Cover Story
Kicking it: Alumni of the Cabrillo High School varsity soccer team shake off that turkey dinner by gathering to play soccer and raise funds for the current team
Shortly after the turkey is put away and the pumpkin pie is polished off, a group of loyal Cabrillo High School Conquistadores—husbands, fathers, and grandfathers—lace up, suit up, and show up for the annual Cabrillo Alumni Soccer Game. For nearly 40 years, former and current Cabrillo varsity soccer players have taken a break from the…
Former inmate at Santa Barbara County jail sues Corizon Health
A former inmate at the Santa Barbara County Jail who was incarcerated with a broken leg is suing the county and jail staff for alleged medical neglect. In a lawsuit filed on Oct. 29, Gaik Sokhikian says his repeated requests to jail staff to see a doctor were ignored and, as a result, he now…
As a Santa Marian, what is your favorite thing to do in Lompoc?
Beatriz Martinez hair stylist “I don’t do it often, but I like going to the retirement home and visiting the people. It’s a great one where they speak both languages.” Candice Payne manicurist “I really like to enjoy whatever the community has going on with the arts: the Lompoc Civic Theatre, murals, the art gallery,…
Sanchez School celebrates veterans
On Friday, Nov. 6, Sanchez School held its annual Veterans Day celebration. The school invited local veterans to be their honored guests that morning. The veterans were introduced at an assembly and then students honored the vets through songs, poems, and essays. The keynote speaker was Veronica West, the veterans’ counselor at Allan Hancock College.…
Santa Maria High School FFA dairy team wins big at national convention
Santa Maria High School FFA dairy team members are now national champions, marking a first time since the start of the school’s FFA Chapter in 1931. The team earned the first place honor after competing against state champions from 39 other states during the two-day national contest at the FFA National Convention in Louisville, Ky.,…
Spotlight on: 4M Innovations
Sometimes people go through mid-life career shifts and when that happens, it often requires a little creativity to keep the income flow going. That happened to Santa Maria resident Mario Alonso—a couple of times, actually. When Alonso came to New York City from Guatemala on a student visa in 1971, he studied computer programming. Then…
Hobnobbing with Helen
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society’s annual gala fundraiser—Fandango, held on Saturday evening, Nov. 7, at the Santa Maria Country Club—deserves a huge round of applause. Fandango had it all—a lively mix of good music, good food, great wine, unusual entertainment, and more than 100 guests who support the Philharmonic. With her customary fervor and flair,…
Political Watch 11/12/2015
• Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) joined her West Coast colleagues in introducing legislation to permanently ban offshore drilling on the Pacific Coast. The West Coast Ocean Protection Act would permanently protect the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts by amending the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit new oil or natural gas leases in…
Community Notebook 11/12/15 – 11/19/15
TUESDAY, NOV. 17 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. • The Santa Maria City Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 110 E. Cook St.,…
Free speech at issue in Orcutt rapper’s case
Even in a digital era where the Internet has arguably advanced the freedom of expression on a global scale, the boundaries of what is and isn’t acceptable aren’t always clear. Take Orcutt rapper Anthony Murillo, for example, who—after more than two years of appeals—may end up facing a criminal trial for a rap song he…
Correction
In the story, “Betting with booze” published on Nov. 5, it should have said the Chumash Casino does not offer craps or roulette on the betting floor.
