Ever walked into a building and thought “If only these walls could talk?” Well they do, to photographer Collette Christel. From the romanticism of a crumbling castle to the majesty of a towering bridge, Christel sees inspiration in the structures most people use on a daily basis, and through her photography she tries to convey that […]
Building an image
Living life in color
Some people create art for a living and others are living works of art. Dawn Shute is the latter. Shute carries the philosophy that you should dare to be different in your clothing and in your life, that you have to be satisfied with yourself and in what you create. She also carries a denim […]
Wine winners
Alfresco activities pair naturally with fine weather, and as we head into summer, Central Coasters find all kinds of reasons for heading outdoors to play. Come July 9, look for the crowds to be flocking straight to the Santa Maria Fairpark, where the 117th annual Santa Barbara County Fair unfolds in a blaze of music, […]
We must change or face extinction
Global warming is finally being taken seriously, and with a new administration coming in, hopefully more will be done to cut greenhouse gas emissions and with dispatch, which has not been the case for all too long. There are still too many leaders all over the world who refuse to admit this is a deadly […]
Go ahead and close the parks
Though I dislike tax increases and cuts in essential programs, I must speak out against those who want more government services for free. With so much already being spent on government aid, something has to give. Closing some parks would be a good start. These are not essential to anyone’s well being, and I’ve learned […]
Write to your representative
Please support Representative Dennis Kucinich’s resolution for impeachment of Bush and Cheney, which was introduced on June 9, 2008. It is my belief that the Democrats should have launched impeachment proceedings as soon as it was known that Bush lied in order to invade Iraq. I am bitterly disappointed with Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic […]
This governor isn’t as good as I hoped he’d be
Schwarzenegger. What a disappointment. When I voted for Schwarzenegger, I believed we would have someone in the state capitol who would understand that, if you don’t have it, you don’t spend it. I knew he would be up against the liberals who want the government to provide all their wants, but I forgot that he […]
Do the research and get educated about medicine
It’s sad that you’re propagating the duplicitous medical establishment’s lies and disinformation, as evidenced by Kirsten Flagg’s “Support the fight” AIDS commentary (June 10). She states, “More people have AIDS in the U.S. than ever before,” and “Clearly, this is still a public health crisis,” but doesn’t reveal the real reason and who’s to blame: […]
Let me clear up some confusion surrounding the bridge
I am writing to correct a couple of misperceptions that appeared in Sarah E. Thien’s article on June 19 (“Suicide ‘destination’ may soon be no more”). First, note that I am not a member of Friends of the Bridge. Second, opposition to the proposed suicide barrier on the Cold Spring Canyon Bridge is not growing because […]
Running on the levee
The Fields to Fair 10-mile run is no more. Instead, the annual race has been reinvented as the Guadalupe Half Marathon. It’s got a new name, a new distance, and a new beneficiary—the Guadalupe Sports Hall of Fame, Inc. Savvy observers, or just hard-core runners, may have already heard of the Guadalupe Half Marathon. This […]
Hancock football team will compete in new conference in 2008
The Bulldogs start off the season in September in a newly reorganized Southern California Football Association, which has absorbed Hancock’s former league, the Western State Conference, the Mission Conference, and Foothill. The Bulldog’s will still be playing against some of their old rivals in 2008, including Santa Barbara, Canyons College, Bakersfield, Moorpark, and Ventura. Righetti […]
Sign up now for Indian’s baseball clinic
It’s almost time for the Santa Maria Indian’s youth clinic. This year, the event will be held July 15 to 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Elks Field in Santa Maria. The youth clinic will be led by the Santa Maria Indians head coach and former professional baseball player Bobby Brown, who has […]

