Cover Story
Scare tactics
For little ones, Halloween is all about the candy, but for many adults it’s about blood, guts, gore, and having a good time. There’s nothing quite like a good scare—a goose-bump raising, adrenaline-inducing frightfest. That’s why the Sun decided to feature some of the Central Coast’s most intriguing and bone-chilling haunted houses. So sit back,…
Simply the west
Sitting down with chef Rick Manson a few weeks ago in the handsome dining room of the new Far Western Tavern in Orcutt, the respected chef shared something profound: “I don’t believe that simple food should be trusted to simple cooks,” he said. “It’s a tough cuisine to master,” Manson went on to say, “and…
Playing from the heart
The music of history’s great composers only lives on in the ears of those who care to listen. And those who care to listen will be delighted to know that an upcoming collaboration will feature works by two of the heavy hitters of the Romantic Era. The San Luis Chamber Orchestra will be coming to…
Hey, that’s my bike!
Last week, my son’s childhood innocence was ripped from his little boyhood soul. To be more specific, his bicycle was ripped from the bike rack at school. His two-wheeler was stolen from him by some rotten dudes, thus changing his outlook on society forever. My son’s bike was his mode of transportation, and it was…
Discover what horses do for humans
Kimberly Lorance has been selected as Artist of the Month at the Guild Room in Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., in Los Olivos. Her work will be on display from Nov. 7 through Dec. 5. The exhibit will feature her work, titled “What Horses Do for People.” She aims to express her reverence for…
Shop the Colors of Christmas
The Colors of Christmas is the theme of the 36th annual Los Padres Artist Guild Christmas Show and Sale, set for Nov. 2, 3, and 4 at Lakeview Junior High School, 3700 Orcutt Road in Orcutt. The show will feature fine art and handcrafted items created by local artists. Mediums include jewelry, painting, dolls, ceramics,…
Trading spaces in Guadalupe
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts and Education Center are changing places and creating a shared campus to improve service to members and the public. The operational change has been a year in the making. The Dunes Center Board of Directors proposed the collaboration between the groups as a means of improving…
Restoring the past
Every year, more than 1,000 schoolchildren visit Casa de Dana and its picturesque grounds in Nipomo. The adobe immerses visitors in the sights, sounds, and smells of a very formative era in the histories of not only the Central Coast, but also the state and the nation. Students from 3rd grade to high school get…
Discover lunacy
Discover it. Howl at it. Dance under it. Halloween weekend revelers can bask in the moon’s glory in a variety of creative ways at the Lunacy Music and Arts Festival at Live Oak Campground. Whether it’s dancing to some funky beats or seeking inner tranquility, Lunacy revelers can find the perfect place to fit in…
Sierra Duarte
While Santa Maria native Sierra Duarte is currently resting her sprained ankle, her record over the past few weeks is undiminished. Having scored 11 goals in the 2011 season, she’s already equaled that number, and once she’s back on the field, she’ll likely exceed it by a wide margin. Duarte is a local example of…
On the roster
• Central Coast Sharks Youth Rugby: Boys ages 9 to 18 from Northern Santa Barbara County are invited to sign up for youth rugby with the Central Coast Sharks. Practices will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Wednesday nights. The season runs from January to April. Registration is $150 and includes registration with…
Turkey Trot promises festive run
Runners of all skill levels will be putting their best foot forward before gorging on their Thanksgiving feasts at the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department’s 16th Annual Turkey Trot Fun Run on Nov. 17. Runners age 15 and older can sign up for the 5K race, which begins at 8:30 a.m. at the…
The Bleacher Bum Chronicles Vol. XXI
Boo! Did I scare you? No? Well, I suppose shock and surprise don’t translate well to print. But thankfully, as you can tell by this week’s Sun cover story, there are plenty of places close to home to get your fright fix. Hopefully you’ve got your Halloween plans already squared away, because there’s…
Jeff Guiltinan is trustee material
My wife and I are proud parents of two wonderful Orcutt elementary school district students. We, like many parents, volunteer in the classroom, participate in school events, and work collaboratively with the many wonderful teachers and principals at the various district schools. We know firsthand what our children and teachers need most to improve their…
Go Gray all the way
