On Sept. 16, officials from three counties let out sighs of relief after the Paso Robles City Council conditionally approved construction of a state-run re-entry facility on land adjacent to the Paso Robles Municipal Airport. The council voted 4-0, with Councilman John Hamon absent, in favor of building a 500-bed facility to rehabilitate inmates from […]
Paso City Council conditionally approves tri-county re-entry facility
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County Fire Chief announces his retirement
Santa Barbara County Fire Chief John Scherrei will soon be passing the firefighting torch to someone else, following his retirement from county service in January 2009. On Sept. 22, Scherrei confirmed his pending retirement plans with County Executive Officer Michael F. Brown and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. The county human resources department […]
Posted inNews
Land of the frogs
Earlier this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended designating almost two million acres in 28 California counties as protected habitat for the California red-legged frog. In Santa Barbara County, approximately 170,00 acres would be set aside for the multi-colored amphibian. The habitat would include areas in the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez valleys, […]
Posted inNews
Otters are making waves
Starting Sept. 21, the California Legislature and dozens of zoos, aquariums, and other organizations from Monterey to Melbourne, honored one of the Golden State’s biggest celebrities: the southern sea otter. Last month, the state Legislature, led by Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), approved an initiative officially declaring the last week in September to be Sea […]
Posted inNews
There’s a new general manager in town
A lot has changed at KCOY and KKFX in the last year. There are new owners, different anchors, and more than a few new employees. Despite all of the changes, however, the stations have been missing one thing: a boss. Not anymore. Kevin Harlan has been appointed the general manager of KCOY-CBS 12 and KKFX-FOX […]
Posted inNews
First 5 Santa Barbara County will host an annual Champions for Young Children Conference
On Oct. 1, First 5 Santa Barbara County will welcome two of the nation’s leading child development experts to its annual Champions for Young Children Conference in Buellton. The daylong conference is designed to provide Santa Barbara County parents, teachers, and childcare professionals with the latest information to support the healthy development of young children. […]
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Migration will take center stage at a Hancock lecture series
Teachers, public officials, students, and community members will discuss all things migration at Allan Hancock College’s fall 2008 Faculty Lecture Series, to be held every Friday at 6:30 p.m. through Oct. 24 on the Santa Maria campus. The series begins on Sept. 26 with Migration Stories, featuring a faculty panel that will discuss personal stories […]
Posted inOpinion
Write Now!
We want to know what you think about everything. Send your 250-word letter to Sun Letters, 3130 Skyway Drive, Suite 603, Santa Maria, CA 93455. You can also fax it (347-9889) or e-mail it (mail@santamariasun.com). All letters must include a name, address, and phone number for verification purposes, and may be edited for space or […]
Posted inOpinion
Ethics and experimentation
Professor (Dr.) Patrick Lin, an “ethicist,” uses the terms “science” and “technology” in his lengthy, meandering narrative instigated by, as he puts it, “world’s largest particle accelerator” (“Armageddon it,” Sept. 18). He never defines what he means by these terms and lets the readers conjure the meaning. Yes, there may be a feeling as to […]
Posted inOpinion
Can you spare any change?
The costly bailouts keep us in a collapse mode. What citizens want is not monster expensive mansions, but small sustainable inexpensive homes with solar panels and photovoltaics on the roof and a clothesline in the backyard. Change is needed, not bailouts.
Posted inOpinion
At least we admit our problems
A recent front page story in both the Lompoc Record and the Santa Maria Times reported the tragic loss of funds experienced by the Lompoc Valley Festival Association due to embezzlement. Recently, I attended an event in Orcutt, where two prominent citizens of Santa Maria said to me, “My, you certainly seem to have a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
‘El Animal’ is poised to turn pro
In person, Eric Serrano is polite and soft-spoken. He’s friendly, but shy. He’s the exact opposite of who he is in the ring. “He turns into a different person,” said Carlos Ruiz, Serrano’s coach. “He tears his opponents apart like an animal.” Serrano, 18, is now known in boxing circles as “El Animal.” He got […]