Solvang winemaker suspected of embezzlement and tax fraud
A Solvang winemaker and former manager for a downtown Santa Barbara winery is facing criminal charges following a joint investigation between state and county law enforcement. Santa Barbara County Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood said 41-year-old Christian Garvin was arrested on Nov. 5 following an investigation into the winemaker’s finances that began in 2013. …
Buellton to clarify law banning short-term rentals
Soon, it’ll be completely illegal to rent out your home to vacationers in Buellton. On Nov. 5, the city planning commission voted to send a recommendation to City Council that it ban short-term vacation rentals. The ban will affect San Francisco-based Airbnb and other short-term rental companies, banning them from operating in Buellton. According to…
Man accused of murder loses appeal
A man convicted in the gang stabbing death of Alberto Diaz Jr. near a Santa Maria hotel several years ago lost an appeal to overturn his convictions of second degree murder and dissuading a witness. In his appeal to California’s 2nd Appellate Court, Christopher Michael Brewer contended that the gang-affiliation questions asked of him during…
Santa Maria awarded $50,000 grant for pedestrian safety
Santa Maria was awarded a $50,000 grant by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to help address pedestrian safety in the city. The Santa Maria Police Department will use the funds to implement a targeted public safety campaign throughout the community, according to a press release from the city. “Reducing the number of pedestrian…
Caesar Hernandez
Two years ago Caesar Hernandez decided to find purpose in life. He wanted to make a difference in the lives of others—like he had in his own life—through health and fitness. In his living room with one client, he started Life Purpose Boot Camp and now he helps dozens of Central Coast residents change their…
Fit fads: The Benchwarmer is fed up with marketing gimmicks and weight loss contraptions
As I sit here on my beloved piece of pine bench, I think back to four years ago when my health mission officially began. Back in those days, the pine bench would have sagged beneath the unhealthy 185 pounds that I carried around. People have often asked me, “How did you do it?” More times…
Locals can use social media to get foodie series to visit Santa Maria
The Santa Maria Valley Visitor and Convention Bureau shared the details of Visit California’s (the state’s official tourism bureau) new “foodie” video series hosted by Chase Ramsey, which relies on social media to find California cities with the best food. The series, California Dream Eater, recently piloted on Visit California’s website and YouTube and is…
Vaquero Show and Sale to feature crafts, horse masters, and poetry
The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum celebrates its 31st annual Vaquero Show and Sale event Nov. 13 through 15 at the museum, which will become an epicenter of vaquero and cowboy culture for the weekend. Vaquero is the name for the California cowboys of the Mission and Rancho periods in the state’s history, when the…
Lompoc Museum updates and renovates collection of native American artifacts
The Lompoc Museum may not appear any different from the outside—it’s hardly changed since the building was constructed as a Carnegie Library more than a century ago in 1911—but its upper floor showcasing local and national Native American artifacts is getting a facelift, with most of the display cases in the place receiving a much-needed…
Allan Hancock professor brings in tough life issues with break out novel, ‘Red Tide’
Growing up is hard. It’s even harder when you and your best friend witness a murder during your final years of high school in Southern California. Red Tide, the breakout novel of Allan Hancock College Professor and Arroyo Grande resident Mark James Miller, was published in September and takes the reader on a journey through…
The Central Coast Chordsmen holds fundraisers for the chorus and Youth in Harmony program
Anyone who visits Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab in Orcutt on the evening of Nov. 12 is in for a treat beyond the confectionery creations the shop is know for. Members of the Central Coast Chordsmen—the local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society—will serve ice cream from 6 to 9 p.m., stacking sweet harmonies in…
Conned into the cabbage patch
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least, that’s what that seasonal holiday song would have you believe. Yes folks, another year has come to its inevitable end—which means getting ready for the holidays. Be it Hanukkah or Christmas, or in my case both, we all have shopping to do, followed by wrapping,…
Santa Maria’s native son James Ontiveros celebrates 10 years of the winery he helped found, Alta Maria Vineyards
You would be hard pressed to find a better cheerleader for the Santa Maria Valley than James Ontiveros. The cowboy-turned-respected-viticulturist and vintner feels right at home here, and with good reason. On St. Mary’s Day, 1855, it was his great, great, great, great grandfather, Don Juan Pacifico Ontiveros, who set foot on Rancho Tepusquet, an…
Vile season
If you’re not running for president, but you’re a candidate in another race, then there’s no need to attend a debate. After all, Donald Trump won’t be there to make it interesting. It’ll just be you, Katcho Achadjian, and Matt Kokkonen if you’re running as a Republican in the primary to snag the soon-to-be open…
Reward offered in Santa Maria cruelty case
Members of the animal rescue and welfare community, and Santa Barbara County Animal Services are asking the community to help find the person or persons responsible for the recent mutilation and death of a rooster. On Oct. 26 a Santa Maria resident discovered a paper bag in the middle of an intersection in Santa Maria.…
Bullet train or water?
As the drought worsens, I wonder how committed our state politicians and lawmakers are to our health and well-being. If concerned as they say WE should be, then they should be doing some SERIOUS planning. It seems to me that they aren’t focused on water or a drought that will not only affect California, but…
Learning to take half a loaf
Agriculture in Northern Santa Barbara County, or the Colonies as I refer to us, had a bad day at the Oct. 13 Board of Supervisors meeting. Along the usual 3-2 lines, I lost my bid to legalize 4,500 acres of existing berry hoops and to preserve the ability of farmers to innovate and evolve to…
