Cover Story
Out of the shadows: As human trafficking becomes more visible on the Central Coast, authorities are collaborating in an unprecedented way to prosecute abusers, help victims, and end the cycle
May 18, 2016, marked a grim milestone in Santa Barbara County, as a Santa Maria jury found Humberto Carranza and Cameron Jones guilty of several counts of trafficking of a minor for sex. The case was one of the first human trafficking convictions in Santa Maria or North Santa Barbara County history. In the county…
Santa Barbara County Jail inmates allege jail deputies are opening and searching their legal mail
Current and former Santa Barbara County Jail inmates are alleging that their privileged legal mail was opened and searched. In a handwritten lawsuit filed on Aug. 22 in federal court, current inmate Taidje Rayburn Robinson alleges that letters between him and his attorney, Richard Diaz at California Disability Rights, were opened and searched on several…
What did you do for Labor Day?
Christopher Rojas Office assistant and student at Allan Hancock College (AHC) “Worked all day.” Edgar Ramirez Custodian and student at AHC “I was just home all day. Nothing really happened. It was relaxing.” Patrick Meztler Deliveryman and student at AHC “I went to Lake Nacimiento with my boss. There were not very many people there.”…
Pork chop and me, a love story: How the new and improved Bacon & Brine in Solvang is basically perfect
Have you ever taken the first bite of a meal and nearly cried from happiness? I have. It’s happened a handful of times: at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, on a few occasions in Europe, and—most recently—at Bacon & Brine in Solvang. Previously a take-out sandwich joint, Bacon & Brine opened its revamped restaurant on Aug.…
Couchghazi
The only two things in life that are guaranteed are death and taxes.” This saying is a lie. There are actually three things that are guaranteed: death, taxes, and at some point during your adulthood you will be slowly driven insane by the quest to purchase a new sofa. Why do I dare make such…
Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara brings Cambalache for concerts of son jarocho music
Your truest friends are the ones who show up when you are in need, at the drop of a hat. Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara, the nonprofit educational concert series that brings Latin American ensembles to perform free for the community, certainly has a friend in Cambalache and its leader César Castro. The LA-based…
C Gallery will feature abstract painter Dan Holland
The C Gallery in Los Alamos is the area’s home for abstract art, and its upcoming featured exhibit puts abstract painter Dan Holland’s work in the spotlight. Holland is an Arroyo Grande resident who is a Diablo Canyon database manager during the day, and an abstract, gestural artist by night. The exhibit will open on…
PCPA offers Teachers’ Weekend
The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) will offer a Teachers’ Weekend event on Sept. 10 and 11 open to local educators. The weekend is designed to give educators an up-close and personal look into the conservatory, which teaches all aspects of theater arts. Space is limited to 25 teachers, and there is a $100 registration fee.…
Santa Maria Arts Council issues call to artists
The Santa Maria Arts Council is getting ready for the 33rd annual Autumn Arts Festival and issuing a call to artists who want to participate in the Fine Arts Show portion of the festival. The Autumn Arts Festival is Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McClelland Street corridor downtown. The Fine…
Start your lenses: The New Times Media Groups’ annual Winning Images competition invites you to submit your finest photographs
Local photographers take note: The application period for the New Times Media Group’s annual Winning Images competition is fast approaching. Beginning Sept. 12, applications for the annual photography competition can be found on the Sun and New Times websites. And on Sept. 15, both papers will run an application in print. But don’t waste time,…
Flying Goat Cellars in Lompoc features the metal sculpture of Eric Morlan
Local sculptor Eric Morlan has used his imagination to craft three-dimensional art since childhood when he would play with his mother’s potting clay. He studied sculpture more extensively in the 1970s with artists and valued mentors Nat Fast, George Murrow, and Bill Shinn at Allan Hancock College. Morlan works with many media, but metallic materials…
Sierra Hohimer
No. 1 Cabrillo High School tennis singles player Sierra Hohimer doesn’t shy away from dreaming big. The junior picked up tennis only three years ago, during her freshman year as a Conquistador, yet she’s developed into one of the area’s top talents—with aspirations to take her tennis career beyond Cabrillo. “I definitely want to play…
Who’s swinging: Youth golf grows on the Central Coast, thanks to affordable programs like First Tee
Golf gets a bad rap for being an elitist game. Whether it’s the price of clubs or the price to play; the membership rates; the exclusive, “gentlemen’s club” vibe of courses; or just the maddening difficulty of the sport itself—there’s the belief out there that golf is a sport reserved for the full-pocketed. “Golf has…
Behind the secret identity
Identity is a valuable thing. You protect it from being stolen, and you take care to cultivate one that is honorable. And sometimes it’s necessary to keep it hidden for the greater good. Like Superman or Spider-Man or … like me for instance. So maybe I’m not at superhero level fighting for justice, but I…
Students need advocates
Back-to-school is an exciting time for students, bringing with it the anticipation of seeing friends again after the summer break, a new classroom, new teacher, and new lessons that build on an educational foundation. However, for children in foster care who often change schools multiple times, there is little excitement to be had when you…
Vote Justin Fareed for a stronger economy
After years of economic turmoil, we finally have the opportunity to change things in Washington by electing a representative who understands what it means to follow a budget and has a plan to address the regulations imposed on small businesses that make it difficult to stay in business. As the vice president of his family’s…
Where’s the balance?
