Cover Story
The mystery of the Lompoc Pen
It was foggy on Feb. 10, 2012. Correctional officer Ryan Vargas showed up for work at the Lompoc federal prison for a 6 a.m. shift. He’d been back on the job just more than a month, fresh off of an extended leave for depression and stress. Less than two hours later, Vargas was dead, his…
On the roster
• Turkey Trot: Runners of all ages and skill levels will be putting their fitness to the test at the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department’s 16th Annual Turkey Trot Fun Run on Nov. 17. Runners age 15 and older can sign up for the 5K race, which begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Hagerman…
Las Flores Ranch resumes fall hours
The city of Santa Maria announced that Los Flores Ranch Park would begin its fall and winter schedule of operation starting on Nov. 4. From then until March 10, 2013, park hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday, with the last entry at 4 p.m. Guided nature walks will continue on…
Athlete of the Week: Seth Kena
Allan Hancock College forward Seth Kena is going with the flow. And since that flow has taken him to seven goals in six games, the strategy seems to be paying off. Kena—originally from Ghana, more recently from the East Coast—came to the area in July to play basketball for the Bulldogs. Practice started in early…
From coast to coast
John Byrne, a Nipomo firefighting engineer, was tired and yawned heavily during an interview with the Sun. But it’s not his job that’s making it hard for him to stay awake. Byrne, a native of Newark, Calif., recently returned from a 36-day marathon bike ride from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge. The…
Rendezvous and revel
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society has served as a stalwart cornerstone for the musical community in the Santa Maria Valley. The group’s dedication—not just to providing high-quality performances of classical music, but to outreach aimed at young musicians and students—is what makes the society a truly invaluable asset. With characteristic generosity, the Santa Maria Philharmonic…
Finding footing
When you’re young and beautiful, you can’t fathom that there will come a time when you stop and reflect on your place in the world. After all, the world revolves around you—you already know that. Then one day, bam!, you’re sitting in the middle of a vineyard, sipping wine and having deep philosophical conversations about…
Trimbath’s on display at Hancock
The work of Patrick Trimbath will be featured in an exhibit called “All Things Shall Come to Pass,” hanging through Nov. 30 in the Ann Foxworthy Gallery, building L-South at Allan Hancock College. Trimbath, a Pismo Beach resident, is a part-time instructor at both Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College, teaching drawing, art appreciation, and…
See the modern abstract work of Dara Mark
The latest C Gallery exhibit features samples from 22 years of the art of modern abstractionist, Dara Mark, in the show titled, “Dara Mark 1986–2008,” set to open Saturday, Nov. 10, with a reception open to the public from 4 to 6 p.m. at The C Gallery, 466 Bell St. in Los Alamos. Once local…
Find gifts of ethnic art
The Lompoc Museum and La Purisima Mission docents are holding the second collaborative Ethnic Arts Marketplace in downtown Lompoc on Friday, Nov. 9, from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Stone Pine Hall, 210 South H St. in Lompoc. The public is invited to shop for…
Bullitt time
Local author Tony Piazza’s books are Anything Short of Murder, a mystery novel written in the style of the 1940s pulp detective thrillers, and The Curse of the Crimson Dragon, an Ian Fleming-style adventure novel. The stories usher readers into a world of action and adventure. His latest book also features an action hero, but…
Reading the Diary
In a world of technological advances capable of creating devastating weapons, one of the most powerful weapons remains something innate to humans: a voice. Sometimes that voice starts simply and quietly, as in a diary, before building in power. Other times it starts out as a personal, yet powerful testament that delivers a great message…
Lincoln’s speech still resonates today
This election, this moment in history, reminds me of Abraham Lincoln’s words in the Gettysburg Address. There is much at stake, and much can be lost. Romney understands wealth and how the rich can hold onto and grow their wealth. He showed in his 25 years running Bain Capital that he was willing to sacrifice…
Make the call for Romney
Please phone your relatives and friends this weekend. Catch up on their lives. Tell them about yours. Then ask how they intend to vote. If they are positively behind the current guy, leave it alone. But if they are undecided, please urge them to vote for Romney. Tell them your reasons in simple terms. This…
Californians want to know what they’re eating
Ads against Prop 37 don’t mention what type of food is being labeled. They don’t use the words “genetically modified organisms” or “GMOs.” That’s because Monsanto, Dow Chemical, and DuPont know consumers are widely in favor of knowing when their food has been genetically altered by a giant chemical corporation. Consumers in Australia, Europe, Japan,…
Americans want prosperity, not socialism
The pressing issues before us in the national election for president are the same as we voters and taxpayers all face at the local levels. Shortage of jobs, less income, higher deficits, and more taxes are driving the selection of candidates in the up-and-coming local elections as at the national level. Unless we as voters…
Peter Adam has my support
Every election is important, but in this election there are races and propositions, the outcomes of which are absolutely critical to the fate of our nation, state, county, and local jurisdictions. A key race in determining our future in Santa Barbara County is the race for supervisor of the 4th District. I have known my…
We can’t go wrong with Gray
