Cover Story
Start here, go anywhere? An expanding Allan Hancock College hopes to offer four-year degrees to North County students
To Jeremiah Hernandez, getting a four-year degree seemed just out of reach. He was about to graduate from high school in Santa Maria, and his parents, despite their inability to financially support his future, had always pushed him toward the path of higher education. “‘You’re a smart kid,’” Hernandez said his parents often told him.…
What are you studying at Allan Hancock College?
Josue Guedes student “Philosophy, because I like meaning. I like to understand what’s meaningful in life.” Ashley Belaney student “I’m studying to become a correction officer. I’ve just always been interested in it.” Elias Hunter student “Currently, I’m studying kinesiology, but I’m changing my major in the spring semester to astronomy because it interests me…
WTF, Lompoc
I was quite tickled to see the response to the Sun’s recent reporting on the Lompoc City Council (“A house divided”) and my rant on the matter (“Loopy in Lompoc”) in our Sept. 14 issue. We had multiple comments, contributions to the Opinion section, and an unprecedented amount of engagement in our online opinion poll.…
Cubanissimo makes a triumphant debut in Orcutt
It’s finally here. Following some long months of anticipation, Cubanissimo food truck has finally found its permanent home. I grew up in South Florida, where we had a lot of home-cooked Cuban food around. It’s hard to get authentic Cuban food in some regions (aside from the staple “Cuban” sandwich at some sandwich shops, which…
The Santa Maria Philharmonic to open season with Dazzle & Destiny
It’s important to open a symphonic season strong, at least that’s what Michael Nowak says. The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society’s music director had that in mind when he programmed the first concert of his now second season with the orchestra. The first half will include two pieces that highlight a solo violinist, Jessica Guideri, who…
Vendors sought for Lompoc Arts And Vines event
The city of Lompoc’s Recreation department currently seeks vendors for its annual Arts and Vines event. The event features artists, crafters and vendors from the Central Coast selling and showing their work from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Anderson Recreation Center. Booth fees for vendors are $20 for a 10-by-8…
PCPA closes the season with a stirring production of August Wilson’s ‘Fences’
All good things must come to an end, and in the case of the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA), its 53rd season is closing with a production of one of the most compelling and dynamic plays ever conceived for the theater—August Wilson’s Fences. Part of Wilson’s legendary 10-play Pittsburgh Cycle, Fences racked up awards when it…
Alana Clumeck brings her Western art to Los Olivos’ Wendy Foster
When Alana Clumeck was pregnant with her first child, she wasn’t expecting the pregnancy to indirectly lead her to a thriving career as an artist. Clumeck, who lives in Santa Ynez, is featured in a new show at Wendy Foster in Los Olivos. Her work features her take on the wildlife and fauna of the…
More to the story in Lompoc
Regarding your article in the Sun entitled “A house divided” (Sept. 14), it covered the outward visible things happening, but did not address the “why.” That is the effort of the ex-mayor, John Linn, to get back on the city government and to set things up to do so for the 2018 election. There is…
Aera is responsible
In a letter to this newspaper (“Dirty oil campaign,” Sept. 14), a Buellton resident recently opened up regarding his concerns related to Aera Energy’s oil extraction plan proposed for East Cat Canyon, all of which were speculative and not directly related to this specific project. Clearly the writer was not familiar with Aera or its…
Rebellion in City Hall
Lompoc City Manager Patrick Wiemiller, during the 2016 State of the City address, instructed his audience to pledge, “We deserve and expect the best in Lompoc.” Wiemiller went on to talk about his belief that Lompoc desperately needed a new fire station, which was rejected by the City Council the month prior, mostly due to…
Golf tournament to benefit Guadalupe Union School District
The Guadalupe Kids Come First Foundation will host its fourth annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser on Sept. 30 in an effort to raise money for the Guadalupe Union School District’s academic, athletic, and cultural programs. The Kids Come First Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the school district through funding and gifts in-kind, according to…
Spotlight on: Orcutt Veterinary Hospital
For Dr. Brenda Forsythe, the 10-year span between Orcutt Veterinary Hospital’s grand opening and its decade anniversary celebration on Sept. 17 was like the blink of an eye. “It’s just so exciting,” she told the Sun. “The time just flew by.” The animal care hospital has definitely grown since it opened. Chief veterinary assistant Jen…
Sun opinion poll regarding Lompoc City Council tampered with
Somebody in Lompoc really doesn’t like the city’s mayor, Bob Lingl. The Sun saw more than 12,000 votes pour into its online opinion poll within 24 hours between Sept. 18 and 19, replying to the question: “Who on the Lompoc City Council is most out of line?” The four selectable answers included Mayor Lingl and…
