Cover Story
Santa Barbara County pot growers walk a fine line between staying legal, angering their neighbors, and getting raided
A U-Haul van packed with pounds of freshly harvested marijuana eases its way down the narrow winding road on the back side of Cebada Canyon. As it rolls and bucks against uneven terrain, the driver brings the vehicle to a complete stop on the right shoulder to let a gunmetal Honda Accord pass by. “That’s…
Officials hold roundtable with United Way about its Real Cost Measure Index
A collection of local business owners, politicians, and community leaders took part in a roundtable on Oct. 15 to discuss how best to determine if a family or individual is living below the federal poverty line. “Imagine you’re part of a family of four; two adults, one infant, and one school-aged child,” said Henry Gascon,…
Field to Table and Presqu’ile Winery join forces for a dinner to raise money for diabetes
Have you ever met a “mom on a mission”? If you have, you remember the encounter and the mother in question. The mom on a mission I know is Wendy Thies Sell, the former writer of this very column, whose 10-year-old daughter has Type 1 diabetes. It’s become a mission for her to help spread…
Santa Maria Civic Theatre rocks Little Shop of Horrors
It is almost impossible to be disappointed by anything the Santa Maria Civic Theatre does lately. The theater, now in its 60th season, is a solid producer of community theater, presenting an array of impressive comedies, dramas, and musicals. But it’s their musicals especially that seem to attract strong talent, a key to good local…
Mirella Olson’s landscapes featured at Gallery Los Olivos in October
Listening to Mirella Olson slowly describe the stunning beauty of California’s scenery is almost otherworldly. “I just love it,” she said in her velvety Italian accent. “It’s spectacular in the springtime. In every time of the year. Leaving from Santa Barbara with the beautiful ocean and then arriving into the desert, it’s a totally different…
Local soloists and bands share the stage at the new CORE Jam in Orcutt
Musicians always need a place to play, to come together and share ideas. You see open mics, jam circles, and poetry readings where songwriters take turns performing their songs. Often, the musicians co-opt poetry readings, turning them into open mic nights. For Chad Hinkle, who has drummed with bands, played guitar, and sang songs at…
Spotlight on: Vivid Cycling Club
Calvin Harris began cycling years ago. The activity became a daily habit before becoming an “on-and-off thing,” he said. After a brief hiatus, which featured a few months carved out of the year to train for the Boston Marathon, Harris hopped back on his bike. It’s been full steam ever since, he told the Sun.…
Guadalupe’s new public safety director discusses his turbulent past and hopes for the future
Despite community concerns and a highly scrutinized past in law enforcement, Guadalupe recently put its faith–and safety–in the hands of Michael Cash. The Guadalupe City Council unanimously voted to confirm Cash as its police chief and director of public safety at a meeting on Oct. 9. He was officially sworn in that night and is…
Santa Maria police receive grant to improve traffic safety
The Santa Maria Police Department announced on Oct. 12 that it was awarded another grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to improve traffic safety and increase driver and pedestrian awareness in the area. It’s about the 10th year in a row that Santa Maria police have been awarded an Office of Traffic Safety…
Do your job
Is it too much to ask: People, why can’t you just do your damn jobs? That’s how folks living in the county’s rural canyons have felt about the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office over enforcement of unlicensed cannabis cultivation (see cover story on page 12) ever since Proposition 64 passed. The Sheriff’s Office received enforcement…
Law enforcement destroys 100,000-plus illegal pot plants on federal land in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County Sheriff deputies had roughly nine months’ worth of funding to raid illegal cannabis grows alongside federal authorities in the Los Padres National Forest. Now that the money has run out and although Sheriff’s officials say other illicit sites remain, at least 100,000 illegal pot plants will never enter the black market. Lt.…
Last comic standing: Krider’s comedic ego takes a hit
I was at a dinner party recently, hanging out with some folks who were a mixture of friends, acquaintances, and complete randoms. I was standing around, shamefully eating carbs and arguably drinking too many IPAs. I was standing next to my wife, who wasn’t eating carbs and therefore looked hungry. Suddenly, a woman from across…
Lompoc Ten presents Jalama: Highway to the Sea