Supervisor Gray has been an exceptional supervisor for the county’s 4th District. She has been responsive to our needs and requests. She is accessible, and you can depend on her following through with your request for any particular issue or problem. An example: When it was proposed to close the County Clerk’s Office in Lompoc,…
You should vote for Peter Adam
On Nov. 6, I recommend a vote for Peter Adam for 4th District supervisor. Peter is a farmer and a businessman. He understands economics and finance, and he understands that government needs to live within its means. He also recognizes that you cannot generate revenues to sustain important public services unless you have a…
Students need education and job training now
Newspapers locally and across the state have weighed the pros and cons of Proposition 30 and made the decision to endorse it. In my position as interim superintendent/president of Allan Hancock College, I, too, have been asked by many about Proposition 30 and Proposition 38 and how they would affect Allan Hancock College, pass or…
Spotlight on: Parkway Café
Back from a summer-long hiatus, Parkway Café is again open for business. Now under new ownership, the small, hidden café intends to build upon its former glory and introduce some new items to its menu and new options for customers. Owner David Sowell and his wife Melissa decided to reopen the shop as a convenience…
McTeacher’s Night raises money for local schools
The McDonald’s restaurant on South Broadway was a swarm of activity on Oct. 18 as parents, children, and other community members stood in line to buy hamburgers and Happy Meals in support of Ontiveros Elementary School. Principal Margaret Ontiveros greeted people dressed in teal and white, the school’s colors, as other staff members helped…
Fresh faces and new visions
Keeping the library alive, city beautification, and attracting business were among the key topics discussed at Guadalupe’s City Council candidate forum on Oct. 18. For more than a decade, Guadalupe residents have grown used to the familiar faces on the City Council. But considering three vacant spots on the Nov. 6 ballot, residents gathered…
Buellton’s potential leaders sound off
This year, three people with experience on the Buellton City Council are running for election: mayor Holly Sierra, vice mayor David King, and interim council member Leo Elovitz. The Sun sent each of the candidates a list of questions designed to learn more about their platforms as they each vie for one of two seats.…
Correction
The Canary inexcusably mixed up two local steakhouses in the Oct. 18 column (“Dress to impress locals”). The Hitching Post is located, as always, in Casmalia. The Far Western Tavern has moved from Guadalupe to Old Orcutt.
Santa Maria River Bridge drivers move to the middle
Late-night drivers navigating the border between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties may have noticed something odd at the Santa Maria River Bridge the night of Oct. 24. Construction crews were scheduled to detour southbound vehicles off of and back onto Highway 101 via the Highway 166 off-ramp between 9 p.m. and midnight…
Three arrested at Vandenberg for ‘backcountry’ protest
Vandenberg Air Force Base security cited three protestors for trespassing on Oct. 20 and 21 after they attempted to infiltrate the base as part of an anti-nuke demonstration, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Base security forces arrested Fr. Louis Vitale and Los Angeles Catholic Worker community member Rebecca Casa…
St. Joseph principal Myers resigns
St. Joseph High School principal Joe Myers, who was convicted of failing to report an alleged rape of a female student, has resigned as a result of the verdict, according to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Archdioceses’ Rev. Monsignor Sabato Pilato announced Myers’ resignation via a letter to parents posted to the school’s…
Charges against ‘Vandenberg 15’ dropped
On Oct. 17, the United States government dismissed all charges against the 15 men and women arrested while protesting the launch of a Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base in February. The “Vandenberg 15”—as they’ve been nicknamed by the press—were accused of trespassing at Vandenberg Air Force Base shortly before the…
Residents share what they want in Santa Maria’s next police chief
A fresh set of eyes. Someone community minded. Someone who’s not afraid to address issues within the department. These are among the attributes Santa Maria residents want to see in their next chief of police. Locals gathered on the evening of Monday, Oct. 22, to generate a list of such characteristics at City Hall during…
What scares you the most in a haunted house?
Joanna Peralta Cal-Works assistant “When I see or hear real chainsaws.” Amilio Graciliano student “When someone sneaks up behind me.” Stephanie Hernandez student “Being surprised by something.” Abner Rubio police officer “Hearing noises in the distance.”
