Cover Story
Oh, the cars
This was the 60th year of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Monterey Historic Races. When they began in 1950, the races ran on a portion of the 17 Mile Drive, drawing such world-famous drivers as Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby. This once-a-year world-class automotive weekend has since grown to include 18 venues. Some say…
Words are beautiful
Need to get your monthly poetry fix? Allan Hancock College’s Lompoc Valley Center is hosting a free poetry reading in recognition of the college’s second annual Community Reads event on Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in room 1-202/203. The event will headline retired Hancock English professor Bob Isaacson, a published author, part of…
Rock climbing competition hits Los Padres
Love rock climbing? The high-altitude pines of the Los Padres National Forest will be the stage for the Pine Mountain Pulldown, a three-day climbing festival held from Oct. 8 through 10. The event’s main draw is bouldering—scaling smaller rock faces with only a pair rubber-soled climbing shoes—and kicks off with a welcome for climbers and…
Mortal Combat
Some people, like myself, tend to avoid physical conflict as much as they can. However, others thrive on the adrenaline rush that comes from the thrill of slamming their fists on their opponent. On Sept. 18, warriors like those came out to the National Guard Armory at the Santa Maria Fairpark to fight—and spectators packed…
Zachary Burg
As starting offensive guard for the Knights of the Orcutt Youth Football League, Zachary Burg enjoys absorbing a big hit. The 12-year-old was a hit of a different sort at a recent Offense-Defense instructional football camp in San Diego. At an awards ceremony, camp organizers announced they’d selected Burg to participate in the annual Offense-Defense…
Here’s something you otter know about
California’s iconic southern sea otters—and the fact that they’re threatened in the wild—will take center stage Sept. 25 and 26 at the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s weekend-long event, Otter Days. Visitors to Otter Days can get some face time with the aquarium’s resident sea otters, play an animal training game, participate in an otter-themed game show,…
Lompoc bank holds symposium
Union Bank of Lompoc will present a business symposium and business networking opportunity titled “Thinking Beyond Tomorrow” on Oct. 2. Ed Carcarey of Emerald Wave Media will be the guest speaker at the event. Admission is free, but reservations are required. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon in the Grossman Gallery of the…
Santa Maria holds a pollution prevention workshop
Landscape and yard maintenance businesses are invited to learn more about pollution prevention at a free workshop held by the city of Santa Maria’s Utilities Department on Sept. 29. The workshop will provide information regarding proper pesticide and fertilizer use and appropriate disposal methods of yard waste material as required by federal law and supported…
Panera funds breast cancer research
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and in its honor, Panera Bread is raising money for breast cancer research by offering its Pink Ribbon Bagel. The Pink Ribbon Bagel is made with cherry chips, dried cherries and cranberries, vanilla, honey, and brown sugar and is shaped in the form of a traditional breast cancer awareness…
Pipeline Group tackles safety
Each year, lives are lost and millions of dollars in repairs are incurred as a result of excavation crews inadvertently digging into pipelines. Avoiding those accidents will be the topic of the Pipeline Group’s annual “Public Education—Contractor Awareness Program” on Oct. 12 at the Historic Santa Maria Inn. A free, catered breakfast will be available…
Want the left lane free? Pull over speeders!
It’s bad enough that we have an elite group using our highways that is above trivial things like speed limits; but now the road bullies want the cops to ticket people who don’t get out of their way fast enough? Gene Gisin’s opinion article about the left lane being for “passing only” (“Keep the left…
Take a deep breath when you’re behind the wheel
I have a suggestion for Gene Gisin (“Keep the left lanes on freeways for passing only,” Sept. 16): Next time you find yourself trying to push someone down the freeway, remember that the left lane is not the passing lane in California’s Vehicle Code, so if they’re going the speed limit or more and they…
Please let the faster of us pass
I second Mr. Gisin’s comments (“Keep the left lanes on freeways for passing only,” Sept. 16). I was pulled over yesterday for tailgating a fast lane slow-mover just north of Gaviota. I argued that I was “encouraging” the slow-mover to move to the slow lane. The slow-mover just stared at me in her rear view…
Yes, keep left lanes for passing
The guy who complained about speeders in the left lane (“Keep the left lanes on freeways for passing only,” Sept. 16) is exactly why a law should be passed to make it illegal to drive in it. The left lane should be used for passing only. Anybody in it should be using it as such.…
Where the wine flows
The ongoing celebration of homegrown food, freshly baked bread, and artisanal cheeses heralds a renewed appreciation for long-held traditions. And those lucky enough to remember visiting the local little old winemaker to fill an empty jug right out of the barrel can rejoice at the latest blast from the past. In an odd blend of…
Ehrlich gets Wilderness Spirit Award
The Wildling Art Museum will present its Wilderness Spirit Award to noted writer Gretel Ehrlich and celebrate its 10th anniversary on Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort in Solvang. Ehrlich—a nature-themed essayist, travel writer, and poet—will receive the award, which includes a bronze plaque on the…
Lompoc pops
Embarking on its 14th season of live performances, the Lompoc Pops Orchestra will entertain its patrons with a musical bouquet on Sept. 27 at the Lompoc First United Methodist Church. This season’s theme is The Pops Blooms for Lompoc! The program includes “The Rose,” “Theme from The Apartment,” several LeRoy Anderson favorites, and “Les Toreadors”…
Living for the music
As a child, Bonnie Bogle Farrer spent many long New Hampshire evenings at home in front of a piano. With two grand pianos in the living room and an upright in another room to practice on, she thought of little else. Farrer always knew being a pianist was her calling. The fact that her…
Hugging the coast
