People don’t see religious miracles every day, but in everyday life, small miracles happen all the time. When Anders Johnson—a Santa Barbara man of no religious persuasion—was inspired to build a tribute to the Virgin of Guadalupe in the city of Guadalupe, it may not have been a Vatican-classified miracle, but it was a blessing […]
Set in stone
Posted inOpinion
Don’t kill a tree this season
Christmas. ’Tis the season, so they say. Many folks begin their celebrations by killing a beautiful five- to 10-year-old tree and propping up the corpse in their living room to watch it shrivel and dry. Oh, what fun, and fa la la la. Macabre? Indeed. “What a beautiful tree,” friends say. “Yep, I cut it […]
Posted inOpinion
Invalidate all civil marriages?
My friend Ginger is 72 years old. Ginger suffered from back pain for quite some time and doctors recently found tumors in her spine. We all were concerned it was a recurrence of her previous cancer. While undergoing tests, Ginger reflected on her life. She shared that the one thing she always wanted but never […]
Posted inOpinion
Go ahead: Eliminate cement from your life
Regarding the “evil of cement” letter (“Cement is threatening life on Earth,” Dec. 4): People who espouse views can gain credibility by living those views. They tend to lose it when they want others to live as they direct but will not share in the same lifestyle. May I suggest that the writer do the […]
Posted inOpinion
Get it straight: Take a history class
What is Norman Mehl talking about in his recent letter to the Sun (“History and another point of view,” Dec. 11)? First, he rants that teaching is a “repetitive” profession. Does he mean all teaching, or just the teaching that goes on at Berkeley? Teaching, like all professions, has its repetition, but mostly, if done […]
Posted inNews
Want to serve on the Santa Maria City Block Grants Committee?
The city of Santa Maria is seeking a representative to serve on the Block Grants Advisory Committee to fill an unexpired term ending in July 2009. Applications are being accepted until Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. Members of the Block Grants Advisory Committee assess the community’s needs, conduct public workshops and hearings, review applications for […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Police Department continues to crack down on DUI offenders, unlicensed drivers
On Dec. 14, the Santa Maria Police Department’s Traffic Bureau conducted a DUI and driver’s license saturation patrol from noon to 10 p.m. in the Santa Maria area. A total of eight motor officers and 20 police officers joined the citywide effort. The officers made 327 traffic stops and issued 172 moving violation citations, conducted […]
Posted inNews
Wind farms, graffiti are hot topics for Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
On Dec. 16, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0, with 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray abstaining, to move the hearing for two appeals against the Lompoc Energy Project to February 2009. The project proposes building 65 turbines, each approximately 260 feet high (nearly 400 feet, counting rotors), on land five miles south […]
Posted inNews
Give the gift of preparedness with the Red Cross
This year, frazzled shoppers searching for the “perfect” gift need look no farther than their local chapter of the American Red Cross. Chapter offices in both north and south Santa Barbara County are currently selling a variety of inexpensive First Aid and Emergency Preparedness Kits and other items good to have on hand during emergency […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County continues Tea Fire relief efforts
It’s “all hands on deck” when it comes to carrying out response plans to help Santa Barbara County residents recover from the Tea Fire. Services and coordinated responses incorporate staffers from nearly every county department, including Public Works, Planning and Development, Sheriff’s, Fire, and Public Health, as well as the Office of Emergency Services and […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria is looking for locals to fill government vacancies
The city of Santa Maria is seeking representatives to serve on several key governmental boards, commissions, and committees for 2009. The deadline to submit an application to fill one of the vacancies is Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. City groups with vacancies include the All-America City Committee, the Code Compliance Board, the Community Action Commission, […]
Posted inNews
There’s a new commander on base
On Dec. 9, Vandenberg Air Force Base held a change of command ceremony: Lt. Gen. Larry James took command of the 14th Air Force and the Joint Functional Component Command for Space. James formerly held the rank of major general. James formerly served as the 5th Air Force vice commander and 13th Air Force deputy […]