With our nation in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Congress must be willing to take bold, decisive action to spur a housing and economic recovery. Unless we halt the slide in home prices, the nation’s housing and economic woes will grow even worse. This is why a robust housing component must be […]
Get home buyers back in the market
Posted inOpinion
Stop state-mandated housing
No one wants state-mandated housing in their backyards, Montecito to Orcutt. The difference between the two areas is this: Montecito residents have money to keep this government-sponsored ghetto out of their neighborhoods. Some do not like this. In fact, Montecito did not tell the county or the state to put these houses in Orcutt or […]
Posted inOpinion
What will we do on first Fridays now?
As we begin the process of closing the David Ryan Gallery, we wish to thank the Santa Maria Sun for its coverage of the many events at our gallery over the past seven years. Our artists too are grateful for the positive exposure you have given them during this time. We especially want to thank […]
Posted inOpinion
David Ryan Gallery will be but a memory, though a fond one
It will soon be just a memory. And a very pleasant one, too. Ron and Terri Thatcher opened the David Ryan Gallery in Old Town Orcutt several years ago, redesigning a rather notorious building into a most appealing space for an art gallery. Who would ever have thought such a place of fine art would […]
Posted inOpinion
Don’t just read letters to the editor
Mr. David E. Basket of Santa Maria (“Eliminate cement from your life,” Dec. 18) proves the point, how cemented one gets to ascribe to others the point of view never made? Show, where, even once, the issue was to completely get rid of all cement? Please study—not just read—the letters published in our respected weekly, […]
Posted inNews
Grant ‘Bridges’ science gap between Hancock and four-year universities
Staffers at Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly recently partnered with an aim to increase the number of minority students who successfully transfer from the community college to biomedical and behavioral sciences programs at the four-year university and others like it. Funded by a “Bridges to the Baccalaureate” grant from the National Institutes of Health/National […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch
• Santa Barbara County officials recently released a statement reminding the public that county employees are taking a 64-hour pay cut as part of a furlough program approved by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in October. The furlough is meant to help balance the county’s budget and preserve key programs and services during […]
Posted inNews
‘Awesome Kids’ honored at luncheon
Winners of the 2008 Awesome Kids awards were honored at the annual KIDS Network Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 5 at the Santa Ynez Marriott in Buellton. The KIDS Network is a county-wide organization boasting members from public agencies, the court system, law enforcement agencies, education, community-based organizations, school-linked programs, and parent groups. “This year’s theme […]
Posted inNews
Have yourself a trashy little Christmas
Hold on to your holiday waste. There won’t be any garbage or recycling collection services or street sweeping on Dec. 25 in Santa Maria, because of the Christmas holiday. The Santa Maria Regional Landfill will also be closed for the day. Santa Maria’s residential and commercial customers will receive service one day later than their […]
Posted inNews
Deadline for federal fire aid is fast approaching
State and federal officials announced on Dec. 18 that California homeowners, renters, and business owners who suffered damages in the November wildfires—including the Tea Fire—only have one month left to apply for disaster assistance. According to a press release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Jan. 20 is the last day applications will be accepted […]
Posted inNews
‘Tis the season for promotions at the Santa Maria Police Department
Three Santa Maria police officers received an early Christmas present from Chief Danny Macagni. On Dec. 20, he promoted Sgt. James Ginter, Cpl. Terry Flaa, and Officer Alfredo Ruiz to new ranks. Ginter, now a lieutenant, is a 12-year veteran of the Santa Maria Police Department. He was originally hired as a lateral officer from […]
Posted inNews
Boxer report confirms hard economic times for California
At a press conference on Dec. 17, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) released a report describing the impact of the nation’s recession on California’s counties and cities. The report—based on interviews Boxer and her staff conducted with officials in 20 cities and all 58 counties—documents the economic strains felt across the state. The detailed analysis […]