Santa Maria residents will have a chance to sound off on water issues at the Central Coast Agricultural Water Quality Coalition Symposium on Nov. 6. The symposium will highlight the appearance of nitrates and other substances in water sources and its relation to fertilizer. According to a press release from the coalition, a representative from […]
Central Coast water quality symposium is scheduled for Nov. 6 in Santa Maria
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Downtown Specific Plan moves forward
Members of the Santa Maria City Council cheered as city staffers presented the final stages of the Santa Maria Downtown Specific Plan at the council’s Oct. 21 meeting, when council members unanimously approved a project blueprint and other final project guidelines. The plan awaits final approval on Nov. 4. According to the project plan and […]
Posted inNews
Incumbent Larry Lavagnino faces Ernest Armenta in Santa Maria’s mayoral race
Longtime mayor Larry Lavagnino is up for re-election, and he’s competing for votes with active Santa Maria citizen Ernest S. Armenta. Lavagnino has served as mayor of Santa Maria since 1996. Armenta ran against Lavagnino the last time the mayor was up for re-election four years ago and lost that race. The Sun asked these […]
Posted inNews
Safety first
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and the city of Lompoc held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Santa Barbara County Fire Chief John Scherrei, Sheriff Bill Brown, 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray, and 5th District Supervisor Brooks Firestone on Oct. 24, celebrating the grand opening of Lompoc’s new public safety building. The 12,600-square-foot shared building includes […]
Posted inNews
Nobel winner visits Allan Hancock College
It’s not every day locals get to listen to a Nobel Peace Prize winner speak about social justice, make an earnest appeal for reason during unreasonable times, and offer sage advice all in one go. The audience for Rigoberta Mench?’s visit to Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria on Oct. 23 got all that and […]
Posted inNews
Measure for measure
On Nov. 4, Californians will have a list of 12 state propositions to mull over, focusing on issues from gay marriage to alternative energy to veterans’ benefits. On the local level, Santa Barbara County voters will have several more measures to consider. However, only one of the measures will have a direct impact on the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Trick or treat?
Every Halloween there seems to be the “it” costume. For a long time, it was the black robe and menacing white face from the movie Scream. Recently, I have seen a lot of Hannah Montanas and Darth Vaders knocking at my door, begging for candy. I have also noticed that for the adult women set, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Arts Briefs
‘Sing to Me’ series starts at C Gallery No tech hassles. No wires. Just some acoustic music. That’s how Connie Rohde of the The C Gallery in Los Alamos described the first in the “Sing To Me” recital series. Linni Gilfrey will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the gallery. Wine and refreshments […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Spiritual content
David Stroup is searching for the spiritual connection between humanity and nature. And on his journey, he packs a camera. Seeing the connection between the human spirit and the landscape that surrounds it through the lens of a camera has helped him share that vision. He creates black-and-white, large-format photos that depict nature in its […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Something old, something new
It started out with a little old lady, clutching an umbrella, sitting in a parking lot at 7 a.m. on a drizzly morning. I wondered who she was and what she was doing. I later found out that she was waiting for the bus that takes patrons to and from the Chumash Casino. The bus […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Dinner’s at the door
A beloved local institution has gone national with an innovative method for delivering restaurant-quality meals to tables across the nation. And it’s not just your average restaurant quality, either, but prime steaks and savory seafood grilled, Santa Maria-style, over a live red oak fire. The Hitching Post I, founded in Casmalia 56 years ago by […]
Posted inOpinion
Lots of money in a little time
The construction industry provides sanctuary and equity wealth to homeowners, shelter to renters, comfortable places to conduct business and shop, good salaries to workers, and revenues that help fund local government and pay for public improvements. Yet we often hear people question if the construction industry is paying its fair share. State law, known as […]