Cover Story
Central Coast brewers prep new beers for sipping during the holiday season
Outside Naughty Oak Brewing Company on a particularly chilly day in early October, patrons are reaching for cover, bundling their summer-tanned legs into fleece blankets, and hiding their hands from the season’s first cold whips of wind. As the light spills from the setting sun into the Orcutt brewery, owner Stephen Kitts is busy in…
Spotlight on: Barnstormers Aero Services
Since he was 19 years old, René Minjares, now 70, has called the sky home. He got his start flying small engine planes in Hawthorne, California, when he was just a teenager. After earning his pilot’s license, he joined the military. As a Marine in the 1970s, the fighter pilot flew F-4 Phantoms in Japan,…
What is one thing you would change about downtown Santa Maria?
Jeff Brubaker transportation planner “[Enforce] slower auto speeds and make it more comfortable for walking and cycling.” Eve Southworth teacher “Bike lanes.” Rozairo Miralles design engineer “It needs more stores for sure. It looks kind of gloomy right now.” Cara Meche graduate student “What I really want to see is more local independent shops.”
J’s Burgers has cheap burgers and other bites that don’t fall short on flavor
Don’t let the size of J’s Burgers fool you. It’s a small joint, with some tables inside and a small counter and soda fountain. Nondescript, lacking any dominant decorating theme or over-the-top merchandising, J’s is a quiet space still growing after just four months of being open. But what J’s lacks in ornamentation they make…
Rebeccamendations
I guess I’m going through a black bean phase because I am also completely head over heels for the black bean tostadas at Natural Cafe (pictured). They are really refreshing and extremely filling but not too heavy. Pick them up at 2407 S Broadway, Santa Maria. 937-2735. Bob’s Well Bread is doling out these divine…
Burlesque performers coming to Santa Maria
Pin-Ups on Tour is partnering with local American Legion Post 56 for a WWII style vintage variety and burlesque show on Oct. 28. Julia Reed Nichols, founder and chief pin-up, said the event is about recreating the bawdy fun of Vaudeville theaters that sprang up throughout America before and after World War II. Nichols said…
Lompoc announces photography contest winners
The city of Lompoc Recreation Division announced the winners of its Lompoc Valley Photography Contest. The contest was open to all Lompoc Valley residents 5 and older, and was held on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center. In all, 70 photos were submitted for the contest. Winners along with first-place…
Fremont Theater in SLO hosts New Times Music Awards on Nov. 3
The ninth annual New Times Music Awards is set for Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Fremont Theater in downtown SLO. Five genre category winners are scheduled to perform and compete for the night’s Best Live Performance award, known as the “Newties.” Bands scheduled to perform include The Tipsy Gypsies, The Creston Line, 33…
Quiz night
Local pubs have started hosting quiz nights. Patrons can show up, overpay for an IPA, and then test their IQs on hard-hitting world trivia, like when did MC Hammer release the hit single, “U Can’t Touch This”? For the record, it was 1990. Do you want to know how I remember this? It’s obvious, I’m…
Central Coast Chordsmen hold a benefit barbecue for Youth in Harmony program
The classic image of the barbershop quartet is a uniquely American phenomenon, with the iconic straw hats, striped vests, and bowties. But the visual imagery is the easiest part of the equation—it’s the a capella harmony singing that is the real challenge. The Central Coast Chordsmen is a local chapter of the Barbershop Society, and…
Santa Maria Civic’s production of Young Frankenstein features a remarkable cast
There is probably nothing in the world Mel Brooks loves more than a great tap dance number. Young Frankenstein, currently showing at the Santa Maria Civic Theatre, has one of the most infectious of all of the musical numbers in productions based on hit Brooks’ films. “Puttin on the Ritz” is such a famous and…
Wayne and Wendy Steller’s haunted house returns to Santa Maria
On a yard designed to look like a playground, strewn with maimed dolls and skeletons, a doll named Chucky from the Child’s Play movie is perched atop a slide, pushing down the disembodied parts of his companion, Bride of Chucky. It’s one of dozens of equally terrifying scenes on display at the home of Wendy…
Megan Vise and Kayla Pablo
The junior and sophomore, respectively, are the Spartans’ (14-3) two top singles players, and, on Oct. 19, they helped inch the team a step closer to a Los Padres League championship, edging out second place Cabrillo High School, 71-65. While Orcutt head coach Art Lopez called Vise, “pretty much the best player in the league,”…
Santa Maria High School football finds its edge again after years of losing
When the Santa Maria High School football team notched its first league victory last season, it seemed like a routine milestone. But then head coach Dan Ellington checked the history books. “I didn’t realize, but that was the first league game Santa Maria won in five years,” the third-year Saints football coach told the Sun.…
Dirty business
There are some folks in the Santa Ynez Valley who have been digging a hole for years. They keep trying to put a fence around it with a sign that says “Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Keep Out.” While they’ve filled their hole with racism, contempt, a little bit of anger, and a lot…
Dirty business
There are some folks in the Santa Ynez Valley who have been digging a hole for years. They keep trying to put a fence around it with a sign that says “Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Keep Out.” While they’ve filled their hole with racism, contempt, a little bit of anger, and a lot…
Hobnobbing with Helen
It was one swell shindig. Held in an airplane hangar at the edge of the Santa Maria airport, the Allan Hancock College (AHC) Foundation celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala on Saturday, Oct. 21. More than 300 people showed up for this auspicious event. Tickets were $150 each and included an endless supply of…
