The Board of Supervisors’ newest addition will either be Santa Maria City Councilmember Maribel Aguilera or Santa Maria-Bonita School District Board member Ricardo Valencia. Aguilera—a local attorney and registered independent—received endorsements from the Santa Maria Police Officers’ Association, Santa Maria Firefighters Local 2020, California School Employees Association, Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis…
As part of her “group home mom” role at a residential care facility in Santa Maria, Jaime Staine has experienced dealing with occupants of varying temperaments. While having looked after Erik Zepeda—who’s been in the group home since age 14 and is diagnosed with severe developmental delay and mild intellectual disability—for the past seven years,…
If Orcutt residents want to borrow books, they can visit a branch of the Santa Maria Public Library in Old Town that sits on a leased plot measuring less than 5,000 square feet. However, community planning documents from nearly 30 years ago predicted population growth that would warrant a library more than three and a…
For the first time since 2018, there are two mayoral candidates for Guadalupe residents to choose between. With four consecutive two-year terms in office behind him, Mayor Ariston Julian told the Sun this year’s election is his first facing an opponent. Prior to his time as mayor, Julian served as a City Council member for…
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) hosted his annual Cafecito Con El Congresista event on Oct. 16 in Santa Barbara. Carbajal founded the program in 2017 to bring together Central Coast Latino community members and elected officials for an open forum to discuss local and national issues. In a statement from Carbajal’s office, the…
In a landscape as rich as the Santa Maria Valley, Iris Valdez has been exposed to agriculture in her classrooms for years. The Pioneer Valley High School senior craved a more hands-on experience, so she enrolled in plant and soil science at the local career technical education (CTE) center and has already harvested watermelon, corn,…
At this point, can we all agree that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is shady? ICE officers have been caught lying as part of court cases—alleging hostile behavior from detainees as a way of justifying the outsized force they use during “enforcement operations.” Nobody believes you anymore, ICE. Anyone who’s watched a video of one…
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters face a serious political dilemma: Who should we support and will they agree to uphold their oath of office—which is “a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behavior”—and “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Lately many well-organized protests have occurred throughout…
Elections are an opportunity to consider the future of our community and the qualifications and qualities we value in those entrusted with representing it. The decisions we make, the trust we build, and the standards we uphold continue to shape our city long after the election is over. Throughout my years of service to Pismo…
A recent article about the Santa Maria City Council meeting where protesters were questioning why the city didn’t do more to counter ICE activities (“Santa Maria delays hearing ‘to ensure safety’ of City Council,” Oct. 15) highlighted the ignorance of some of these groups. The Constitution places immigration enforcement under the federal government, not the…
On Nov. 3, Nipomo voters have an outstanding choice for the Lucia Mar Unified school board of trustees, Area 7. Donna Kandel has deep roots in the community. She raised her family, graduated from Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly and taught math at Nipomo High School for many years. She is very experienced with…
Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan was prepared for a peaceful, solo hike with her dog this spring in the Sierra Nevada. She set up her easel and started painting at an elevation of 10,000 feet. As skies darkened and snow began to fall, Gopalakrishnan noticed that her 5-year-old labradoodle—a “strong hiker” who carries her own pack—was interested in…
There’s always something peculiar inside Lompoc’s art showroom. Anyone who needs convincing may browse the Cypress Gallery through Nov. 29 while The Island of Misfit Art is on display. Gallerygoers will find locally crafted holiday art and gifts. “Whether you’re hunting for a one-of-a-kind gift, looking to add something new to your own collection, or…
Santa Barbara County earned more than $250,000 from the state for its efforts in engaging the creative community. California acknowledged the county’s Office of Arts and Culture with the highest possible ranking in the 2026 State-Local Partnership program. For the past five years, Santa Barbara County has topped the charts compared to other arts agencies.…
Filmmakers Nathan Fielder (Nathan for You, The Rehearsal) and Lance Oppenheim (Primetime, Some Kind of Heaven) collaborate on this unconventional A24 documentary following disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes during the final 34 days before she surrenders to federal prison in Texas. Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, invite the filmmakers into their home, offering a…
CarrieWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Prime Video Writer and director Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, Doctor Sleep) takes on Stephen King’s 1974 debut novel in this eight-episode horror series starring Summer H. Howell as Carrie White, a sheltered teenager whose introduction to public high school becomes a…
America’s SweetheartsWhat’s it rated? TV-14 When? 2024-26 Where’s it showing? Netflix Emmy Award-winning director Greg Whiteley (Last Chance U, Cheer, Mitt) directs and produces this multiple-Emmy-nominated docuseries on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. We watch as rookies, veteran performers, and the coaches go through the audition process, training camp, and the NFL season. I’m someone who…
With the proper technique, rolling ice cream isn’t difficult. For Lucy Genge, it’s fun and satisfying. Each order is custom-made. The ice cream shop owner pours a liquid ice cream base on top of a cold plate that sits at minus 22 degrees. Then, she presses the cream down with two scrapers, spreading it super…
