Cover Story
Ripe for growth: Santa Barbara County vintners push for more inclusivity in the industry, but their neighbors fear more tasting rooms will spoil their quiet lifestyle
In one scene of the 2004 movie Sideways, actor Paul Giamatti’s character Miles Raymond, a writer, takes a trip to the picturesque Santa Barbara County for wine tasting with friends. While at one winery, Raymond receives a call that a publisher dropped his book deal. Upset at the news, Raymond angrily proceeds to the tasting…
Vandenberg rocket to carry ‘cutting edge’ imaging satellite into space
On Sept. 16, an Atlas V rocket carrying an imaging satellite is scheduled for launch into space from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB). The rocket, which is manufactured by Colorado-based United Launch Alliance (ULA), will contain a WorldView-4 imaging satellite. ULA is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The satellite is also manufactured…
Homework help is available to Santa Maria students
Get the school year off to a bright start with the Santa Maria Public Library’s free Homework Help Program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 4 p.m., a grand re-opening celebration was planned for the Homework Center to help kick off the new year of learning. Participants can meet…
County reaches out to prospective foster parents
In an effort to raise awareness and support for the 425 foster youth in Santa Barbara County, Our County, Our Kids—a program of the Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services—is building its relationships with local schools, families, and youth. Program representatives believe that every child deserves someone cheering for them on the sideline and…
Students connect with the play ‘In the Heights’
Santa Maria High School Chicano/Latino Studies students recently made a powerful connection with the Tony-award winning musical In the Heights at a recent PCPA performance in Santa Maria. The musical, which takes place in the largely Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City, is filled with Latino dreamers, nervously eyeing their futures from…
Chumash, Santa Barbara County resume negotiations for proposed reservation land
After a six-month hiatus, Santa Barbara County’s ad hoc subcommittee has resumed public negotiation meetings with representatives from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The meetings—which were temporarily suspended after their seventh session in March—aim to draw up mitigation agreements regarding Camp 4, a 1,400-acre parcel the Chumash plan to take into federal trust…
English learner students to receive better service from California schools
The Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a settlement with the California Department of Education (CDE) and the state Board of Education regarding California’s failure to provide proper instructional language services to English learner (EL) students. In May 2015, the DOJ found that California did not adequately monitor its public schools’ provision of language instruction to…
Do you think sitting for the national anthem is a legitimate form of protest?
Gerry Logan grandpa “No, because it’s our national song, our anthem, and you have to pay respect to the fallen warriors. I’m a Vietnam veteran and there’s a lot of good buddies that came home, but they came home in the horizontal position. You have to show respect, this is our home and it should…
Spotlight on: Leading From Within
When it comes to career advancement, a nonprofit is no different than any other business in terms of making sure the right person is qualified for the job. Leading From Within (LFW) is a nonprofit based in Santa Barbara that provides training to help mid-level managers advance within their respective organizations. To put it plainly,…
Political Watch 9/15/16
• Ten years after California adopted the toughest greenhouse gas emission reduction goals in the nation, Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 9 strengthened that commitment, signing SB 32 by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) and AB 197 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), which require the state to cut emissions at least 40 percent below 1990…
Community Notebook 9/15/16 – 9/22/16
TUESDAY, SEPT. 20 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. • The Santa Maria City Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 110 E. Cook St.,…
Hobnobbing with Helen: Touring and tasting in Orcutt
Old Town Orcutt has evolved into an entertainment hot spot. My last column chronicled the wonderful barbeque sponsored by the Old Orcutt Merchants Association in the courtyard of Deja Vu. This column is about the Boys & Girls Club’s eighth annual Tour & Taste of the Valley fundraiser held in Orcutt Union Plaza (also known…
Santa Maria candidates present on mobile home issues at forum
Congressional, state Legislature, and Santa Maria City Council candidates gathered at the Casa Grande Mobile Home Park Clubhouse on Sept. 12 to brief voters on their campaign platforms, answer questions pertaining to mobile home parks issues, and—last but not least—indulge in ice cream. The event opened with 24th District congressional candidates Salud Carbajal and Justin…
Santa Maria teen stabbed to death on West McElhaney
