Cover Story
Manning the missiles: The men and women of the U.S. Air Force missileer community provide a watch against an improbable nuclear attack
Men wearing green jumpsuits stand in the elevator, descending 60 feet into a bunker deep under the ground at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The door opens to a dim, cave-like structure. The ceiling is low, the air is cold, and the walls are painted with murals of custom-designed mission patches. Beyond the darkness is a…
‘Lend Me a Tenor the Musical’ brings a big hit to PCPA
It would be almost impossible to claim to not like Lend Me a Tenor the Musical. To do so would mean turning one’s nose up at the original and legendary Broadway comedy written by Ken Ludwig, from which the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s current musical production was adapted. A musical, Broadway or otherwise, should leave you…
What do you think about the recent rocket launches at Vandenberg?
Ariana Kadir barista “I think it’s all kind of scary and unnecessary. We’ve gotten more progressive as a country, but it’s sad to see things take a turn in a different direction.” Sharon Olson retired teacher “I just recently moved here and am not totally familiar with what goes on at the base, but those…
Dead democracies require ill-informed electorates
As Elizabeth Schneider (“District elections are here, like it or not,” April 20) and her ilk would say, Santa Marians such as myself are “three steps behind where we are now.” I am sure that is akin to the excuses that the “democratic government of Venezuela” gives for its failed people’s trampling ways? Though, like…
All the meats: Santa Maria’s first barbecue festival showcased the very best
Sing it from the mountaintops, fellow residents. Santa Maria finally has its very own barbecue festival. On the weekend of April 22, visitors filled Pioneer Park for the first ever Santa Maria Barbecue Festival and Brews and Cue. Started by the Santa Maria Kiwanis Club as a fundraiser for Kiwanis for Kids, the event featured…
Warheads
What kind of a person are you? Did you giddily stay up until midnight to catch the latest Minuteman III launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, like a kid waiting for Santa Claus? Or did you sleep like a baby through the test launch of one of the world’s most technologically advanced weapons systems happening…
Spotlight on: Sisters Gifts and Home
Natural light filters in through the windows of the historic home-turned-antique-store Sisters Gift and Home, creating a tranquil, airy environment that would lead anyone to lose track of time while leisurely wandering around. Owner Ana Lomeli Curiel recently moved her business from Orcutt into the oldest home in Los Alamos after her lease ended and…
Dog days of dancing
It is said that eons ago, packs of wild dogs who were competitors for food with early man made the cunning decision to ingratiate themselves to our ancient ancestors. Facing certain death, dogs allied themselves with men, showing they were valuable tools for hunting prey. The alliance proved successful to both species, and in the…
Riders in the Sky bring classic cowboy music to Solvang
Classic cowboy band Riders in the Sky doesn’t always perform outdoors, but when they do, they bring their own campfire. That’s according to Ranger Doug, guitarist and lead singer for Riders in the Sky, which performs at the open-air Solvang Festival Theater on May 5. It’s just another stop on the trail the band has…
PCPA seeks summer housing for actors and technicians
The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) needs housing for incoming summer actors, technicians, and soon-to-be arriving students for its summer season. Anyone with an extra room to spare looking for extra income is encouraged to apply. Requirements are a bedroom with a bed provided, a private or accessible bathroom, and onsite laundry facilities. Walking distance to…
Police point of view: Recent grand jury report reviews police body-worn cameras, doesn’t address release of footage
In a report released on April 18, the Santa Barbara County grand jury stated that police use of body-worn cameras had the “potential of providing greater transparency” for the public and police but did not mention that the footage is technically exempt from public disclosure. During the past few years, civil rights groups have called…
County board seeks clarification on reacquired state water use
On May 2, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to approve a tentative agreement to make the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) the lead agency on reacquiring more than 12,000 acre-feet of surplus water from the state. But first, the supervisors wanted to know if the water was going to be used…
Third Santa Maria man accused of attacking police this year
On April 30, 32-year-old Antonio Sanchez was reportedly cruising in a silver SUV near the intersection of Benwiley and Fesler in Santa Maria, according to the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD), before being pulled over for speeding. He was later accused of ramming his vehicle into the officer’s patrol car. As the SMPD officer walked…
