Cover Story
Life’s a stage: Actors work to earn a living on the Central Coast
It was the 1980s and teenager Mark Booher decided to audition for PCPA’s (The Pacific Conservatory Theatre) summer cast in Santa Maria. “I remember sitting there thinking, ‘These people are a lot better than me,’” Booher said. He was right. Booher didn’t make the cut that year. But a decade or so later, he returned…
The Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos open new Cultural Center, realizing a longtime goal
Marina Washburn, director for the Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos (DANA), lived in Nipomo until she left for college at UC Santa Cruz. “It was time, and I was ready to get out of this little town,” Washburn said. As DANA prepared for the grand opening of its new cultural center on May 20, Washburn reflected on…
Artist Taffy French-Gray brings her seaside portraits to Valley Art Gallery
Taffy French-Gray is ready for her close-up. After some hesitation and few quick adjustments, the artist proudly poses next to her work, a series of deceptively charming seaside portraits. She is bubbly and happy to chat about her new exhibit, which runs through June at the Valley Art Gallery in Orcutt. French-Gray is the featured…
Lompoc Youth Theater to perform benefit concert for upcoming production
When you have a group of young people starving for the stage, it’s not that hard to rope them into an extra performance. At least, that’s what Lompoc Youth Theater (LYT) Producer and Director Sarah Raines figured after she auditioned a group of youngsters to join the summer program, which is set to perform a…
Sheriff Brown leads pack in Santa Barbara County sheriff’s election finances
Sheriff Bill Brown may face a tough challenge in the upcoming June primary election as he squares off against two of his own lieutenants, but in terms of finances, he is coasting to victory. As of May 25, Santa Barbara’s incumbent sheriff had raised more than a quarter million dollars with roughly $93,000 cash on…
U.S. House of Representatives to revisit 2018 Farm Bill after recent bipartisan rejection
After months of nationwide community outreach and internal negotiations, the U.S. House of Representatives voted down the 2018 Farm Bill on May 18, leaving the Central Coast’s agricultural industry facing various uncertainties. The bill, which acts as the federal government’s primary nutrition and agricultural policy-making tool, is updated by Congress every five years. This year’s…
Fareed far ahead of Woody, still trails Carbajal in campaign money
The June 5 primary election between Justin Fareed and Michael Erin Woody for the Republican side of the ticket for California’s 24th Congressional District is in the final stretch, with the South County’s Fareed far ahead of his opponent. According to the most recent campaign filings, Fareed has raised significantly more than his opponent, with…
Greka in spotlight again following ruling, Stoker appointment
A federal judge ordered HVI Cat Canyon Inc., formerly known as Greka Oil and Gas, to pay $2.2 million to Santa Barbara County with interest to cover costs associated with spills at its Santa Maria facilities. The ruling came from U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin in Los Angeles on May 19, and settles at least…
The Bread Shop in Solvang hits a sweet spot
It’s not necessary to know the exact location of The Bread Shop in Solvang. The smell alone will practically lead you right to their front door. Inside the unassuming shop on Atterdag, just off the busy intersections of the main thruway, a glass barrier teases onlookers with promises of fresh baked treats. A healthy stack…
Water awareness school poster contest winners announced
Santa Maria’s Utilities Department recently announced the winners of the ninth annual Water Awareness School Poster Contest for third grade students enrolled in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. Students were invited to compete by creating posters symbolizing Water Awareness Month and showing the importance of water conservation indoors, outdoors, and in the community. Student winners,…
Santa Maria offers free teen arts mentorship program
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department and The Arts Fund are offering the Free Teen Arts Mentorship Program for aspiring teen artists ages 13 to 18 this summer. Teens will have the opportunity to work with mentor Angelina LaPointe while exploring printmaking and how it connects to the worlds of graphic design,…
Red, blue, and green
How do you spot a true political outsider? It’s easy—whichever candidate isn’t sitting on a mountain of money! I see an interesting parallel between two races for completely different offices happening right now—the 24th Congressional District (see page 7) and the Santa Barbara County sheriff (page 4). Both races feature incumbents comfortably perched on stacks…
Spotlight on: Foxen Canyon Soap Company
