Earlier this month, a handful of Allan Hancock students embarked on a 15-day tour of the Colorado Plateau that included several national parks in Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nevada. Led by Robert Meyer, a geology and physical science instructor at Allan Hancock College, and four other staff members, the students explored and studied sections of […]
AHC geology students tour American southwest
Posted inNews
Santa Ynez has new summer savings certificates
Tourism is great for the local economy, but it can get expensive for the people doing the touring. To help out, the Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association (SYVVA) has announced a first-ever 10 percent savings offer for mid-week summer visitors. “Gas prices and the economy can take a toll on vacation budgets,” SYVVA president Mike […]
Posted inNews
Marian Medical Center president earns Healthy Prestige award
Falling ill during the summer months can put a damper on vacation plans, but local healthcare managers are confident in their abilities to get people back under sunny skies. They have reason to be. After all, the president of Marian Medical Center and CHW Central Coast Service Area, Charles J. Cova, has become a Fellow […]
Posted inNews
County employees agree to mandatory vacation
During the 2008 holiday season, while most workers will be counting down the hours until they get a few blissful uninterrupted vacation days, about 2,000 county employees will be off from work, spending a full two weeks away from their desks. It seems like a good deal, but first impressions can be deceiving. “It was […]
Posted inNews
Where it’s tat
At first glance, tattoo artist Jimmy Coffin looks nothing like a savvy businessman. He looks more like the byproduct of a torrid love affair between a sea-worn sailor and a punk rock princess with a strange affection for cowboy hats. But don’t judge Coffin based on his appearance, because beneath the straw-colored hat and ink-soaked […]
Posted inOpinion
Charge into the fourth quarter
It was not unexpected. I always knew it would someday arrive knocking at my door. I asked myself, “How could 61 years have gone by so fast?” Now I hear, not a pleasant tapping, but a clenched fist banging at my door. It’s here. Open the door and face it. You are 62 years old. […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Roll on in
The food that swims, grows, and grazes within just a few miles of our dining room tables on the Central Coast, offers zesty flavors and farm-fresh nutrition. At Yanagi Sushi and Grill, these same comestibles shine as the stars of the show in a performance that turns ordinary cooking into lively entertainment. Located in a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Songs from his soul
It’s a dream that’s been around as long as rock’n’roll itself: being in a band, being a rock star, playing music to adoring masses. While most dreamers actually only get as far as perfecting their air guitar and that fake, muffled audience scream, some get pretty close to the real thing. Santa Maria resident Paul […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Exploring the home front
Inflation and a weak economy have given rise to a summer phenomenon called the “staycation”—in other words, staying home rather than taking a trip to Disney World. The trend stems from a budget-conscious mindset that Americans—especially families—are increasingly adopting. To celebrate the beginning of summer, I thought I’d try it. I laid out my plans […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Wax on, wax off
Women spend a lot of time and money making themselves look good. Guys rarely appreciate how much pain and suffering goes into the effort of beautification. The fact of the matter is, guys don’t appreciate it because guys have never tried to do it. When we want to look good, we get a $12 haircut […]
Posted inNews
Fake outbreak
Hospital staffers pace up and down the hall, whispering urgently about some kind of outbreak. A woman dressed in scrubs and a red emergency vest enters the control room to talk to someone about the barrage of patients crowding the emergency room. No, this isn’t a cliffhanger scene out of the popular medical dramedy Grey’s […]
Posted inNews
Local heroes recognized for excellence in education
On June 7, the California School Employees Association (CSEA) honored 39 southern California “unsung heroes” at a banquet and awards presentation in Granada Hills. The honorees were selected from among more than 26,000 school employees represented by CSEA in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Award recipients were selected by their co-workers for […]
