Cover Story
Meet your mayor
Sitting in a Starbucks on North H Street, a steaming cup of coffee nestled between his fingers, Lompoc’s new mayor, Mike Siminski, was still in a bit of a daze. Within 15 minutes of sitting down, two fellow Lompocans came to congratulate the longtime city councilman on his new position. “I just wanted to…
What would you do if you were mayor for a day?
Marco Cortez student “Do what ever I want—I’m the mayor!” Priscilla Ruedas student “Fix the roads, and I would offer free swimming lessons to those who wanted them. Swimming is a great thing.” Jose Castro prepaid legal associate “Try and feed as many homeless people as I can. From morning to night, I would look…
Clubs & Meetings
4-H welcomes anyone interested in the group to sign up now. Find a nearby club by contacting the Santa Barbara County 4-H Office at 692-1730 or zmhughes@ucdavis.edu. ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. of SANTA MARIA, a nonprofit business and professional organization, meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., in the Altrusa Theatre of the…
Spiritual
BAHA’I interfaith worship services are the second Sunday of each month. Info: 489-4172. Children’s classes are the first Saturday of each month. Info: 937-9451. Study circles about The Life of the Spirit are ongoing in Santa Maria. For questions, dates, and times: 614-0963. Info: 937-9451. BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH holds worship services Sundays with Holy…
Farmers Markets
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and…
Barbecues
ONGOING FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY barbecues Filipino food at the Smart and Final parking lot, N. Broadway on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu items include tri-tip, chicken, beef kabobs, chicken adobo, salad, rice, and bread. Meals cost $6. Info: 922-3422 or 922-3799. FILIPINO CATHOLIC SOCIETY, under the direction of St. Mary’s Church…
Health
SANSUM CLINIC offers a “Managing Your Stress” class Sept. 8 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. An “Eye Care and Treatment” class Sept. 10 from 4 to 5 p.m. A “Stress Management” class is Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 9 through 30 at the clinic. Free. “Cholesterol Management” is Sept. 10 from 5:30 to…
Art
THE LOMPOC VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION presents the exhibition “For the Beauty of the Earth” through Sept. 27 at the Cypress Gallery, 119 East Cypress Ave., Lompoc. An opening reception is Sept. 5 from 2 to 4 p.m. Info: 737-1129. THE LOMPOC MUSEUM presents the exhibit “A Sweet Pea Centennial: 100 Years of Growing Sweet…
Learning
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents a Bulldog Bow-Wow! Orientation event on Sept. 3 at the Allan Hancock College Lompoc Valley Center. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3229. THE ST. MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH presents Fr. Jerry Obos from the Philippines delivering a healing mass on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at the church, 414 E Church…
Recreation
THE GUADALUPE DUNES CENTER offers a full-moon hike on Sept. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at Oso Flaco Lake. Info: 343-2455, Ext. 201. THE CITY OF LOMPOC PARKS, RECREATIONS, AND URBAN FORESTRY DEPARTMENT offers a “Yoga-Stretch and Strength” class meeting Tuesdays Sept. 8 to 29; and Sept. 10 to 24 from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.…
KIDS & FAMILY
THE DISCOVERY MUSEUM presents a “Move and Groove at the Museum” program featuring music and dance for kids on Sept. 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the museum, 705 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Info: 928-8414 or programs@smdiscoverymuseum.org. THE PISMO BEACH YOUTH THEATRE presents musical theater production classes for 4th through 8th graders…
DANCE LESSONS
THE CITY OF SANT MARIA Recreation and Parks Department presents “Twinkle Toes—Mommy and Me Pre-Ballet” for kids 2 to 3 years old Tuesdays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. starting Sept. 8 at the Veteran’s Memorial Center, 313 West Tunnell St., Santa Maria. Cost is $27, $22 for city residents. A “Cardio Dance Fusion” class is…
Stage
PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of Distracted by Lisa Loomer through Sept. 20 at the Severson Theatre, 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria. Cost is $26.25 to $28.25. Info: 922-8313 or pcpa.org. WORTH THE DRIVE MURDER IN MIND PRODUCTIONS presents its production of SLO Legal, a murder mystery dinner theater parody of Boston…
Night Life
The following venues offer either regularly scheduled live entertainment or DJ-hosted dance music. Most performances start after 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. IN THE AREA CLUB 805, AKA STINKY’S BAR & GRILL: 2430 South Broadway, 614-9316. DJ Davey D Saturday nights. THE COACHMAN: 1531 S. Broadway, 922-5556. Thursday through Saturday: DJ from…
Concerts
WORTH THE DRIVE THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND performs in concert with special guest Moonalice on Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Lobero Theatre, 33 East Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. Cost is $38.50 to $47.50. Info: 966-4946. NEDERLANDER presents John Legend in concert with special guests India Arie and Vaughn Anthony on…
Special Events
THE LOMPOC POLICE DEPARTMENT presents its eighth annual Car Show and Cruise Night in benefit of the Special Olympics featuring special guest Eric “Ponch” Estrada on Sept. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. and the car show on Sept. 5 with judging from 9 a.m. to noon at Ryon Park, Lompoc. Entry fee to show…
Political Watch 9-3
• On Aug. 26, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) joined a long list of politicians, activists, and other individuals to publicly express condolences on the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy. “Today America lost a true patriot, a committed public servant, and a legislative legend. He was one of the greatest senators this country has…
Community Notebook 9-3
TUESDAY, SEPT. 8 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, suite 141, Santa Maria. Agendas are available at bos-agenda.sbcgov.net. • The Guadalupe City Council has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the…
A healthy debate
Unless you’ve had your head under a rock recently, it’s hard to miss that debate going on in this country over health-care reform. Depending on where you stand, H.R. 3200—America’s Affordable Health Choices Act—is either the first step on the road to the horrors of socialism or the wonder-drug cure-all for a broken system.…
Phased out?
