I am a freelance writer who contributes to the Sun, but as a visual artist I want to say that I appreciated Shelly Cone’s piece (“Where is the art?”) in the July 17 issue. I particularly want to applaud Craig Shafer’s comment: “I don’t care if you’re blue collar, white collar, or blue blood, it’s […]
Make Santa Maria’s arts community more visible
Posted inOpinion
The world needs a well-though-out energy plan
T. Boone Pickens’ investments to solve the oil crisis will do nothing to provide more, cheaper gasoline for the 200 million cars in the United States. Only more oil development will solve that problem. All power sources pollute in some way. Which pollutes the least and is the easiest to manage is the question and […]
Posted inOpinion
Sun freelancer was a delight on the diamond
My name is Jim “Woody” Roland, who John so kindly mentioned in his Fantasy Camp story (“It’s never too late to play ball,” July 24). Just wanted to say that John was a delight to spend time with over the weekend. His enthusiasm in participating and covering the game as a writer for the Sun […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing With Helen
This was not your ordinary afternoon ladies’ tea. This was a celebration of warm, loving hearts coming together to help. This was the culmination of a year’s hard work, getting the word out to North County women and educating them about philanthropy and the “power of the purse.” This was a tea for the Women’s […]
Posted inNews
Got camp?
Know any children who want to go to summer camp, but might not be able to afford it? Limited funding is still available for recreation “camperships” for the 2008 summer day camp program, according to a press release from the city of Santa Maria. There are only three weeks remaining in the summer camp program, […]
Posted inNews
Union Valley Parkway project ready for public review
On Aug. 12, a public hearing will be held in the Radisson Hotel’s Enterprise Ballroom from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to address the proposed Union Valley Parkway Extension/Interchange Project. The California Department of Trans-portation (Caltrans), along with the city of Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County, are proposing to extend Union Valley Parkway west from […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria blood drive is coming up
They vant to drink your blood! Well, more like harvest it for medical use. The city is hosting its third blood drive this year from noon to 5 p.m. on Aug. 7, in the parking lot between the lawn bowling green and Paul Nelson Aquatic Center along South McClelland Street in Santa Maria. The public […]
Posted inNews
Opposition groups say Proposition 2 is something to cluck about
Come November, farm animals will be front and center on the ballot. Proposition 2, also known as the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, would outlaw veal cages, pig gestation crates, and battery cages used to hold egg-laying hens throughout California. If passed, all farms would have to be cage-free by 2015, and violators would […]
Posted inNews
Groups seek to limit methyl bromide exposure
Methyl bromide. It’s a chemical that residents of the Santa Maria Valley have heard a lot about, especially if they pay attention to the news. Most recently, it’s being tossed around in discussions about combating the “charcoal rot” fungus in local strawberry fields. The pesticide-that-could is back in the news—and has been back in court—since […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete of the Week
After scoring his team’s only goal in the Santa Maria All Stars vs. Chivas USA exhibition game, Andy Contreras has been receiving a lot of attention. For a kid who hopes to play professional soccer someday, that’s a good thing. “He got a lot of compliments from the Chivas’ head coach,” said coach Al Garcia. […]
Posted inNews
Let your geek flag fly
The highest-grossing movies of this summer have been comic-book adaptations. Think Hollywood invented Iron Man? Hellboy? Batman? The Hulk? Please. Tinsel Town writers have been mining the most hallowed trusts of geekdom for their latest blockbusters, and comic books aren’t the only film fodder. Audiences still want to believe in Fox Mulder and Dana Scully: […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
BMX finally rides into Santa Maria
Break out some gloves, a helmet, and that small-ish bike stashed away in the corner of the garage: It’s BMX time. The sport, which can best be described as a group of bike riders rolling over hills and berms at incredible speeds, has found its way to Santa Maria—and it’s just in time for a […]