for the public to ask questions and state opinions. The San Luis…
You get what you pay for
It is clear that some investments really pay off but not yours and mine, currently. The banks have been investing in politicians, and they are getting their money’s worth. Banks get bailed out, and we don’t. What if we invested our money in politicians and what if banks, corporations, and lobbyists were prevented from doing so? What if we…
Attention to arts is appreciated
I am a member of the Town Center Gallery and the Los Padres Art Guild in Santa Maria. I would like to thank and commend Shelly Cone for her continued support and appreciation in print of the many artists in and around our area. These two groups are avenues for artists to not only develop…
Community Notebook 5-21
TUESDAY, MAY 26 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Ste. 141, Santa Maria. Agendas are available at http://bos-agenda.sbcgov.net. • The Guadalupe City Council has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the…
The United Nations comes to Orcutt Academy
More than 100 ninth graders—each representing a specific country—swarm around the Orcutt Junior High School gym enticing each other to sign resolutions they’ve written to address the effects of global warming. “If [the resolution] doesn’t serve the self-interest of your country, don’t sign it,” Sharir Chan, Orcutt Academy’s world civilizations/world history teacher, tells one student.…
Hobnobbing with Helen
Breakfast Rotary Club Luau “Fun” was the key word at the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club’s annual Hawaiian Luau, also billed as a Barn Party and Auction. This five-star event was held on May 9, at where else but the big barn-like building at the west end of the Fairpark. When I arrived at 5:30 p.m.,…
Swine flu tests SM manufacturer
The recent outbreak of swine flu has had Santa Maria-based Hardy Diagnostics working overtime to meet demand. The medical device manufacturer made the equipment used to transport viral specimens to labs for analysis and identification. More than 6,000 labs are serviced by the company, which manufactures all of its products in Santa Maria. Jay Hardy…
Plumbing company celebrates award
Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine recently recognized local father and son plumbers Juan and Eric Rodriguez for owning the nationwide publication’s May Truck of the Month. The award recognizes the plumbing profession’s most clean and organized service vehicles. The Rodriguez’s company, JES Plumbing, received a resolution of recognition for the award from the Santa Barbara County…
PathPoint open house
On May 28, PathPoint, formerly known as Work Training Programs Inc., is hosting an open house to celebrate both its recent name change and 45th anniversary. The open house will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the organization’s North Santa Barbara County location, 2450 Professional Parkway in Santa Maria. Local elected officials and…
CASA appoints new program director
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Barbara County announced they’ve named Kim Davis as their new director of program services. Davis, who became a full-time staff member of CASA in 2008, will be responsible for overseeing and implementing all CASA program procedures, advocate trainings, and community volunteer outreach efforts. She will continue to work directly…
One big headache
It’s an accountant’s nightmare: A potential $34 million budget deficit faced by the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services Department will cost Santa Barbara County substantial funds and may result in further cuts to services, according to the county’s civil grand jury. On May 6, the jury issued a report revealing the results of its…
And then there were two
Another longtime Santa Maria resident is planning to enter the 2010 race for the 33rd District Assembly Seat, soon to be vacated by Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) because of term limits. On May 14, Santa Maria Planning Commissioner Etta Waterfield announced her intention to run for the open seat. Waterfield joins a growing number…
Fighting to end homelessness
Bringing Our Community Home, an organization that has been in effect since 2008, has a “10 year plan” to end chronic homelessness in the Santa Barbara County by 2018. As part of that plan, the organization is welcoming a new executive director, John Buttny. Buttny is a well-known community member with more than 30 years…
Correction
In the Sun’s Community Corner for May 7, Jed Beebe was misidentified. The May 14 news story “Winds worry Jesusita Fire fighters” misstated where Michele Mickiewicz works. She is with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. News Briefs is compiled by Sun staffers from staff reporting and local and national media. Information should…
United Blood Services asking for donations after Jesusita Fire
Like many Santa Barbara businesses, United Blood Services was forced to close down its center for several days during the Jesusita Fire, which also put a halt to several blood drives. These events, coupled with the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, make it imperative to boost the local blood supply, according to a recent press release…
Santa Maria Chrysler dealerships spared from chopping block
A Santa Maria Chrysler dealership can heave a huge sigh of relief after being notified earlier this month that it will not be listed among the nearly 800 national dealers slated for closure in June. Bruce Porter, co-owner of Iverson Motors Chrysler Jeep and Dodge dealership in Santa Maria, said he is “very happy” to…
Santa Maria man accused of running Ponzi scheme ordered to make retribution payments
A Santa Maria judge has ordered longtime Santa Maria businessman Michael Wilson to pay more than $100,000 to Central Coast residents Fern Borgsdorf and Gordon Henderson. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed in March by Borgsdorf and Henderson accusing Wilson of “fraud, bad faith, and negligence,” according to court documents. The lawsuit…
VTC Enterprises unveils design for future facility
VTC Enterprises—a Santa Maria-based nonprofit offering programs and services to people living with disabilities—broke ground on a new life services facility May 14, despite strong, Santa Maria-style gusts of wind. A group of local officials, VTC employees and clients, and other community members met at the future site—a vacant parking lot on the nonprofit’s A…
Cult of ‘cue
Arriving a bit early this year, Memorial Day offers the perfect excuse for spending an afternoon in the sunshine with friends, relatives, and fellow foodies, as we honor our nation’s deceased soldiers. So pour a cold drink, light the grill, and get ready to kick off the summer, Central Coast style. At parks, beaches and…
You really like them
PCPA asked and the community opened up its wallet. The PCPA Theaterfest announced it has exceeded its fundraising goal of $200,000 for its scholarships through the ACT NOW! campaign. An outpouring of support from more than 500 donors from throughout the country resulted in $258,000 in contributions as of May 12—well ahead of the original…
Words and pictures collide
Barbra Minar’s one-woman show “Connecting and Changing” will be on display at the C Gallery in Los Alamos. The 33-piece collection of reflective collage and assemblage is accompanied by original poems responding to each piece of visual art. A poetry reading will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 23 at the gallery…