Nearly five years after an international treaty banned the ozone-depleting fumigant methyl bromide from manufacture, the chemical is still being used as a pesticide on strawberries on the Central Coast. Stockpiles of the toxic gas are legal for growers to use on strawberries in the United States—the result of an “essential use” exemption from…
Taste for a cure
Go wine tasting for a good cause on Sept. 6 from 2 to 7 p.m. at Addamo Estate Vineyard Tasting Room and Bistro, 400 E. Clark Ave., in Old Town Orcutt. A portion of the proceeds will go to Central Coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to find a cure for the devastating disease. …
Correction
In its annual Best Of issue, the Sun failed to list Alfonso Curti as the owner/head chef of Uliveto Trattoria (Best New Restaurant). Jim Spallino is the co-owner. News Briefs is compiled by Sun staffers from staff reporting and local and national media. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or…
Vandenberg’s Joint Space Operations Center wins an award
The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Aug. 26 received the Omaha Trophy in the global operations category for 2008, recognizing the facility’s operational flexibility and technical imagination. It marks the third year in a row the JSpOC was selected as a trophy recipient. One of the center’s major roles…
Santa Maria Area Transit to receive more than $2.5 million for a new transit center
The wheels on the bus should run a lot smoother now that Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT) is scheduled to receive more than $2.5 million in stimulus money for a new Intermodal Transit Center and cleaner buses from the Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration. The funding allows the city to expand its…
Armijo arraignment set for Sept. 9
A felony perjury case against former supervisorial aide Gil Armijo has been transferred from Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Clifford Anderson to Judge Frank Ochoa, according to a press release from Armijo. An arraignment hearing is set for Sept. 9. Armijo was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in December 2007,…
Dudley to run for Santa Barbara County District Attorney
After almost 20 years of serving as a prosecuting attorney in Santa Barbara County, Senior Deputy District Attorney Joyce Dudley is ready for a promotion. At a Sept. 1 press conference in Santa Barbara, Dudley announced that she’s running for district attorney. In her candidacy speech, Dudley said one of the reasons she’s…
Three local state parks are slated for closure
Several weeks after celebrating the restoration of more than $120 million to the California State Parks system, some Central Coast parks are once again facing closure for at least two years. Painted Cave State Historic Park, La Purisima Mission, and Point Sal Beach are all on a list of 50 to 100 parks slated…
Lompoc Museum seeks baskets
The Lompoc Museum is looking for paintings of baskets to be included in its Oct. 3 through Jan. 3 show. Artists with any such paintings to exhibit can call Dee Frasher at 733-2626. The entrance dates for this show are Sept. 25 and 26. Arts Briefs is compiled by Arts Editor Shelly Cone. Information…
C Gallery gets small
The C Gallery in Los Alamos is putting out a call for submissions for the upcoming “Miniatures” show in October. Submissions are due Oct. 15, 16, 17,and 18 at the gallery by 4 p.m. There’s no theme, no age limit, and no restrictions on media, but all artwork must be original and must be 6…
Take your face to see these places
The latest exhibition at the Santa Maria Public Library will feature the two passions of one artist: painting live models and developing paintings from sketches made while traveling. Lompoc artist Joan Jones’ show “Faces and Places” includes local scenes, as well as scenes from Mexico, Norway, and France. The show will hang in…
Art speaks
It doesn’t always take knowledge of a specific language to start a global discussion. Understanding can happen with the exchange of something as simple and universally understood as a smile. Or as complex and personal as art. Students participating in the first Central Coast Momentus International project may have started with a smile, but…
Criticizing ’bout my generation
As I stood with the rest of the audience, clapping vigorously in reverence for the actors and actresses in PCPA’s latest show, I knew that Distracted was the play for the lost generation, the distracted generation. Just as Death of a Salesman spoke to those who had suffered greatly from the ridiculous demands of society’s…
Maybe a name change can help
Instead of calling our hot dry weather “fire weather,” which sets us up for having a fire, how about calling it “fire prevention weather.” This would set us up to prevent fires.