Lompoc extends deadline for Mobile Mural Contest
The entry deadline for the city of Lompoc’s Mobile Mural Contest has been extended to May 12 due to a technical glitch discovered with the email provided for submissions. The glitch has been fixed, but artists who already submitted their works are asked to resubmit to mobilemuralpw@ci.lompoc.ca.us. The city apologized for the inconvenience. The Lompoc…
SBC Arts Commission hosts open house series
The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission (SBCAC) is hosting public open house events in each supervisory district called “Arts Coffee.” The events will provide anyone from the community interested in arts and culture with an opportunity to meet county arts commissioners. The first Arts Coffee took place April 28 at the newly-opened Carpinteria Arts Center…
Righetti High School’s film festival hits 20-year mark
It’s a bold move for any 18-year-old to talk about rape culture in their high school, but Gabby Hendrickson isn’t fazed by anyone’s pearl clutching. The Righetti High School senior’s short film Morning After tackles the subject of rape, chronicling one morning in the life of a young student after she has been attacked. Hendricks…
Dominique Navarrete
Dominique Navarrete of Santa Maria grew up looking up to her older sister, Lilly. When Dominique—now 17—was in third grade, she would watch Lilly play softball almost every weekend. “I wanted to do everything my sister did,” Dominique said. “Her and my mom have always been my heroes, seeing how hard they work and how…
Hancock hopes for postseason: Bulldog softball team secures third conference title in four years after successful season
The best softball team in this year’s Western State Conference calls Santa Maria their hometown. Allan Hancock College’s softball team has separated itself from the Central Coast’s community college competition in 2017 and hopes to carry the success into the postseason, which is set to begin in early May. Led by sweet-swinging shortstop Larissa Ostrander…
Grand jury investigation gives Santa Maria High School benefit of doubt
The Santa Barbara County grand jury found “strained relations” between teachers and administrators at Santa Maria High School (SMHS), according to a jury report released April 26. The report came following an investigation into state grant funds, communication conflicts, and concerns regarding school safety and anti-bullying procedures—most of which the jury found “to be the…
Trump’s offshore drilling plans skirt Pacific region
President Donald Trump’s April 28 executive order seeking new offshore oil and gas drilling leases in the Outer Continental Shelf omitted waters in the Pacific region—at least, for now. The order, called the America-First Offshore Energy Strategy, directs Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to review and consider revising the current five-year moratorium on new…
Lawsuit aims to replenish steelhead habitat
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit on April 26 seeking water releases from Twitchell Dam, aiming to adjust the timing of flows from the Santa Maria River to the ocean to open a migratory path for the endangered Southern California steelhead trout. The plaintiffs, San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper and Los Padres ForestWatch, claim that specific timing…
Leave Carizzo Plain alone
Sad, yet amusing that the only way toxic Republicans could achieve their goals to be as mean-spirited to everyone and everything non-them as possible was to bullshit into office another of their lowlife ilk. A casino guy who once said he would have made a great mafioso, “one of the greatest” (New York Magazine, Nov.…
More missile launches not the answer
Amid mounting tensions between the United States and North Korea, and just one week after a test launch of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the U.S. has scheduled another Minuteman III ICBM missile test for Wednesday, May 3, between 12:01 a.m. and 6:01 a.m. PDT from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Like last week’s test,…
Rebuttal to Kahn
Anyone who disagrees with Adam Kahn (“A Muslim speaks,” April 27) of the Islamic Center of Santa Maria is irresponsible according to Adam Kahn. Only Muslims can tell the truth. Kahn shows his disrespect for our local Christians who criticize the Muslim story of peace and friendliness. His comment that thousands of Christians are becoming…
Trump’s an underachiever
Despite somersaults and cartwheels by the Trump administration to come up with a list of achievements in its first 100 days, the simple fact is that the Donald has accomplished precious little during his presidential honeymoon other than take several trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort where he seems content to brush up on his golf.…
Political Watch 5/4/17
• President Donald Trump announced on April 26 that he signed an executive order asking for a review of previously designated national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906, including the 265 million acres added by the Obama administration through what Trump called “abuse” of the monuments designation. The review would be conducted by the…
