The Santa Barbara County Foodbank’s Thanksgiving turkey drive ended Nov. 23, but the organization still needs donations for the upcoming holiday season. According to Foodbank officials, 62 percent of households served in Santa Barbara County are living below the poverty level and 29 percent have an annual income of less than $10,000. And many parents […]
Turkey time!
Posted inOpinion
How do you know when you’re full on Thanksgiving?
Pat Richman retired “When I pass out.” Kyler Goelzer student “When I’m really, really, really, really, full—like a wanna throw up. And my stomach yells at me.” Kyra Allan student “My brain tells me to stop after three turkey legs.” Sean Allan student “The little guy in my brain screams at me.”
Posted inNews
Political Watch 11.25
Despite “yes” votes from 258 Congressional representatives, the House failed on Nov. 18 to garner the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass a bill that would have extended federal unemployment benefits to out-of-work Americans. As planned, the benefits will expire on Nov. 30. The vote was the result of a stand-off between Democrats and Republicans […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 11.25
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1 • The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Planning Commission Hearing Room, 123 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The agenda is available at co.santa-barbara.ca.us. • The Santa Maria Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City […]
Posted inNews
Shake your booty
Pizza hasn’t yet changed the world, but it might if enough donations come in on Nov. 28. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Domino’s Pizza, in conjunction with the Santa Barbara County Firefighter’s Association, will be participating in the “Fill the Boot” fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital Research Center. This will be its […]
Posted inNews
Start here, go anywhere?
Despite a recent study giving California community colleges failing grades for completion and transfer rates, Allan Hancock College educators are optimistic their students are on the right track. The study, released in October by Sacramento State’s Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy (IHELP), analyzed nearly 250,000 degree-seeking students in the California Community College system, […]
Posted inNews
The Sun goes ghost-hunting!
Wait a minute—what the hell am I doing?” Driving southbound down Highway 1, rolling past the Guadalupe Cemetery under the full moon of a crisp autumn night, it suddenly dawns on me: I’m being forced to spend the night in a haunted building or I don’t get paid. I love my job. I first met […]
Posted inNews
Sister of alleged murder victim testifies in Lujan trial
Recent testimony in the trial of a man accused of beating his former girlfriend’s son to death has not been favorable for the defense. On Nov. 23, the jury heard testimony from the sister of 4-year-old Diego Calles, who died in July after allegedly suffering injuries at the hands of James Lujan, 30, of Lompoc. […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County sees a slight improvement in unemployment rates
Jobs are slowly starting to reappear, according to some Santa Barbara County officials. The Workforce Investment Board announced earlier this month that the county’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.7 percent in October, down three tenths of a percent from last month. The county is faring better than the state and the nation, which reported joblessness […]
Posted inNews
SBCAN files a lawsuit to protect county ag land
The Environmental Defense Center is doing all it can to protect Lompoc’s broccoli, lettuce, artichokes, and celery. Well, sort of. On Nov. 19, the Santa Barbara-based nonprofit law firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) alleging the city of Lompoc violated state guidelines when it approved the Environmental Impact […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria to install ‘Enforcers’ to help police catch red light violators
One year after a contractor put a stop to its controversial camera program, the city of Santa Maria is calling on Little Brother to combat red light runners. Promoted as a cheaper and easier-to-install way of reducing violations, tiny red light detection sensors called “Enforcers” will soon appear atop traffic signals throughout the city. The […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Pops welcomes children
The Lompoc Pops Orchestra will be raising the curtain for its annual Christmas concert by offering two performances, one at 4:30 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5. As a gift to the community, and special for the first time in its 14-year history, the Pops will be admitting all children 12 […]