It’s not often that someone starts a business primarily to save money on common household items. But that’s exactly what motivated Ellowyn Isaacson to jump feet first into the world of soapmaking. “I wanted to replace our soap with a more natural alternative, and after seeing the prices on the market, decided it was more…
Inspire Business Program lets businesses support foster families
Santa Maria resident Jessica Wasylychyn has temporarily cared for more than 35 children since she became a foster parent four years ago, and even in that short time, Wasylychyn said she’s learned to count her blessings. “It’s so mind-blowing what these kids have not experienced that we take for granted,” Wasylychyn told the Sun. “Like…
Will Rodgers
Solvang native Will Rodgers was inducted on May 15 into the NASCAR Next class of 2018-2019, a program that spotlights the best and brightest young drivers in NASCAR racing. Rodgers, 23, won his first and second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events—Watkins Glen and New Jersey Motorsports Park—in 2017, according to Matt Humphrey of NASCAR’s…
Political Watch 5/31/18
• Santa Barbara County voters who wish to vote in the June 5 primary but didn’t register by the May 21 deadline can take advantage of California’s conditional voter registration, also known as same-day voter registration, now through June 5. Registration can be done online, but a visit to one of the county elections offices…
Hobnobbing with Helen: Very merry month of May
This has been a month chockablock full of happenings. Among them were the fifth annual Make-a-Wish Foundation Golf Tournament, the Breakfast Rotary Club’s fabled annual Luau and Barn Party, and Community Partners in Caring’s 20th Birthday Celebration. These are only three of a series of events that deserved our attention. Worthy of note were also…
Hundreds of Allan Hancock College students win scholarships, graduate
More than 300 Allan Hancock College students received 410 scholarships worth a total of nearly $500,000 at the Allan Hancock College Foundation Scholarship Banquet on May 24. Hundreds of Hancock faculty, staff, scholarship donors, and students and their families filled the Joe White Memorial Gymnasium to celebrate another round of scholastic awards. “I’d like to…
Big Truck Foods up and running despite destructive truck fire
An accidental fire caused an estimated $25,000 in damages to a local food truck on May 27, but the owners plan to get back to business as soon as possible. Robert Slores, owner of Big Truck Foods, said his favorite of two food trucks was parked in the driveway of his house on the northwest…
Make America grateful again
Memorial Day was first widely observed in May 1868, and serves as an opportunity to honor all who have died in service for our nation. I believe there is not a more appropriate time to respond to a letter in the Santa Maria Times claiming President Trump recognizes our Vietnam War veterans. If that was…
Reply to Alena Simon
We were disappointed to see a recent letter criticizing Aera’s financial support of Mission Hope Cancer Center and questioning our company’s motives for doing so (“AERA Energy’s efforts at greenwashing don’t fool cancer survivors,” May 23). While we understand there are differences of opinion regarding energy production in Santa Barbara County, we hope that those…
Food trucks in Santa Maria
Many people, with short time and money, enjoy the convenience of food trucks. The offerings are often fresh, diverse, and tasty. If the city is smart, it will work hard to locate land to place food trucks around work areas. Restaurants will always complain about the competition. Let them open their own trucks.
Carbajal’s foreign influence
George Soros, the Hungarian-American billionaire investor and business magnate, known for his donations to Democratic candidates and liberal causes, is shoring up the 24th District’s Salud Carbajal’s campaign funds with donations through his son, Jonathan Soros. Others from the foreign country of Hollywood are doing the same. With all this foreign money we can expect…
Christensen has my support
I worked for Santa Barbara County for more than 36 years in the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector.� I dedicated my career to protecting our county funds. The Treasurer-Tax Collector works directly with the Auditor-Controller’s Office to account for tax and other revenues collected and invested. During my long tenure with the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office,…
Vote Bill Brown for sheriff
We hired Bill Brown to protect us, and he has done as good or better than any sheriff has ever done. The last thing we need is to experiment with a new sheriff. California has a total of only 58 sheriffs. Choosing the right and best person to lead and represent them is a decision…
Vote Christensen, Olmstead on June 5
I would like to give my endorsements in the upcoming election to Jennifer Christensen for auditor-controller and Brian Olmstead for sheriff. I have known Jennifer for the five years I have served as supervisor. She has been a trustworthy steward of county finances as chief investment officer with more than $1.6 billion under her able…
