Cover Story
Food, family, and fine wine: Central Coast food and wine industry experts weigh in on what makes the perfect Thanksgiving meal
There’s nothing that matches the feeling of the Thanksgiving holiday. Family togetherness and plenty of good food puts everyone in good spirits. For foodies and wine enthusiasts especially, the Central Coast has plenty for which to give thanks—fresh farm-to-table foods and world-class wines are widely available. To aid in preparing the perfect meal, the…
What’s your favorite beverage to enjoy with your Thanksgiving meal?
Emily Olson AHC English instructor “When I was growing up my family always bought sangria, the fancy grape soda.” Will Jevne construction laborer “Sparkling apple cider!” Catalina Perez AHC student “My family likes to drink non-alcoholic sparkling juice.” Cayla Salazar Spencer’s service deli “I like a nice glass of merlot with my turkey!”
Political Watch 11/19/2015
• Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) submitted a letter along with 104 co-signers to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights urging a strong interpretation and enforcement of a proposed rule to protect LGBT individuals from health care discrimination. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led 20 senators in sending a…
Community Notebook 11/19/15 – 11/26/15
MONDAY, NOV. 23 • The South County Advisory Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Services District Headquarters, 148 S. Wilson St., Nipomo. • The Solvang City Council has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. agendas are available at cityofsolvang.com. TUESDAY,…
Vacant Neverland Ranch property for sale
The long-vacant buildings that sit at 5225 Figueroa Mountain Road—formerly known as Neverland Ranch but renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch—may soon get a new resident now that the property has hit the market. The property has sat virtually unoccupied since 2003, when it was searched by at least 70 police officers from the Santa Barbara County…
Angel of Hope annual memorial service set for Dec. 5
When Suzanne Sam de St. Jean’s son, Michael, died in a motorcycle accident in 2012, she and her husband, Glenn, turned to their local church for solace. They soon found a place and community that brought them needed relief. Angel of Hope is a statue at Santa Maria Cemetery that serves as a tribute to…
Lawsuit alleges Santa Barbara County Main Jail inmate denied mental health screening
For the second time in less than a week, a former inmate at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail has filed a lawsuit against Corizon Health, the Tennessee-based company contracted to provide medical services for inmates at the jail. This time, a man diagnosed with schizophrenia alleges that he was denied an adequate mental health…
Development firm criticizes California Space Center project
The California Space Center (CSC), the proposed $460 million space-themed educational center intended to bring tourism to Lompoc, is drawing some criticism from a California-based real estate development firm. Eva Blaisdell, the Polish national and chief executive officer of CSC, wants to build a complex—essentially a theme park—consisting of a rocket launch viewing facility, a…
Third suspect charged in connection to homicide near Allan Hancock College campus
Santa Barbara County district attorneys charged a third suspect in connection to the murder of a man near Allan Hancock College. Two former Hancock College basketball players have already been charged. Deputy District Attorney Tim Covello confirmed to the Sun that Justin Armwood, 21, was charged with accessory after the fact of murder. Armwood’s charge…
Sun challenges readers to contribute to Foodbank holiday drive
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s director of operations issued an email to its staff on Nov. 16 that detailed the amount of food the entity delivered to local relief organizations as well the number of donations received for the annual holiday food drive. The email, which the Foodbank shared with the Sun, showed how…
Spotlight on: SCORE
There’s that saying, “Nothing in life is ever free.” While this idea may seem obvious to a capitalist’s point of view, the nation’s economy gets a lot of flow from the free advice that’s offered by a nonprofit dedicated to helping first-time entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. Formerly known as the Service Corps…
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board votes to refinance bonds
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education voted to refinance outstanding general obligation bonds at its Nov. 10 meeting, a move that will save property owners more than $600,000 in future tax bills. The refunding bonds, which total about $12 million, were authorized by voters in November of 2000 and used…
Care for our Earth grants available
What do implementing a youth bicycle program, planting a drought-tolerant garden, and using solar kits to measure energy have in common? Envisioned by Santa Barbara County teachers and funded by Care for Our Earth grants, those environmental service projects were among dozens last year that showed local students the importance of saving energy, cutting traffic…
Migrant Education Program’s event at Santa Maria Fairpark to celebrate farmworkers
