The American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County chapter, announced that it has received a $50,540 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation to further support its disaster-related services. This chapter, which serves all of Santa Barbara County, is one of 128 Red Cross chapters awarded funds as part of the Wal-Mart Foundation’s initiative to support disaster response […]
Grant will support disaster services
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Winds worry Jesusita Fire fighters
Fire season hasn’t officially started yet, but the hills above Santa Barbara are burning. What’s now known as the Jesusita Fire began on May 5 at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the Cathedral Peak area. Fire crews from Santa Barbara Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Montecito Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service have been […]
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It’s an emergency
In light of the Jesusita Fire burning near Santa Barbara, the county’s substandard Emergency Operations Center—which coordinates multi-agency response and recovery plans during catastrophes—is under scrutiny from the Santa Barbara County civil grand jury. In a prescient report released on April 29—one week before the inferno broke out—the grand jury found that operating the EOC […]
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Vandenberg Air Force Base stalls Minuteman III launch
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile—scheduled for a May 20 launch—was grounded until further notice, according to a press release from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Second Lt. Raymond Geoffroy, a spokesman for 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, told the Sun that launch officials want to make sure the launch they’re simulating is as close […]
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Santa Barbara County releases death statistics
Full copies of the 2009 Santa Barbara County Community Health Status Report and its supplemental report are now available online at the county’s public health department website: sbcphd.org. The two documents investigate the leading causes of premature death and offer information about risk factors and preventative steps to improve public health. The Public Health Department […]
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Jesusita Fire turns up the heat on Santa Maria firebase debate
Controversy over the designation of the Santa Maria Public Airport’s air attack base from full-time to “call-when-needed” status has been fueled by the recent Jesusita Fire, which started burning on May 5. Some members of the public, including people displaced by the fire, have questioned whether or not the base’s downgraded status and an incomplete […]
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Be informed about Jane Russell
The Santa Maria Community Television show Be Informed will feature a special one-hour interview with actress and Santa Maria resident Jane Russell spilling the beans about her life in film, stage, and other entertainment venues, as well as her personal life. Russell has appeared with Hollywood’s biggest stars in 25 films, including The Outlaw, His […]
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Documentary follows the first vaqueros
The fifth film in the vaquero series of documentaries produced by Susan Jensen and Paul Singer, Los Primeros—The First Vaqueros, will show at 6 p.m. on May 15 at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. Refreshments and a no-host bar will be available. The documentary will shed new light on why Santa Ynez boasts such […]
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Sanctuary! Sanctuary!
Some artists opt for planned chaos. Some like to make bold statements. Others, like San Francisco artist Lawrence Abrahamsen, choose to evoke a sense of calm, inviting viewers to become part of the creative experience. Abrahamsen’s Creating Sanctuary evokes sea, air, and landscapes to offer an atmosphere that conveys his physical energy while retaining a […]
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Sobering up
Claude Hooten is a disorderly alcoholic. Yup, I said it. OK, actually, he said it. And he doesn’t care who knows about it. In fact, he wants you to know about it. Because if you don’t, then he wasted months of reliving the ups and downs of his crazy drunken days as a radio disc […]
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You snooze, you lose
I have this one bad habit my poor wife has to deal with on a daily basis. No, I’m not talking about body odor or stomach gas, although she is forced to deal with that, too. I’ll come clean and admit it: I’m a snoozer. No, not a boozer (which exhibits some of the same […]
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Joe Nightingale turns 50
Calling all Eagles! On May 29, Joe Nightingale Elementary School will host its 50th birthday celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. at the school’s campus, 255 Winter Road, in Orcutt. All current and former students, staffers, and their families are invited to attend the free event. The celebration will begin with family activities, including campus […]