I think everyone, especially Mr. McGinnes, who opposes the suicide barrier, should be required to go on the search and recovery of the jumpers (“To barricade or not to barricade?” Feb. 18). I think their first experience with the body of the jumper would change their minds. If not the first, then the second and […]
A barrier wouldn’t really impact the view
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Christine Stanko
Thanks to a few bare-knuckle portrayals of roller derby skaters in popular culture, participants have been labeled with a cliché of being careless about whether they win or not and having needs like that of a rabid dog. That’s not what Ruff Rollerz jammer Christine “Ruby WreckHer” Stanko is like. In fact, the reality is […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Have Hart, will travel
Sure, I could have stayed home to watch the final night of the Olympics, but when it comes to revivals of old-time entertainment, I’ll always go with the Romans. Today’s gladiators, however, aren’t armed with Neptune’s trident, but with a steel chair. I kicked the night off by standing in line and reminiscing with someone […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Expo run raises money for obesity prevention
The producers of the SLO County Health and Fitness Expo’s 5k Run announced the donation of $1,000 to benefit the Community Health Centers’ Teen Obesity Prevention Program. Representatives of Simply Clear Marketing said the donation would provide 15 scholarships for needy students to participate in the program. Currently, 600 students in northern Santa Barbara and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Hancock basketball players earn Conference honors
Though both Allan Hancock College basketball teams struggled in 2010, four players took home Western State Conference Honorable Mention honors. Conference officials selected freshmen Chrissy Bessermin and guard Ashley Bonenfant from the women’s team and picked sophomores Darion Capers and Sean Kelly to represent the men’s team. Bonenfant, a guard from Cabrillo High, averaged 13.7 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Spring eats
This year, Santa Barbara County’s restaurateurs prove that March needn’t be limited to a single celebration of all things green. In venturing beyond the corned beef and cabbage of St. Patrick’s Day, they promise to deliver a variety of edibles guaranteed to delight Scandinavians, sushi fans, beef-eaters, and foodies of all stripes. Beginning March 14, […]
Posted inNews
Locals see red over photo enforcement
Less than three years after Santa Maria’s red light photo enforcement program began, the cameras and strobe lights are gone from the intersections where they once perched. All that remains are the poles to which they were attached—for now. On Feb. 22, as workers removed video and photo equipment from two intersections, the city was […]
Posted inOpinion
What should Santa Maria do to curb the graffiti problem?
Greg Watson student “They should put security cameras all over the town.” Steele Asing student “A neighborhood watch kind of thing for all over. But, then again, some graffiti is art.” Chris Parisi student “We should chop off those who break the law’s hands when they are caught, because they can’t graffiti again without hands.” […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 2.25
Cast your vote: Members of the Santa Maria Valley Democratic Club and Young Democrats of America will be holding a door-to-door voter registration drive in Santa Maria on March 7 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 720-0851. Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Cyber Security Enhancement […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 2.25
TUESDAY, MARCH 2 • 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 Vandenberg Village Community Services District has its regular board meeting at 7 p.m. in the District […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing with Helen
There was a ton of Valentine’s Day events around town—so many options for celebrating Cupid. One such event, which benefited the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, was held on Feb. 13, at Marvin and Paulette Teixeira’s Tres Hermanas Winery barn on Foxen Canyon Road. The barn is a spacious affair with interesting wrought-iron chandeliers and […]
Posted inNews
Rehabilitation stations
As in many counties in California, jail overcrowding has been a substantial public safety concern for several decades in Santa Barbara County. Since 1986, the county has been under court order to limit jail populations and the impacts of overcrowding. A major solution to this problem—a North County jail facility—is currently in the works. And […]