When you have several children, those blissful moments of silence and peace are few and far between. So when my husband and I got a rare (read: the first time in several years) occasion of alone time, we stared at each other in disbelief. Like a couple of prisoners on parole, we didn’t know what…
Political Watch 09.23
Orcutt resident Dee Greenawald is holding a meet-and-greet at her home, 879 McCloud St., on Sept. 25 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Members of the public can talk to 33rd District Assembly Seat candidate Katcho Achadjian and 23rd U.S. Congressional seat candidate Tom Watson. Coffee and donuts will be served. Additional parking is available near…
Community Notebook 09.23
MONDAY, SEPT. 27 • The South County Advisory Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Services District Headquarters, 148 S. Wilson St., Nipomo. TUESDAY, SEPT. 28 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors…
Hobnobbing With Helen
Hats, hats, and more hats. All over the place. It was a hat-loving Hobnobber’s dream come true. City Councilperson Alice Patino was a vision in a big white floppy hat with clouds of red tulle. All eyes were on Dr. Dennis Shepard, who walked down memory lane in his medical school graduation beret—one of those…
Taking the ‘bate
During an economic recession, one tends to hear a lot of numbers being thrown around by members of the media, by politicians, and even by Joe Schmoe at the local coffee shop. Some of the numbers that bear the most weight in everyone’s minds—and wallets—are unemployment rates. Not long ago, the Sun reported the…
Affordable housing in question
Despite concerns over a lack of affordable housing in Santa Maria, city planners are moving ahead in converting the last land zoned for mobile homes into a residential area for nearly 300 single-family residences. The project, known as Heritage at Westgate Ranch, would be located west of Blosser Road, north of Battles Road, south of…
Nonprofs: remember to file for funds this fall
It’s that time of the year again for nonprofit organizations in the Santa Maria Valley—time to file for the Altrusa International Foundation Fall grants. The deadline is Oct. 1. “Any nonprofit organization, like the Boys and Girls Club, should apply,” Santa Maria chapter president Diane Alleman-Stevens said. “It’s simple to apply. Just fill out…
Help bring our community home
On. Oct. 6, dozens of local housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders will come together again in an effort to help end chronic homelessness in Santa Barbara County. And now the Housing and Support Services Collaboration Conference is open to the public. The event will be held at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriot in…
99¢ Only Stores slapped with fine for selling illegal pesticides
A federal judge has ordered owners of the 99¢ Only Stores chain to pay almost $410,000 in fines for the sale of household products containing illegal, unregistered, and misbranded pesticides, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a press release on Sept. 15. The fine is the largest contested penalty ever ordered under the…
SLO Land Conservancy appoints new execs
The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, a nonprofit land trust, announced the appointments of Lisa Wise and Herb Kandel as the group’s newest president and vice president, respectively. “We’re very excited to have new trustees step forward with a leadership role in our organization,” said Bob Hill, Executive Director of the Land Conservancy.…
Santa Barbara County HR head plans to step down
Following her boss’ lead, Santa Barbara County’s assistant CEO and Human Resources director Sue Paul announced she will resign Oct. 1 to pursue other job opportunities. Paul informed county CEO Mike Brown of her intentions in a letter dated Sep. 9. In it, Paul wrote that it had been a “genuine pleasure” to work for…
Moats is no more
The pool of candidates for the Santa Maria City Council race has shrunk to six. On Sept. 17, Dr. Michael Moats, a board certified dermatologist and owner of Moats Laser & Skin Care, announced in a press release the withdrawal of his candidacy for one of two open City Council seats. “My reason for withdrawing…
Atlas V takes to the skies
An Atlas V rocket successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Sept. 20—the 604th Atlas mission in United States history, according to base officials. When asked how officials figured the number, spokesperson Lt. Ann Blodzinski said: “We have a wing historian who keeps track of all things historical here.” The launch was a joint…
What’s in your glove compartment?
Mike Derry starving artist “I have an owner’s manual, phone charger, sunglasses, and maybe a coupon for Wienerschnitzel.” Jody Derry instructor “I don’t even know—last time I opened it was a month ago.” Carolyn Addington instructor “My registration papers, manual, flashlight, and a little toolset.” Don Ward Chairman of Friends of Waller Park “I have…
Clubs & Meetings
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Spiritual
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Farmers Markets
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Barbecues
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Health
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Art
@font-face { font-family: “Geneva”; }@font-face { font-family: “MS Sans Serif”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanDLigCon”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }p.hapstext, li.hapstext, div.hapstext { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 9pt; font-size: 8pt; font-family: NimbusSanDLigCon; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE shows metalwork by…
Learning
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Recreation
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Kids & Family
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Dance Lessons
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Stage
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Night Life
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Concerts
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Special Events
@font-face { font-family: “Geneva”; }@font-face { font-family: “MS Sans Serif”; }@font-face { font-family: “NimbusSanDLigCon”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }span.Absatz-Standardschriftart { }p.hapstext, li.hapstext, div.hapstext { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 9pt; font-size: 8pt; font-family: NimbusSanDLigCon; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } THE SANTA MARIA PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP…