Hancock’s Concert Band to perform Fall Pops Concert
The Allan Hancock College Concert Band will perform its annual Fall Pops Concert on Sept. 30 at Santa Maria’s First Baptist Church. The concert, according to a Hancock press release, will include an eclectic mix of musical selections from “Regal Fanfare” to “Pop and Rock Legends: Elton John.” The band, under the direction of Greg…
Santa Maria High School District passes 1 percent salary increase
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District announced on Sept. 7 the ratification of its retroactive 1 percent salary increase for all employees, effective July 1. Leaders of the Faculty and California School Employees associations tentatively agreed on the salary increase just before Aug. 18, after months of negotiations with the school district. Both…
Political Watch 9/21/17
• Amid renewed efforts by Congressional Republicans to replace the Affordable Care Act, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) introduced the Medicare for All Act, and received support from several members of the Democratic caucus, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California). According to a statement from Harris’ office, the bill would realize the dream of Democratic President Franklin…
Investigation of officer-involved shooting of Fernando Castro finds deputies acted reasonably
A report released by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office on Aug. 29 found that five county sheriff’s deputies acted reasonably in May of 2016 when they shot and killed Fernando Castro, 19, outside a mobile home park in Solvang. Castro’s death was preceded by more than 30 chaotic hours of high-speed car chases,…
Local water agencies incur penalties
The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board will address myriad violations that occurred at three separate facilities in May, according to a staff report. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation wastewater treatment plant in San Luis Obispo along with the Cambria and Cuyama community services districts face $84,000, $54,596, and $15,000 in penalties…
Katie Magni
It’s safe to say that running is not everyone’s idea of fun, nor is it something a lot of people do voluntarily because they enjoy it. But St. Joseph High School’s freshman cross country runner, Katie Magni, truly enjoys running and competing in races. “In my opinion, it just feels good to run,” Magni said.…
Benchwarmer: Where have all the multi-sport athletes gone?
There was a time in my life when if you asked me who I was I would have answered: “Kristina Sewell, softball player.” Softball was what I knew, year round, from age 10 until 23. I played travel ball during the summer, fall ball during the fall, and then softball season during the spring. I…
Winning Images still accepting entries
It’s not too late for local photographers to enter the 22nd annual Winning Images photography competition. Winners will be published in the New Times and Sun’s Winning Images issues on Oct. 19. The photos will also be featured in an exhibit at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA), which opens Oct 18. Deadline…
Money matters
As news broke of the horrendous and terrifying Equifax hack, which has exposed the private information of more than 143 million people, I was struck by one persistent and nagging thought: Those hackers are in for a helluva surprise when they try to do anything with my crappy financial history. Here’s my financial picture: I’m…
Diablo needs to close
The San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace (MFP) applauds PG&E for its decision to close the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. However, our organization asserts that it would be in the best interests of the ratepayers and the citizens of California if the shutdown date was moved forward to 2019-20, rather than the 2024-25 dates proposed…
Lompoc Fire Department appoints new chief
Lompoc announced on Sept. 15 that fire service veteran Gerald Kuras was chosen to lead the Lompoc City Fire Department. The announcement comes about six years after Kuras’ retirement from fire service in 2011. Kuras, 63, will take the place of former Lompoc Fire Chief Kurt Latipow, who retired from the force in May, and…
Cabrillo High School principal on administrative leave has history of sexual misconduct allegations
Jeff Wagonseller, the Cabrillo High School principal placed on administrative leave by the Lompoc Unified School District on Sept. 14, was accused of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old student while a basketball coach at Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada nearly two decades ago. Wagonseller resigned from the Catholic high school shortly after the allegations…
Santa Maria man sentenced to 10 years for meth trafficking scheme
A Santa Maria man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Sept. 13 by a federal judge in Montana for possessing and plotting to traffic more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine through several states. Keith Coffin, 32, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, after he…
