Cover Story
Squirrels have it right
Acorn recipes Note: All recipes require leached acorns, with tannins removed by soaking acorn flour or pieces in cold water; repeat until water is clear. Source of following recipes: Frank Zika’s adaptation of recipes found in The Settlement Cookbook. Pancakes ½ cup acorn flour ½ cup whole wheat flour (or use all acorn…
Turkey time!
The Santa Barbara County Foodbank’s Thanksgiving turkey drive ended Nov. 23, but the organization still needs donations for the upcoming holiday season. According to Foodbank officials, 62 percent of households served in Santa Barbara County are living below the poverty level and 29 percent have an annual income of less than $10,000. And many parents…
How do you know when you’re full on Thanksgiving?
Pat Richman retired “When I pass out.” Kyler Goelzer student “When I’m really, really, really, really, full—like a wanna throw up. And my stomach yells at me.” Kyra Allan student “My brain tells me to stop after three turkey legs.” Sean Allan student “The little guy in my brain screams at me.”
Political Watch 11.25
Despite “yes” votes from 258 Congressional representatives, the House failed on Nov. 18 to garner the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass a bill that would have extended federal unemployment benefits to out-of-work Americans. As planned, the benefits will expire on Nov. 30. The vote was the result of a stand-off between Democrats and Republicans…
Community Notebook 11.25
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1 • The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Planning Commission Hearing Room, 123 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The agenda is available at co.santa-barbara.ca.us. • The Santa Maria Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City…
Shake your booty
Pizza hasn’t yet changed the world, but it might if enough donations come in on Nov. 28. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Domino’s Pizza, in conjunction with the Santa Barbara County Firefighter’s Association, will be participating in the “Fill the Boot” fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital Research Center. This will be its…
Start here, go anywhere?
Despite a recent study giving California community colleges failing grades for completion and transfer rates, Allan Hancock College educators are optimistic their students are on the right track. The study, released in October by Sacramento State’s Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy (IHELP), analyzed nearly 250,000 degree-seeking students in the California Community College system,…
The Sun goes ghost-hunting!
Wait a minute—what the hell am I doing?” Driving southbound down Highway 1, rolling past the Guadalupe Cemetery under the full moon of a crisp autumn night, it suddenly dawns on me: I’m being forced to spend the night in a haunted building or I don’t get paid. I love my job. I first met…
Sister of alleged murder victim testifies in Lujan trial
Recent testimony in the trial of a man accused of beating his former girlfriend’s son to death has not been favorable for the defense. On Nov. 23, the jury heard testimony from the sister of 4-year-old Diego Calles, who died in July after allegedly suffering injuries at the hands of James Lujan, 30, of Lompoc.…
Santa Barbara County sees a slight improvement in unemployment rates
Jobs are slowly starting to reappear, according to some Santa Barbara County officials. The Workforce Investment Board announced earlier this month that the county’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.7 percent in October, down three tenths of a percent from last month. The county is faring better than the state and the nation, which reported joblessness…
SBCAN files a lawsuit to protect county ag land
The Environmental Defense Center is doing all it can to protect Lompoc’s broccoli, lettuce, artichokes, and celery. Well, sort of. On Nov. 19, the Santa Barbara-based nonprofit law firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) alleging the city of Lompoc violated state guidelines when it approved the Environmental Impact…
Santa Maria to install ‘Enforcers’ to help police catch red light violators
One year after a contractor put a stop to its controversial camera program, the city of Santa Maria is calling on Little Brother to combat red light runners. Promoted as a cheaper and easier-to-install way of reducing violations, tiny red light detection sensors called “Enforcers” will soon appear atop traffic signals throughout the city. The…
Pops welcomes children
The Lompoc Pops Orchestra will be raising the curtain for its annual Christmas concert by offering two performances, one at 4:30 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5. As a gift to the community, and special for the first time in its 14-year history, the Pops will be admitting all children 12…
Skate on ice
A winter wonderland will be coming to downtown Santa Maria at the Mega Holiday on Ice Skating Rink, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 10 through Jan. 9 at the corner of Broadway and Cook. Tickets are on sale now for ice skating sessions at MegaHolidayIceSkating.com. Skate on real ice, party, or simply enjoy…
Find trees of the season
The seventh annual Trees of the Season benefit for Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center’s education after-school and summer programs will take place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 at the Dunes Center, 1055 Guadalupe St., in Guadalupe. The raffle will be held at 6 p.m., and the winner need not be present to win. This…
Sweet anticipation