Day of the Farm Worker, a free event sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Education Office’s Migrant Education Program and its community partners, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Santa Maria Fairpark. This family event will provide attendees access to free medical, dental, and vision exams; physical…
Students collect socks for those in need
Students at Oakley School collected more than 400 pairs of new socks for children and adults in need in Santa Maria. The students in Cathy Cooley and Sharon Kuhbander’s fifth grade classes at Oakley were recently working on a unit called “Where Do I Belong?” about how people can make a difference in their community.…
Shortness of vision
Can we just scrap the entire North County Jail project and start over again? No? Crap. It’s an absolute mess. Absolutely. I watched the Nov. 19 Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting with a mixture of boredom, shock, and head shaking confusion. Yes, that’s how I watch all of the supes meetings. But when…
Don’t forget to honor veterans
Veterans Day has come and gone. Where were all of the flags honoring our veterans? It is a shame our business and our residential folks do not take the time to fly Old Glory. Our veterans have gone to war save us from harm. Many gave their lives for our freedom, yet some do not…
Guadalupe council’s actions unacceptable
The letter I wrote Oct. 2 to Sun Staff Writer David Minsky was to get more information out of City Hall. And yes, this city administrator says we don’t have a lot of money. And yes, three Measures in November 2014, 77 percent voted for the three measures: • Measure X: Raised city sales tax…
Man-made climate change is a myth
In spite of all the doom and gloom, it’s obvious that man-made climate change is nothing but a myth. The National Academy of Sciences says that “because of climate change the cities and homes of millions of Americans will be under water, maybe sooner than expected, and the process can’t be stopped.” The World Bank…
Santa Maria Civic Ballet presents ‘Nutcracker’ at the Clark Center Thanksgiving weekend
When Santa Maria Civic Ballet Marketing Director Carole Zink says, “Everybody can dance,” she means it whole heartedly. Throughout the years, Carole has seen dancers of every age take the stage—and when it comes to the annual Nutcracker Christmas performance—everyone wants a little taste of the spotlight. One young girl, about 3 years old, was…
The Pacific Conservatory Theatre presents its holiday season opening production of ‘Cinderella’
The classic Cinderella is beloved not just for its charm—the film came out in 1950—but also for the revival it received on the stage in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s setting in 1965. PCPA The Pacific Conservatory Theatre is in the privileged position to bring a new, reconceived version of the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein version with…
Little money
I’m three months into doggy ownership, and my wallet has quickly realized that pets are expensive. This sudden drop of funds in my bank account has instigated the dog’s new nickname, Little Money. She’s a little dog, and all she does is cost me money. Now, I’m not talking about the obvious costs like dog…
Sound on Sound bring their century-spanning repertoire to Temple Beth El
There are those musicians among us, who never really seem like they are working, no matter the number of hours they are slated to play. These performers are completely in the moment, not just embodying the love for the art, but truly connecting with each person listening by actually engaging their minds, arguably what all…
Wildling Museum offers natural history and photography field class
The Wildling Museum is offering a field class at Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve, an event that melds natural history and photography, on Nov. 21. The light hike will include a visit to the UC Natural Reserve part at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh where naturalists Dr. Fred Emerson and Larry Ballard will lead an interpretive hike…
DANA Cultural Center receives Governor’s Historic Preservation award
The DANA Cultural Center in Nipomo was chosen as the standout location for a special award given by the governor’s office each year. DANA received the 2015 Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation, which cited the nonprofit’s efforts to restore the aged building as the reason for the distinction. The DANA Cultural Center is the site…
The Spoon Trade in Grover Beach is a funky fun slice o’ Americana
At The Spoon Trade American Eatery, the first thing you’ll notice is the cluster of antique spoons dangling in the foyer. They’re silver, gunmetal, slate, battleship—and all hues in-between. Some capture the Grover Beach light and throw it back with dazzling intensity. Others have seen better days. All are special if you ask Chef Jacob…
Jaxon Mosqueda
It’s difficult being 8 years old. There’s school and homework, and of course, practice. For Jaxon Mosqueda that means nearly three hours of weekly gymnastics practice. Jaxon has been involved in gymnastics at KT’s All-Star Gymnastics in the Santa Maria Town Center mall for nearly two years. And though he admits it’s a lot of…
Santa Maria plays host to the CCYFL Super Bowl
Football fans still have a few months until the season culminates in the Super Bowl, but for fans of youth football the wait is over. Hundreds of youth football players will meet in Santa Maria for the Central Coast Youth Football Super Bowl Saturday, Nov. 21, at Santa Maria High School. The event is a…
