Cover Story
Award-winning drink: Two Central Coast breweries shine on the national beer scene
Gold Metal Tasting: The Sun staff’s take on the Great American Beer Festival medalists. Not every region has its own multiple award-winning brewery, and good luck finding an area that can boast more than one. Good luck, that is, if you’re not a Central Coast beer drinker. For local brew fans, it’s a great year,…
What’s your favorite local beer?
Cameron Robbins welder “Firestone Oaktoberfest; it comes out once a year and the flavor has some spices in it.” Anna Ostini student “I like Tap It. It came out when I was working at Applebee’s and they gave me free everything.” Angie Andersen scope tech “I’m not a big beer drinker, but we like to…
Los Olivos’ Midland School is for the dogs
What are the most dog-friendly companies in America? That’s the question posed by The Bark, a dog culture magazine. Bark’s 2013 Best Places to Work contest drew hundreds of candidates from companies that welcome dogs and support dog-friendly workplaces. The top three winners, including Los Olivos’ Midland School, were featured in The Bark’s Winter 2013…
Nipomo FFA students learn about community leadership in Louisville
More than a dozen Nipomo FFA members recently traveled to Louisville, Ky. to attend the National FFA Convention—the largest youth convention in the United States. This year’s theme, “Ignite,” aimed to spark students’ passion to positively impact their schools and communities. The Nipomo students participated in an agricultural career expo featuring more than 450 agricultural…
Spotlight on: Pali Wine Company
Visitors on the Lompoc Wine Ghetto walking tour can now add another tasting room to their door-to-door winery trail. The Pali Wine Company opened the newest tasting room addition at the beginning of November. It’s Pali’s third tasting room. The first one is at the winery itself, which is at 1036 Aviation Drive in Lompoc.…
Political Watch 11/21/13
• The California Department of Conservation gave public notice on Nov. 15 of its release of a set of proposed regulations for enhanced oil and natural gas production techniques such as hydraulic fracturing. The notice begins the formal rulemaking process and marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period. There will likely be an…
Community Notebook 11/21-11/28
MONDAY, NOV. 25 • 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, NOV.…
Community Corner: Local nonprofits shine at Chumash foundation event
Five local organizations known for giving recently received gifts of their own from The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation. The Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center, Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation, Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley, the American Heart Association, and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum were honored with $5,000 service…
A Santa Marian travels to Kazakhstan to spend time with some of its student leaders
Santa Maria businesswoman Lawnae Hunter’s journey to the Kazakh-American Free University (KAFU) in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, started over lunch with friends. While eating and chatting, Marshall Christensen—who happens to be KAFU’s provost—suggested that Hunter visit the school to speak about her experiences as a woman in the business world. “I said, sarcastically, something like, ‘oh, I…
Correction
The Sun incorrectly reported in its Nov. 14 cover story, “From dust to water,” the status of the Nipomo Supplemental Water Project. ARB Inc. pulled the pipeline into place during the early morning hours of Nov. 16. The Nipomo Community Services District obtained a permit extension from the state to remain in the riverbed until…
Orcutt Union School District contract negotiations frustrate teachers
Members of the Orcutt Educators Association—the collective union that represents the school district’s faculty—continue to wear black at school board meetings to remind officials that educators are unhappy with their compensation package. So far in the negotiation process, the district has proposed a total 7 percent increase. This figure includes a 2.5 percent on-schedule boost…
Residents from Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria are arrested for a bizarre bank robbery
Arthur McClay Watkins, 55, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, a former president of the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club, a father of two young children, and—as of Nov. 16—an alleged bank robber. Police say Watkins, wearing a ski mask and brandishing a handgun, robbed the Wells Fargo Bank on East Main Street in Santa…
County fire department trains a super sniffer to help with investigations
Occasionally man’s best friend branches out from being a pet to holding down a job. In the case of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a black lab named Riley recently signed on as its newest fire investigator. As an accelerant detection canine, Riley can help investigators like his handler Cpt. Howard Orr figure out…
Central Coast slasher flick ‘PRIMITIVE’ comes to DVD
A monster movie shot on the Central Coast is available on DVD and many other digital outlets as of Nov. 19. PRIMITIVE is now available on DVD, Digital Ultra Violet, Video on Demand, Digital Download, and Pay Per View. PRIMITIVE is the brainchild of Allan Hancock College film program alum Benjamin Cooper, whose experiences in…
Going for Baroque: The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society resurrects its season concerts with a small ensemble concert that boasts a big sound
Thanks to the concerted efforts of a newly organized and determined Santa Maria Philharmonic Society, the faltering organization was able to continue its concert season after budget limitations that saw the nonprofit organization almost fold earlier this year. “The Beauty of the Baroque” is the society’s first concert of the season, which employs a conservatively…
Santa Maria needs civic representatives
The city of Santa Maria is accepting applications to serve on the All-American City Committee, the Landmark Committee, and the Santa Maria Community Television Committee. All applications will be accepted up until Jan. 3 at 5 p.m., with the City Council making appointments on Jan. 21. The All-America City Committee needs members who will work…
Santa Barbara County Arts Commission announces grant recipients
The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission announced the grant recipients of the organization’s Fall 2013 Community Arts Enrichment Grants cycle on Nov. 12. A panel of commissioners approved 14 grants ranging in amounts from $750 to $1,700. The grants were made possible by the partnership between the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation’s Education Outreach Committee and…
A spoonful of magic makes PCPA Theaterfest’s ‘Mary Poppins’ a must-see show this holiday season
View excerpts from PCPA’s production of ‘Mary Poppins.’ Tackling a live production of a Disney classic is not something to which PCPA Theaterfest is a stranger; the premier theater company staged a memorable production of Beauty and the Beast as part of its 2005-2006 season. And now the even-more-iconic Mary Poppins is gracing the stage…
The Keyes to a ‘Killer’ series
There’s a moment in Sammy Keyes and the Showdown in Sin City when the title character—a junior high schooler with a tendency to get herself into trouble—is flying out of her hometown for the first time in her life. She’s conned her way onto the plane because she’s convinced she needs to get to Las…
Food fight!