Santa Maria gets a Marine Corps league detachment
Marines of the Coastal Valleys—including the communities of Santa Maria, Orcutt, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Buellton, Lompoc, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, and Guadalupe—have gathered together to form a new Marine Corps League detachment. Marine Corps League Coastal Valleys Detachment 1340 has officially been chartered. The Marine Corps League is dedicated to helping active duty and…
Give people incentives to stay healthy
Regardless of where Congress goes with health care, isn’t it time we paid attention to our own health-care footprints? A study appearing in this month’s Journal of the American Medical Association says that you can reduce your risk of chronic diseases—such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, and heart disease—by 80 percent just by following four simple…
Everybody needs to be able to understand health care
As a member of AARP, I oppose any governmental involvement in health care! I have no confidence in my elected officials in Washington, D.C., since their current and past actions of mismanagement for Medicare, Social Security, and bail-out plans for undeserving companies speak volumes! The average American has no voice in government any longer, since…
Don’t be a sheep: Get educated about health care
One of the most ignorant arguments against health-care reform is that we will then have government making decisions about health care options. So am I to assume that those who are afraid of that are OK with CEOs and “for-profit” corporate bureaucrats making those decisions? Who do they think is making those decisions now? It’s…
The pizza men
In my early years of marriage, I made a lot of mistakes. I’m not talking about the usual stuff like leaving the lid up. I’m referring to the time I spent money we didn’t have on cars I shouldn’t have purchased. A young family doesn’t exactly need a used 1992 notchback Mustang 5.0 LX with…
Farm organization endorses tax reform
Stressing the multiple benefits of maintaining family farms and ranches, a coalition of California farm organizations has endorsed tax-reform legislation that would exclude farm assets from the federal estate tax. The Family Farm Preservation Estate Tax Act, H.R. 3524, would exempt farm and ranch assets from estate taxes as long as the property remains…
State tax rates adjusted
The Franchise Tax Board released the 2009 state tax brackets, indexed each year by adjusting them to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index. Filing requirement thresholds, standard deduction, and certain credits were adjusted, along with income tax brackets, based on the deflation rate of -1.5 percent. The standard tax deduction will…
Share career info at Hancock
Local employers are invited to sign up for Allan Hancock College’s Career Exploration Day, taking place this year on Oct. 2. Businesses will be able to share information on careers and meet with more than 1,000 high school and college students to excite them about employment opportunities within local companies. Exhibit registration forms…
Beyond the shack
Among the early, brave souls to tackle winemaking in Santa Barbara County, Bill Wathen and Dick Doré turned a messy hobby into a booming business. In the nearly 30 years since they slid a fresh cork into their first bottle of wine, the pair has earned global fame as “the Foxen boys.” “I remember,…
Allan Hancock College course aims to take the unknown out of cancer treatment
Learn all about the advances being made in cancer prevention, treatment, and research by attending a series of free presentations Sept. 22 through Oct. 20 at the Allan Hancock College Student Center. Each session will focus on a different topic, and will be presented by Marian Medical Center physicians and other health-care providers who specialize…
Santa Maria Valley Industry Education Council is ‘Wild About Partnerships’
In honor of Santa Maria’s education-friendly businesses, the Santa Maria Valley Industry Education Council and Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce will be co-hosting the 2009 business appreciation luncheon, “Wild About Partnerships,” on Sept. 9 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge. The luncheon will include an awards ceremony to…
Local TV station, Realty company pledge to make a difference ‘One Class at a Time’
To help ease the fiscal burden put on schools by severe budget cuts to education, KSBY and Century 21 Hometown Realty have started “One Class at a Time,” a grant program for K-12 classrooms in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Every two weeks, KSBY and Century 21 Hometown Realty will award a…
Juan Campos
Lompoc’s Juan Campos is proof that some things get better with age. The 49-year-old turned heads in the Aug. 8 debut of the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department’s Tri-the-Bull Triathlon, an event consisting of a quarter-mile swim at Pioneer Valley High School, a 10-mile bike ride, and a 3-mile run along Bull Canyon…
It’s not all academic
Heading into its second year of operation, Orcutt Academy is a small organization with big expectations. Along with adding four more fall sports, school administrators tapped Chad McKenzie to help propel the school’s sports program to new heights as its athletic director. “Everything’s fresh and exciting,” McKenzie said. “The athletes here are happy…
Warriors get wet
Righetti High School is celebrating its new swimming pool and P.E. facility with a grand opening at the school, 941 E. Foster Road in Santa Maria, at 3:15 p.m. on Sept. 9. For more information, call 937-2051, Ext. 2702. Sports Shorts is compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the…
Take me fishing
Boys and girls ages 6 to 12 years old can learn the basics of fishing for free at the third annual “Take Me Fishing” event on Sept. 20. Kids can also take part in a casting contest, fish printing activities, and a GPS treasure hunt, and learn about lake life. Fishing poles and tackle…
Punt, pass, and kick
Young football fans will have the opportunity to test their football skills against their peers at the NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition. The free event will be held Sept. 17 at Hagerman Sports Complex from 5 to 7 p.m. The competition is open to ages 8 to 15. Registration takes place on site…
Los Flores Ranch Park is open
The City of Santa Maria and the Department of Recreation and Parks announced the hours of operation for Los Flores Ranch Park. The park will be open Thursday for equestrians only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with last entry at 5 p.m. The park will be open to everyone Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays…
