On June 11, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approved plans to use land and facilities, owned by outgoing 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone, for a special events center. The commission voted 4-0-1, with Firestone-appointed 3rd District Planning Commissioner C.J. Jackson abstaining, to send the proposed rezoning and events center permit on to the Board […]
Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approves new Firestone event center
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Restorative Justice Task Force pushes for North County jail, crime prevention
In an effort to create a safer, crime-free community, the Santa Maria Restorative Justice Task Force welcomed members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department to its June 12 meeting, where they presented the final report and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Jail Overcrowding’s recommendations. According to the report, the Santa Barbara County jail system […]
Posted inNews
Suicide ‘destination’ may soon be no more
On June 13, a passerby who saw a man walking along the Cold Spring Canyon Bridge called for help. When California Highway Patrol officers got there, the man claimed to be out for a walk, but after further questioning, he made a break for the edge of the bridge, said Commander Dominick Palera with the […]
Posted inNews
Making cents – heads and tails – of the budget
On June 13, after a week filled with lengthy presentations and impassioned pleas from the public, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved a final 2008-09 budget, which comes in at around $760 million and features millions of dollars in cuts to county-sponsored programs. The supervisors deliberated over the county’s available fiscal balance—approximately $4.1 […]
Posted inNews
Right on track
The president of Santa Maria Valley Railroad loved trains as a kid, but never laid a penny on the track to watch a locomotive flatten it. “Most of the time they just fly off,” he explained. Such no-nonsense practicality is the driving force behind management at the railroad, led by Robert Himoto, a man with […]
Posted inOpinion
How would you describe the color of your eyes?
Nicole Rivero student “Blue-green and glossy.” Dolores Woods retired “Mine are dark brown, and a little dim at my age, but they were sparkly at one point.” Winston Harris student “Kind of a blue. … They’re mixed with blue and green.” [image-4] Brooke Robertson outgoing Sun intern “They’re usually blue/gray, but they can look green […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Open box, then assemble
The paint on my rain gutters is peeling. The backyard gate won’t close. Two of the front window shutters need repairing. My house needs some tender loving care. The big question is this: Am I working diligently on household to-do items and keeping my wife, whom I love, happy? Nope. Instead, I’ve been in the […]
Posted inOpinion
Support the fight
On June 5 and 6, Santa Barbara County residents may notice an odd though not unknown scene on local roadways—3,000 cyclists and crew pedaling through the wind and fatigue. Hopefully, most will look long enough to realize that this is not just some mega-bike club or century ride. This year, the 545-mile AIDS/LifeCycle is expected […]