An 18-year-old man who was stabbed in a Northwest Santa Maria neighborhood in the late afternoon hours of Sept. 10 died later that evening, according to Sgt. Rob Morris, a detective with the Santa Maria Police Department. Police were called to the 900 block of West McElhaney at 4:52 p.m. where they found stabbing victim…
Cool status
Are you the lucky parents of a teenager? My husband, The Brit, and I are and so you have my sympathies. To be fair, we were all teens once, and I was the teenager from hell. Just ask my mother. However, living that experience doesn’t prepare you for raising one of your own. God help…
New maestro Michael Nowak and guest open Santa Maria Philharmonic season
After many years of happy collaboration with John Farrer, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society announced a new music director, Maestro Michael Nowak, a few months ago. Nowak is a celebrated conductor who divides his time living and wielding the baton on the Central Coast with conducting scores for television and films in Hollywood. Nowak discussed…
Solvang museums and rec departments team up for excursions
The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art and the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature have teamed up with Solvang and Buellton Parks and Recreation to lead a series of educational excursions to destinations like Los Angeles and Oxnard. Museum staff will act as leaders and facilitators on the excursions, which include transportation and entrance…
History comes to life for the kiddos at Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
The historic Santa Ynez Library and the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Carriage House announced the fall season for Stories by the Stagecoach, a free monthly program for children ages 7 to 12 and their families. On Saturday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m., visitors are invited to sit in the Parks-Janeway Carriage House to…
PCPA closes season with shows that feature small casts, big drama
If you’ve ever attended a Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) production in the company’s Severson Theatre, then you are probably familiar with the uniquely intimate and cerebral feeling that the square room can impart. PCPA has produced plays like Shakespeare’s The Tempest in the Severson, which gave the play’s deserted island ethos a boost. More recently,…
Author Erin Huss shares her new book ‘For Rent’
Some jobs are thankless by nature. That’s what Orcutt native Erin Huss found out when she began working in apartment management years ago. Huss’ experiences weren’t all negative though; she said some were funny. This led to a successful blog that Huss has run for eight years, and now, the second book in her Apartment…
Orcutt’s Hang Out Thai has good eats and good reads
Are you craving Thai? If not, you should be. And if you are, I’ve got good news for you: Hang Out Thai in Orcutt. It’s been around for nearly 10 years, but I just had my first meal there recently. I became a fan of the place as soon as I stepped inside: It was…
Back at the table
It’s good to see representatives from two of my favorite governmental groups back in talks again. Members of the Chumash tribe and representatives from the county are at the table once again talking about all the things they couldn’t agree on when they held monthly talks previously. That is, right before suspending those talks when…
Trump is exposing political corruption
Trump is like pouring salt on the snails. The mounting antagonism by politicians, company CEOs, and Hollywood elites on the apparent prospect that Trump could well be our next president is breathtaking. Each day that it becomes more apparent that support for Trump is solid and growing creates more panic by his detractors. RINO’s (Republican…
Porter knows what’s best for firefighters
I recommend you vote for my friend and neighbor, Bruce Porter, in the upcoming election for 3rd District Supervisor. I first met Bruce through the scouting program and then through Rotary, Red Cross, Buellton Chamber of Commerce, and more recently, through his position on the high school board. His background includes fighting wildfires (kindred spirit)…
The union endorsed the wrong candidate
As a teacher for 37 years at Santa Maria High, I’ve supported my union, but boy, the folks in Sacramento sure got it wrong with their endorsement of Jordan Cunningham. It would be nice to know what he promised to the union and how that jibes with his other, contradictory positions. Dawn Otiz-Legg has always…
Angels Foster Care hits milestone with 200th baby placement
Since its founding in 2006, Angels Foster Care has been improving the way foster care is delivered to children in Santa Barbara County and is thrilled to announce that their exceptional program of care has placed their 200th baby in an Angels foster home. It was late on a recent Thursday afternoon and Jennifer, an…
Slam dunk: Cal Swoosh basketball program is fulfilling hoop dreams
While it may seem like playing a sport is a natural part of growing up, not every kid gets the opportunity. Sometimes it’s because the chosen sport isn’t well-established in the area, and sometimes it’s cost prohibitive to participate. To give as many girls who wanted to play basketball the chance to do that, Theresa…