The scene: Studios of the NNN (Nazi News Network), Berlin, 1933. “Good evening. I am your host, Wolfgang Tod. Tonight on ‘Important Issues’ we look at the question of whether Jews caused Germany to lose World War I and should therefore be exterminated. “Speaking for the government we have the minister of propaganda. For the…
McDonald’s offers students free breakfasts
McDonald’s is offering a kick-start to the school year with a free breakfast. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, participating restaurants will offer free breakfast from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. At Central Coast restaurants, students can enjoy an Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich, along with apple slices, and their choice of…
Homework help is coming to the Lompoc Public Library
Kindergarten-through-12th-grade students are invited to come take part in Homework Club at the Lompoc Library starting Sept. 13. Homework Club will be held every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Children’s Department. During Homework Club, volunteer tutors will be available to assist students with their homework. The club also welcomes…
CoastHills pairs with Presqu’ile Winery to host Rancho Vino
CoastHills Credit Union is getting ready to host Rancho Vino, a special event to support the future of farming on the Central Coast. The event takes place Sept. 10 with an evening of music, food and Presqu’ile wines, and the presentation of Generous Harvest—bottles of Presqu’ile pinot noir and chardonnay specially labeled for the event.…
Spotlight on: Betty’s Fabrics
At 89 years old, Betty Pilkington is still going strong. She runs and manages her shop, Betty’s Fabrics, throughout the week. When the Sun caught up with her, she was busy in her office filing paperwork and clearing out old documents from storage. For more than half a century, this was—and still is—her job. But…
Los Olivos residents are making the push to fix the town’s septic tank problem
For decades, the residents of Los Olivos have been trying to figure out what to do with their septic tanks. In the mid 1970s, the quaint town of about 1,000 residents and dozens of wine tasting rooms was declared a “special problem area” by Santa Barbara County after it discovered that most septic tanks could…
Losing United Airlines will not affect Santa Maria airport’s business park plans, according to manager
Santa Maria airport will make progress as usual with plans for its long-awaited airport business park, despite losing service from its only major airline, United Airlines. When the airport began working with United about a year and a half ago, the carrier offered service to and from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). But last May,…
Correction
In the Sept. 1 story “Meet the candidates,” Buellton City Council candidate Foster Reif’s name was misspelled.
LAFCO approves Cuyama Water Basin District application
The creation of a water district to manage groundwater in the Cuyama Valley moved forward on Sept. 1 following a 6-1 vote by the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Committee (LAFCO) to approve an application to form the Cuyama Water Basin District (CWBD). Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor and LAFCO commissioner Doreen Farr…
Political Watch 9/8/16
• A California Legislative Women’s Caucus priority bill to provide job-protected new parent leave for up to 2.7 million more Californians has passed off the Senate floor and is now headed to the governor’s desk. The vote was 24-12. Senate Bill 654 by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), the New Parent Leave Act, will provide…
Community Notebook 9/8/16 – 9/15/16
MONDAY, SEPT. 12 • The Santa Maria City Block Grants Advisory Committee has its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. • The Solvang City Council has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. TUESDAY, SEPT. 13 •…
Lake Cachuma drops to 7.5 percent capacity, in danger of becoming unusable ‘deadpool’
Lake Cachuma, the man-made lake created by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation after construction of the Bradbury Dam in the 1950s, is down to 7.5 percent capacity, according to sensors on Sept. 6. That’s one of the lowest levels on record since the dam was built, according to Fray Crease, manager for the Santa Barbara…