The Grossman Gallery in Lompoc will host an exhibit by a collective of artists known as Lompoc Ten, featuring paintings inspired by Jalama Road. Jalama: Highway to the Sea highlights the 14-mile stretch of road that connects ranches to farmlands and eventually winds to the seashore. Painters spotlighted in the exhibit include Lompoc Ten members…
Lompoc now accepting entries for photography competition
The Lompoc Valley Photography Contest is now accepting photo submissions, as part of the city of Lompoc Recreation Department’s Arts and Vines Event. This is first year for the photo contest. The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers age 5 and up. Each photo entry costs $3. Submissions are welcome at Anderson Recreation…
Haunted House in Santa Maria to benefit veterans group
The Santa Maria Fairpark will host a haunted house to benefit homeless women veterans. The Screamatory is open from Oct. 19 through 22 from 7 to 10 p.m. and again on Oct. 25 through 31 from 7 to 11 p.m. The haunted house takes place inside the Armory Building and features 18,000 square-feet of Halloween-themed…
Dems have no class
Hear about the GOP senators’ personal information posted on the internet? Did you read the posts were traced back to a computer in Rep. Maxine Waters’ (D-Los Angeles) offices? Let’s judge this as Democrats and treat her like Judge Kavanaugh. She denies any involvement or knowledge. Should we believe her? Not if we use Democrats’…
Vote yes on Measure U
Dear editor, I am the assistant superintendent of Human Resources for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District. I fully support extending and enhancing the local Measure U sales tax and urge all Santa Maria voters to also vote yes. The funds provide many positive utcomes for the city and for our schools. We…
Please support Measure U
I am the vice chair of the Measure U2012 Citizens’ Oversight Committee, a native of Santa Maria, and am retired from the Santa Maria Fire Department after 34 years of service. I strongly encourage all Santa Maria voters to vote yes on extending Measure U to support local priorities identified by our neighbors. This local…
Commentary 2: Lompoc needs new leadership
Mayor Bob Lingl, who is the best mayor Lompoc has had in the past 10 years, is retiring. Mayor Lingl, who beat out ex-Mayor John Linn, has been a blessing to Lompoc for the past four years. His well-attended Thursday get-togethers, “Coffee With Bob,” has provided badly needed visibility on city issues. The city of…
Bright young leaders vs. old business as usual
We have a clear choice in the Nov. 6 Santa Maria City Council elections. We can re-elect the same old people who will continue business as usual, or we can choose Rafael Gutierrez and Gloria Soto: two visionary, energetic young leaders who will give our city 20-20 vision. Santa Maria is the largest city between…
Isabella Albano
Allan Hancock College student Isabella Albano has made a name for herself on the volleyball court. As the team’s trusty libero, Albano digs roughly 5.5 balls per set, making her the leading digger in the Western State Conference and fifth in all of California. This despite a mid-season position change that diminished her chances to…
County talks youth trauma at Bridges to Resilience conference
Trauma. It affects everyone, and impacts nearly all facets of every community. But with the right steps, trauma can be treated and even prevented. That was the message at this year’s Bridges to Resilience conference in Buellton on Oct. 11, the third annual event of its kind in Santa Barbara County. At the event, which…
Political Watch 10/18/18
• The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance legislation co-authored by Sens. Kamala Harris (D-California), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), and Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) that would criminalize lynching, attempts to lynch, and conspiracy to lynch. The Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018 would be the first successful anti-lynching legislation in U.S. history…
One local nonprofit is creating a support program to empower Latina women seeking higher education
Natali Camacho remembers her college experience as a tough but important part of her life. She went to Allan Hancock College for three years and then transferred to UC Davis where she earned her degree in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. She wasn’t exactly thrilled to be attending community college because her first choice was…
Taxpayers Association endorses Hancock bond
In a rare move, the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association announced at a rally on Oct. 11 its endorsement of a bond measure that would fund facility construction and improvements at Allan Hancock College campuses. If approved by voters, Measure Y2018 would bring $75 million to Hancock campuses in Northern Santa Barbara County to build…
