Santa Maria voters overwhelmingly approved Measure U, the city’s quarter-cent sales tax to fund public safety in the June 5 primary. The measure needed 50 percent plus one to pass. The tax will go into effect Oct. 1, but the city won’t start receiving revenue until Jan. 1, 2013. The money will go toward construction […]
Measure U passes
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Gray and Adam move to runoff for 4th District supervisor
The race between Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray and challenger Peter Adam was too close to call on June 5, so the candidates will head to a runoff in November. According to the Santa Barbara County registrar of voters, Gray and Adam came within less than two percentage points of each other, […]
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Shadow on the sun
Vince Tobin, an Allan Hancock College adjunct faculty member teaching astronomy and physics, set up two telescopes the afternoon of June 5 so locals could see Venus pass in front of the sun from our vantage point. The next time such an event will happen is in 2117.
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Congressional candidates Capps and Maldonado move on to a November runoff
The anticipated showdown between two Central Coast political heavyweights for the 24th U.S. Congressional District became reality when polls closed June 5, as Rep. Lois Capps and Abel Maldonado finished first and second, respectively, in primary voting. In a closely watched race, the incumbent Capps, who has represented the district since 2003, fared well in […]
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Farming’s dark side?
Fields of leafy green vegetables and ripening strawberries in the Santa Maria Valley look innocent enough as the food crops get ready for dining tables around the country, their growth spurred by farmers’ addition of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. But deep below the root zone lurks an unappetizing problem. A new study by UC Davis scientists […]
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Athlete of the Week: Lucas Martin
It’s natural for athletes to hit walls and experience setbacks while they work to improve their game—the hurdles can range from minor to massive. The setback for Lompoc High School’s Lucas Martin, 17, was a devastating car crash in 2010 that left him with more than a 1,000 stitches on his face. Less than a […]
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On the roster
• Equestrian fundraiser: A joint benefit for the Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program and the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Association on June 2 will showcase world-class equestrians. Equestrian entertainer Ramon Becerra and Cowgirl Hall of Famer Sandy Collier are scheduled to perform, as is Olympic bronze medalist dressage rider Charlotte Bredahl-Baker. The event runs […]
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Nature Center holds fishing workshop and talk
The Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake will be holding a workshop on June 2 to teach adults basic fishing skills. Local fishing experts will run the workshop from 8:45 a.m. to noon. The registration fee is $10 and limited to the first 30 adults. For more information, call 693-0691 or mail a check […]
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Cycling director visits Santa Maria
The SoCal High School Cycling League is taking its show on the road for a summer outreach stop in Santa Maria. SoCal League Director Matt Gunnell will be at Main Street Cycles on June 5 at 7 p.m. to provide information about forming high school mountain bike clubs at local high schools. There’s no charge […]
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High school football stars face off
The top seniors from 14 high school teams in Northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties will clash on the gridiron at the second annual FCA All-Star Football Classic on June 2 at Atascadero High School. The South team will be composed of players from Santa Ynez, Lompoc, Cabrillo, St. Joseph, Righetti, Pioneer Valley […]
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Requiem for a team
One baseball era in Santa Maria is over, while another, 50 miles up the highway, is just beginning. The Indians, founded in 1944 and the oldest semipro franchise in California, are saying goodbye to Santa Maria, and hello to San Luis Obispo County, where they’ve been resurrected as the North County Indians. The Indians announced […]
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The piano whisperer
Of all the four-legged beasts that need taming, there are none quite as formidable as the piano. Boasting 220 strings under 200 pounds of pressure—each of which responds to environmental pressures such as heat and humidity—the piano is a living, breathing instrument. When the slightest thing goes wrong with one of these complex creatures, you […]