I am voting to re-elect Supervisor Joni Gray for the Santa Barbara County 4th district. She has represented us well for the past 14 years. We need her expertise on the Board of Supervisors during this economic turndown. Now is not the time to change. Joni is smart and understands the issues. She does her…
Keep Joni Gray in office
I was amazed when I received my mail recently, which included a political flyer titled “Attention: Republicans Election Day Voting Guide.” The implication was that the persons and propositions included therein were endorsed by the Republican Party. Do not be fooled; make sure you read the fine print with regard to the (*), which states…
Local high school students score big
A perfect score is something worth recognizing, whether it’s pitching a perfect game, scoring 300 points when bowling, or answering all the questions correctly on a test. Santa Maria Joint Union High School District officials recently honored 200 students who received perfect scores on their California High School Exit Exams. Students from Santa Maria, Righetti,…
Santa Barbara County superintendent Cirone wins top award
The state’s top superintendents consider Santa Barbara County Superintendent Bill Cirone a champion. The California County Superintendents Educational Services Association recognized Cirone with the 2012 Champion’s Award earlier this month. The award is given each year to an individual who is considered “a champion of public education and the students of California.” “I consider it…
Pioneer Valley panthers talk STEM
Three Pioneer Valley High School students took the spotlight at a Oct. 12 UC Santa Barbara science conference for projects they developed and researched during the school’s Summer Science Institute. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) conference attracted about 500 people from throughout Northern Santa Barbara County, as well as some of the state’s…
Hobnobbing with Helen
The committee for the second annual Bippity Boppity Boo Ball, held on Saturday evening, Oct. 27, at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, cooked up a cauldron of creativity. The Decorating Dream Team of Courtney Arensdorf, Leigh Collier, and Tania Kim transformed the Discovery Museum into a cute, clever, and fun party site complete with…
Get into the holiday spirit
As the holiday season begins this month, there’s no better way to get into the spirit than with a big meal, wine, and an opportunity to give to people in need. On Nov. 10, the Santa Maria Country Club will provide an opportunity to merrily indulge in all of these festivities next to like-minded individuals.…
Spotlight on: OstrichLand USA
Between vineyards and horse ranches on Route 246 in Buellton sits a scene more out of Africa than California wine country. On the dry land that stretches out toward the Santa Ynez Mountains, scores of large dark figures dot the golden brush and tan dirt. These are not the cows that once formed the backbone…
Lompoc school board candidates weigh in
Academic improvement status, sexual harassment among teens, sex education, and budget cuts are among the issues facing the Lompoc Unified School District. With three open seats on the school board, the Sun sent each of the candidates a list of questions designed to learn more about their platforms. Included are excerpts from a biography of…
Willow Road interchange is open for business
It’s been an infrastructure improvement project 30 years in the making, but when the ribbon was cut for the U.S. Highway 101/Willow Road interchange in Nipomo on Oct. 26, one state legislator pivotal to the project compared the opening to the birth of his eldest child. Crews broke ground on the final phase of the…
5Cities Homeless Coalition presents plans for a day shelter in Oceano
Members of the 5Cities Homeless Coalition were expected to discuss the potential construction of a homeless day shelter on Nipomo Street in Oceano at the Oct. 30 meeting of the Oceano Advisory Council. According to a press release, the coalition is proposing a 20,000-square-foot center, to be funded in part by a $1.5 million Klaparoad…
Broadcast company, former meteorologist come to terms
Former KCOY/KKFX meteorologist Jim Byrne said he had reached an agreement with Cowles California Media Company, which he sued earlier this year, claiming officials breached his contract when they terminated his position at the broadcast news station in January. Byrne said he was bound by the terms of the early-October agreement, which stipulated that he…
Surf Beach reopens after fatal shark attack
After being closed as a precaution, Surf Beach near Vandenberg Air Force Base reopened on Oct. 26, three days after a great white shark attack claimed the life of a 39-year-old Orcutt man. According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, Francisco Javier Solorio, Jr., was surfing with several friends at Surf Beach around 11…
Local residents join the Hurricane Sandy relief effort
Two Central Coast residents are braving the high winds and pelting rains of Hurricane Sandy to help people in need. American Red Cross volunteers Kristiana Almeida of Santa Barbara and Eleanor Guzik of Ventura were recently deployed to the East Coast to serve at shelters in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respectively. Almeida is in Tinton…
Industrial chic
My favorite discovery this year, made while exploring the back roads of wine country, has to be Avant Tapas and Wine. The contemporary restaurant and bar is at the end of Industrial Way in Buellton, upstairs at Terravant Wine Company—a large, 5-year-old custom crush winery that produces 300,000 cases of wine a year. Much of…
If you could write in anyone for president, who would it be?
Heather Brieske banker “[Republican Congressman] Marco Rubio because I really like what he stands for.” Judy Flatley housewife “Anyone but who’s running. They just don’t have good people running for president anymore.” Bud Webb communications “At first I want to say something stupid like Mickey Mouse or Goofy … but I got to say Mitt…
