Cover Story
No longer silent: Local support organizations, law enforcement, and survivors speak out to end the cycle of domestic violence
The first homicide within Santa Maria city limits in 2017 wasn’t the result of a gang-related shootout or stabbing, but rather a suspected act of domestic violence. Natalia Morozova was found shot when Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) officers responded to the scene near her home on North College Street in Santa Maria on Aug.…
Beyond the Windmills at Elverhøj Museum reimagines work in the Berkus collection
Nicole Strasburg is consumed by a river. The artist, whose work is featured in a new exhibit at the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art, is working on an exhibit set to make its debut in a few months. Strasburg is currently in the middle of a collaboration about the Santa Ynez River. The influence…
Why are events focused on the arts important for a community?
Pixie Thorpe hardware store clerk “Something where people can come out and enjoy the art that helps a good cause is important. Plus, there’s so much talent to see.” Emory LeClair student “You can come and have fun and you get to see and create things you don’t see every day.” Nicole Johnson student “I…
Opera SLO brings the splendor of Puccini to production of Madama Butterfly
In the world of stagecraft and classical music, nothing quite meets the size and scope of opera. That’s something that Brian Asher Alhadeff, artistic director and conductor for Opera SLO, is definitely cognizant of, especially when he programs an opera as iconic as Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, which shows Oct. 14 and 15 at the…
Defense attorney for Jhordy Ramirez scrutinizes local mental health resources
After three court-appointed psychological evaluations, it was decided at a Santa Barbara Superior Court review on Sept. 28 that a jury trial will be held to decide whether Jhordy Ramirez, a Santa Maria man charged with attempted murder, is mentally competent for trial. On May 18, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office announced it…
Santa Maria Civic Theatre holds auditions
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre will hold auditions on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9 for its upcoming readers theater production of The Laramie Project. Auditions take place at 7 p.m. at the theater (pictured), located at 1660 N. McClelland St., Santa Maria. The theater is casting for four men and four women, no age requirement…
Artist to give talk at Wildling Museum
Artist Lynn Hanson will give a talk about her work at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature on Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. “All of my work emanates from my constant attention and visceral connection to the natural world, from a childhood stalking garter snakes at Whiskey Ditch in rural Minnesota to a daily…
Gourmet burger joint Burgerim opens in Santa Maria
Burgers are a complicated little package. In 2001, acclaimed French chef Daniel Boulud launched a revolution in fine dining with a gourmet burger. He originally made the dish for a journalist who wanted to interview him about a group of French terrorists who had threatened to blow up a McDonald’s. Boulud had no intentions of…
Sarah Fouratt
Righetti High School golfer Sarah Fouratt is off to a great start in accomplishing her senior season goal of winning the coveted PAC-8 league title. The Warriors took home first place honors in the PAC-8 “mini tournament” at the Santa Maria Country Club on Sept. 28, and Fouratt shot the lowest score out of all…
Local underdog: Nipomo’s Sophie Whittle dazzled at the Central Coast Pro Tennis Open
For every hard-fought point that Nipomo native Sophie Whittle won over her world-ranked opponent Laura Robson on Sept. 28, a full house at the Templeton Tennis Ranch stadium in San Luis Obispo County erupted. “Great serve, Soph!” “You got this!” they yelled. With unflinching poise, Whittle chased down Robson’s ruthless backhands and forced her into…
Pioneer Valley drama students talk face to face with PCPA actor
Pioneer Valley High School drama students talked race, death, marriage, and professional theater on Sept. 29 with Derrick Lee Weeden, the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) guest actor and lead in its recent production of Fences. Pioneer Valley drama teacher Shawnah Van Gronigen said that on Sept. 21, many of her students watched Fences, a Pulitzer…
Santa Maria natives win prestigious California State University Trustees’ Award
The California State University (CSU) system recently announced the recipients of the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement, and of this year’s 23 statewide winners, two are Santa Maria natives. Jeremiah Hernandez, 29, and Amanda Garcia, 30, were chosen above thousands of CSU students as recipients of the award, which is given to those who…
Spotlight on: Kinyon Construction’s disaster relief fund
As the rain poured down from a black Texas sky, Dale McCook, 63, prayed. The flood came fast, and no one was ready. “In [1994], they had a major, major flood—it was the 500-year flood,” he told the Sun. “It never got close to us.” During that storm, the McCooks couldn’t reach nearby Beaumont, but…
New Santa Maria housing project for veterans highlights nationally prevalent problem
For many veterans, life after the military can feel like an endless journey in search of a home. La Casa de Flores at 400 W. Church in Santa Maria aims to remedy that, one service member at a time. On Sept. 22, the 2,400 square foot, corner lot house’s newest residents—more than a half dozen…
Health officials blame lack of education for increase in STDs
Reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise again nationally, with cases of gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia increasing dramatically for the third consecutive year, according to a 2016 Surveillance Report released in September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The pattern holds true for Santa Barbara County as well,…
Sheriff’s Office investigates body found in Santa Maria Riverbed
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is releasing scant details about the body of a deceased woman deputies recovered from the Santa Maria riverbed at 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 1. On Oct. 3, Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover said there were no updates to the investigation. Santa Maria Police Department Detective Nathan Totorica…
Political Watch 10/5/17
• U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Kamala Harris (D-California) both issued separate statements following the attack in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Oct. 1 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas, the deadliest ever. With more than 50 dead…
Solvang City Council battles over vacancy protocols
The Solvang City Council has until Oct. 27 to fill a seat that was recently vacated by Hans Duus, a former council member who resigned on Aug. 28 after moving to Santa Maria. But council members can’t seem to agree on whom to appoint, or rather, how to appoint. The empty position has been a…
Lompoc Police seize most guns in department history
The Lompoc Police Department seized the most firearms in its history following a series of mid-September raids connected to a gang fight at a local bar. “Ten guns on one case—that’s a lot of guns,” Police Chief Pat Walsh told reporters at a press conference on Sept. 27. “That’s really quite a bit of guns…
Several county residents affected by Las Vegas shooting
Santa Barbara residents Brian and Lara Mack were among the hundreds injured during a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas on Oct. 1. California Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-Templeton), of the 35th Assembly District, was inside the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, where the gunman was found, during the attack. Stephen…
Solvang museums will host tour of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone
The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art and the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature invite the public to a fun and educational excursion to Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone on Oct. 14. Conducted in partnership with Solvang and Buellton’s Parks and Recreation department, the outing includes transportation, entrance fees, and support from museum curators who…
The Great American Melodrama puts a comedic twist on a Broadway classic with ‘Phantom of the Melodrama’
The best thing about the Great American Melodrama is the wink they offer to the diehard theater geek—the one who sings “Memory” every time someone asks if they remember something, or the one whose Spotify playlist is nothing but the soundtracks to all five London revivals of Cabaret. The subtle nods to the most ecstatically…
Rebecca Rose has a pretty good idea how the British monarchy really works
If you’re like me, you spend endless days and sleepless nights tossing and turning, tormented by one thought: Just what is the correct order of succession for the British monarchy? You find it impossible to concentrate at work, and you’ve lost close friends and loved ones to your obsession. People have stopped responding to your…
Bad news blues
It’s a complaint we hear all the time as journalists: Why do you always focus on the bad news? Well, that’s a complicated question to answer. First of all, we don’t do just that, but instead we cover a wide range of the goings on in our communities and the world, positive and negative. It’s…
No more dunes dust
Residents of the Oceano beach community and Nipomo Mesa are suffering from traffic congestion and bad air quality because of Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA). State parks has the obligation to minimize these harmful impacts on the neighboring communities and the natural habitat of the park itself. A lot can be accomplished in…
Carbajal is bought by special interests
I recently received a fundraising email from Congressman Salud Carbajal, which referred to ending Citizens United and how our campaign finance system has been corrupted. Rep. Carbajal also touts a bill he co-sponsored called the Disclose Act that would require additional disclosure requirements for corporations and labor organizations. We all would love to take big…
Look at Lompoc’s real issue
I read with interest multiple stories about Lompoc’s management of its budget crisis in the Sept. 14 issue of the Sun. One account was more editorial in nature (“A house divided”) and one was more opinion-oriented (“Loopy in Lompoc”). Both were interesting. What I found amazing is that there was no explanation of the real…
We need change in Lompoc
I have read the Sun’s stories on the recent situations regarding the Lompoc City Council (“A house divided,” and “Loopy in Lompoc,” Sept. 14). I posted questions regarding the $750,000 loan that was made by Bank of America, which was originally intended for the demolition of the municipal pool, but allegations from former Mayor John…
A nation at war
America’s at war—a nation under attack by a twisted ideology which uses ignorance, lies, emotion, and ranting as substitutes for thought led by packs of anarchists who are attacking our culture, our history, and everything America stands for. After decades of political inbreeding, these people are dysfunctional, arrogant, and hypocritical, interested only in disturbing the…