Don’t judge me, but I get a serious kick out of teasing my kids. It’s the funniest thing ever. I don’t mean tease them in a “I have candy and you don’t” way, but in a “I have a secret and you’ll have to wait” way. They love it. Deep inside, everyone knows the anticipation…
See something Dark for the holidays
Santa Maria Civic Theatre has gone dark! (So to speak.) Their latest production is Wait Until Dark, a suspense-thriller by Frederick Knott (Dial M for Murder) about a blind woman who faces off against a group of deadly criminals. The well-known 1967 film version starred Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin. In late 1960s Greenwich Village,…
Giving thanks
One of my favorite holidays of the year is Thanksgiving. I love it for the obvious reasons: a day off of work, an excuse to eat tons of food, and the chance to hit children. I’m referring to my once a year opportunity to go outside with the nieces and nephews and play the role…
It’s autumn: Mix in Solvang
The Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association (SYVVA), a nonprofit organization promoting sustainable tourism, will hold its annual Autumn Mixer and Silent Auction from 4 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Fresco Valley Café. Admission is free and open to the public. Complimentary refreshments and wine tasting will be provided. Guests can also participate in…
WIB holds workforce training classes
The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and the Santa Barbara County Workforce Investment Board are offering free “Train the Trainer” courses in Guadalupe and Santa Maria. The hands-on training sessions aim to provide local organizations and agencies working with youths aged 14 to 24 the tools to build workforce readiness in their clients and…
Find Christmas cheer at Flower Carriage
Flower Carriage and Gifts in Santa Maria is holding its annual Christmas Open House Nov. 18 through 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shop owners Susana and Ricardo Naranjo will meet with customers, showcase top designers, and present one-of-a-kind gifts. Customers will also be able to sample holiday treats and drinks and sign up…
Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s making a list and checking it twice, and parking his D.A.R.E. Hummer (yes, Hummer) at the Santa Maria Town Center for the mall’s annual meet and greet with Santa Claus from Nov. 26 until Christmas Eve. Santa will arrive in style and will be available for photos most days beginning at 11 a.m. or…
Know a future philanthropist?
The Helen Diller Family Foundation is seeking nominations for its fifth annual Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award, a $36,000 scholarship that recognizes the state’s most socially aware Jewish teens. According to the foundation, “Tikkun olam” is a Hebrew phrase that literally translates to “repair the world.” The Tikkun Olam Award was established by Bay Area…
Hancock’s offering a new degree
Beginning in 2011, students who love the outdoors, sports, and other recreational activities will be able to study for a degree or certificate in recreational management at Allan Hancock College. Recreation classes available at Hancock will include introduction to recreation management (REC 101); leadership in recreation services (REC 103); program planning for recreation (REC 105);…
Ali Langford
The Bulldogs recently played in the Fresno Community College basketball tournament in Fresno. They lost two close games, but their star center had two huge games, which included an impressive 16-point, 14-rebound effort against Clarke College, followed by an astonishing 32-point, 14-rebound, and five-steal explosion against Feather River. The stat line is no fluke. The…
And more robots!
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Robots, robots …
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Ali Langford
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Gobble, gobble, toil and trouble!
I want to give thanks to the late artist, Norman Rockwell, for ruining Thanksgiving for the rest of us with a few stokes of his brush. He’s the guy who painted that lovely scene of several smiling people seated around a table as a blushing grandmother presents a perfectly cooked, golden brown turkey. Rockwell even…
Sip and shop
Just in time for holiday planning and gift buying, local wineries open their doors for a gala passport weekend. Hosted by Santa Maria Valley Wine Country, the event features the wares of four different wineries paired with small bites prepared expressly to match each vintage. This year’s event, called Flights and Bites, is slated for…
Clubs & Meetings
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Spiritual
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Farmers Markets
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Barbecues
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Health
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Art
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Learning
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Recreation
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Kids & Family
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Dance Lessons
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Stage
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Concerts
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Special Events
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Buried treasure
If the 2010 prep football season were a monster movie marathon, the Santa Ynez Pirates would be The Thing That Wouldn’t Die. After starting the regular season 1-4, including four straight losses, the Pirates have turned their ship around in remarkable fashion. Since a 20-14 loss to Morro Bay on Oct. 8, the team has…