It’s time for me to admit it: I have a terrible addiction, and it’s destroying my life. No, it isn’t alcohol. I know how to moderate my intake of booze just fine. I drink only small amounts of tequila on Fridays and Saturdays (and on the occasional Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, or Monday). My addiction is…
What’s on Deck? 11/21 – 11/28
Tuesday, Nov. 26 Girls’ Soccer St. Joseph vs. San Marcos @ SMHS, 5 p.m. Santa Ynez vs. Atascadero @ AHS, 5:30 p.m. Santa Maria vs. Orcutt Academy @ OAHS, 5:30 p.m. Nipomo vs. Pioneer Valley @ NHS, 3:30 P.M. Boys’ Soccer Santa Ynez vs. Atascadero @ SYHS, 5:30 p.m. …
Bid like a warrior: Silent auction supports Righetti High School athletics
Support Righetti High School athletics by joining the Warriors for an auction and dinner/dance on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Airpark Drive, in Santa Maria. The event begins with no-host cocktails and a silent auction at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The dancing goes from 8 p.m. until midnight.…
Trot like a turkey
The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is proud to announce the return of the 17th annual Turkey Trot Fun Run. Scheduled for Nov. 23 at the Hagerman Sports Complex, 3300 Skyway Drive in Santa Maria, the fun will kick off at 9 a.m. Runners of all ages and fitness levels are invited to participate.…
Lady Bulldogs start strong
Behind the stellar play of freshman guard Ali Rodriguez, women’s basketball at Allan Hancock College kicked off its season with a 67-46 win over Taft. Rodriguez, a graduate from Pioneer Valley High School, scored 36 points in the game—24 in the first half alone. According to a press release from Hancock Athletics, Rodriguez sank all…
Pirates have run a-ground
After a solid season of tennis for Santa Ynez, the Pirates fell to Redlands 14-4 in the CIF Division 4 semi-finals. The second-ranked Terriers won all nine sets to take the victory.
Kyle Smith
Outfielder Kyle Smith was one of the 25 prospective players scouts had their eyes on during a four-hour event at John Osborne Field on Nov. 15. A 2012 graduate from Pioneer Valley High School, Smith said he was excited about the Scout Day. “It was exposure to the next level, but there was a lot…
Hancock baseball is host to its first-ever Scout Day
Seeds were flying and balls were soaring at John Osborne Field on Nov. 15. The autumn chill in the air couldn’t mask the hum of anticipation and anxiety emanating from Allan Hancock College’s baseball players. Twenty-five Bulldog athletes had the opportunity to showcase their talent for a group of men with the power to change…
A taste of Thai: Boonie Thai has been serving the authentic cuisine in Santa Maria for 18 years
Bangkok, Thailand native Boonie Walton came to the United States more than three decades ago seeking better schooling for her children. In 1995, she bought a restaurant on East Main Street in Santa Maria and named it Boonie Thai Cuisine, after herself. “I try to make everything exactly how we eat it in Thailand,” the…
Take the last train to Splitsville
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Peter Adam sure sounds like he’s itching for a split. I was prepping myself to write about the sure-Santa-Maria-Energy-can-move-its-oil-operations-forward-in-Santa-Barbara-County-but-only-with-its-hands-tied-behind-its-back vote debacle, when in flew an opinion piece from the mustachioed supervisor. He doesn’t come right out and drop the “s” word as a goal of his after the contentious showdown that…
Even kids know better
In grade school, our children are taught to read, study, and discuss the subject matter before taking the test. Those who don’t usually fail. Congresswoman Pelosi and the Democrats follow the policy of passing bills before they read, study, and discuss the subject matter. This leads to the question: Are the Democrats and Pelosi smarter…
Fascism fears aren’t so far-fetched
The so-called “Tea Party” is more than just a run-of-the-mill ultra-right-wing movement. The kinds of wealthy right-wing interests that created it, mobilized it, and fanned its flames of hatred, paranoia, bizarre conspiracy theories, big lie smear tactics, and demagoguery are eerily similar to those who did the same in Europe back in the 1920s, ’30s,…
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk
Even the delusional no- and low-information voters for Barack Obama—and let’s not exclude all Democrats—can laugh at their standard bearer’s look alike performance of a Three Stooges comedy routine. What’s more hilarious than the actual rollout of Obamacare are the by-design comedic expressions of eye-poking, head-bonking, ear-twisting slapstick extraordinaire Mr. Obama presents himself as. Yes,…
There’s something about ‘Mary’
What a spectacular night! I was lucky enough to be able to attend the gala opening night of PCPA’s 50th anniversary season. It was the night we got to see the Marian Theatre’s completed renovation and, most importantly, Mary Poppins, the best show I’ve seen at PCPA in the 20 years I have lived in…
A dispatch from the colonies
They know what’s good for us As 4th District supervisor, I had people asking me what happened with the Santa Maria Energy project. I’ll tell you what happened—and why. South Coast Supervisors Janet Wolf, Doreen Farr, and Salud Carbajal ignored state law, common sense, and the wishes of the people who live and work in…
