When I come home from work each day, I walk right into the middle of a battlefield. On one side stands my son: tall, good-looking, 13 years old. When he’s not being sarcastic, he’s mumbling, rendering communication with him quite difficult. On the opposing side is my wife, whom I love: beautiful, loving, intelligent, has […]
Math wars
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
All can audition
The Temple of the People is holding auditions for “All Are Welcome Here,” a celebration of cultural and religious diversity, from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 28 at Hiawatha Lodge, 3065 Temple St., in Halcyon. Singers, dancers, and musicians are needed and must bring a prepared piece to the audition. The performance will be […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Painting in pastels
Pastel artist Martin Johnsen will give a free demonstration of pastel painting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on March 19 at 321 Santa Maria Town Center West, suite B-6. Johnsen has been involved in the local art scene since his days at Allan Hancock College—from a scenic artist at PCPA to picture framing, gallery directing, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Vandenberg namesake profiled
The namesake of Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Maria hasn’t been forgotten. General Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg is just one of 524 military heroes profiled in a recently published book, In Their Honor: The Men Behind the Names of Our Military Installations. Vandenberg was also director of the Central Intelligence Agency, U.S. chief of military […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Elementary, dear readers
Farah Shaw finds it hard to resist a good mystery. And her favorite has always been that quintessential detective, Sherlock Holmes—so much so, she’s written a series based on the king of deduction. “I wanted to write a book that re-introduced this generation of readers to Sherlock Holmes,” she explained. “I wanted to write about […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Pi in your eye
Pi Day came and went. March 14 has become known as Pi Day for math enthusiasts because of its relation to the math constant of the same name, which is 3.14, the first three numbers you get by dividing the circumference of a circle by its diameter. If you think of our calendar as a […]
Posted inNews
State of the union
These guys are basically thugs. They’re borderline criminals.” “The stuff they’ve been doing is harassment.” “They would go to people’s homes after dark.” “What they’re doing is blackmail.” These were just a few of the opinions—those that were fit to print anyway—voiced by local business owners who’ve dealt with Camarillo-based Carpenters Local 150. Exactly what […]
Posted inOpinion
Do you feel it’s right that California is spending more on the prison system than on the education system?
Morgan Marcil student “It seems backwards, especially being a student with the tuition always increasing and classes being cancelled. California shouldn’t spend more money on people who have done wrong when they are people like me trying to become better citizens.” Nicole Kelly server “It is a good thing that we keep people from who […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 3.11
U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) has endorsed Hilda Zacarias’s campaign for the open 33rd Assembly District seat being vacated by Sam Blakeslee. The Congresswoman’s office announced the endorsement in a press release on March 3. “I am pleased to offer Hilda my endorsement. Throughout her life, she has shown a commitment to improving her […]
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Community Notebook 3.11
TUESDAY, MARCH 16 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Agendas are available at santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Guadalupe Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing with Helen
It was Dancing With the Stars, Santa Maria style. As soon as the band Unfinished Business unleashed its powerful sounds, the Radisson ballroom dance floor was immediately flooded with gyrating guests. The Orcutt Children’s Art Foundation (OCAF) Annual Gala (a $100-a-plate event) occurred Friday evening, Feb. 26, at the scene of all the fancy footwork. […]
Posted inNews
She walks with a purpose
When Jeana Moore’s granddaughter Jada Bascom was just five months old, doctors informed the little girl’s parents she’d need a bone marrow transplant to survive. Diagnosed with leukemia at birth, Jada had already required four chemotherapy treatments—and time was running out. After two months on the donor waiting list, doctors found her match on the […]