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 […]
Making cents – heads and tails – of the budget
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 […]