Local business hosted a drive to donate goods to those displaced by Northern California fires
After a series of wildfires in Northern California wrought devastation across countryside and residential areas in Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa the second week of October, social media feeds filled with images of leveled suburbs and reports of lives lost. Central Coast resident Daneal Nally was like most, watching the news and reports of “apocalyptic”…
Possible recall petition threatens Hartmann as county wraps up negotiations on Camp 4
Joan Hartmann could be in trouble. That’s the rumor spreading through the Santa Ynez Valley, anyway, after several residents said they’d heard of plans to recall the 3rd District Santa Barbara County supervisor. But a recall election takes a petition, and the petition’s alleged creator, Santa Ynez resident Karen Jones, wouldn’t confirm the claims. …
Imaging satellite scheduled for Halloween launch at Vandenberg
The skies on Oct. 31 may feature a rocket blasting into space if conditions hold, according to Vandenberg Air Force Base officials. A press release from the base announced it would launch an Orbital ATK Minotaur-C rocket carrying a Skybox imaging satellite from Space Launch Complex 576-E at 2:37 p.m. that day. “Our unique geographic…
Circumcision protesters make a stop in Santa Maria
Most protests are about being seen and heard. For Bloodstained Men and Their Friends—a nonprofit that aims to educate the public about the dangers and ethical issues surrounding infant circumcision—the former seems particularly important. On Oct. 23, protesters on the corner of East Betteravia Road and South Broadway in Santa Maria donned white cowboy hats,…
County jail restores late-night transportation program
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is officially reviving its jail ride program, which offers free cab rides to inmates released from jail late at night when public transportation is no longer an option. The program’s new beginning comes nearly a year after the originally contracted taxi service, Rock Star Transportation, stopped doing business. Since…
County fines Solvang Hotel Group for illegally dumping chemicals
Santa Barbara County fined a Santa Ynez Valley hotel $31,000 for illegally disposing hazardous waste in an adjacent dumpster. “This settlement holds the hotel owners responsible for putting our environment, our communities, and our first responders at risk,” county District Attorney Joyce Dudley said in an Oct. 20 statement. “Even though the illegal conduct…
We need affordable health care, not mailers
A bright pink mailer from Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham’s office arrived in my mail box. The headline says, “Breast Cancer Screenings – Early Detection Saves Lives.” It’s encouraging me to purchase a pink license plate where a portion of plate sales fund free breast exams and mammograms. I have a better idea, Mr. Cunningham: make sure…
New pet store law doesn’t go far enough
Kudos to Gov. Jerry Brown: Now that California’s pet stores will be required to sell dogs, cats, and rabbits from shelters or adoption centers, countless animals will have a chance to experience the love and companionship that they deserve. The new law, though, should raise a red flag about purchasing our animal companions from a…
Good Sam rocks
I live at the Good Samaritan Emergency Shelter due to some circumstances of bad luck. “Good Sam,” which is located in Santa Maria, is (and has been) a wonderful commodity to this city, county, region, and surrounding areas. The directors, managers, and staff have what I call a “cathedral of knowledge” readily available to share…
Black Lives Matter is not racist
“Racism” by definition involves having power over others. Black Lives Matter was born out of frustration and outrage at the ongoing systematic brutality, unpunished killing, and other shameful treatment of black people, particularly black men/youth. These actions have been widespread, deeply rooted in institutions, not just individuals. History speaks for itself in our shameful history…
Opera SLO–disrespecting our flag?
We recently attended Opera San Luis Obispo’s production of Madama Butterfly and were enjoying it until the final scene. That’s when we were stunned—appalled, really—to see the grief-stricken character Cio-Cio San grab the American flag off its pole (stage right), throw it onto the floor, then drag it as she sang. There were audible gasps…
Another Colorthon well done
Another Colorthon has just been concluded. Thanks to a very supportive community, the Lompoc Hospital Foundation was able to raise funds for the renovation of the Comprehensive Care Center. The venue at the La Purisima Mission proved to be a popular location, which drew more than 200 participants who enjoyed the morning walking and running…
Art and commerce are not mutually exclusive
The Santa Maria City Council needs to think about the big picture when it comes to the Public Art Master Plan ordinance, rather than the instant gratification of pleasing out-of-town developers. Besides, public art is more beneficial to developers than they might realize. Public art is free advertising for them. People will post photos of…
Allan Hancock College takes action in support of DACA and undocumented students
As the U.S. Congress battles over plans to revoke the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, students, faculty, and staff at Allan Hancock College are busy showing support for DACA recipients. Members of Hancock’s Academic Senate presented a signed resolution formally opposing DACA’s elimination to the board of trustees at a board meeting on…
County officials say Orcutt Greka fire caused by welding spark
The Santa Barbara County Fire department successfully extinguished a fire at a Greka Oil and Gas facility in Orcutt on Oct. 23, where an injection station pump was reportedly fully engulfed in flames. The fire was called in as a vegetation burn at about 10:30 a.m., according to the county fire department’s public information officer,…
