The holiday season comes with family gatherings, social time with friends, and office parties. These events can lead to life-altering consequences, like drunken driving. When I was 16 years old in 1992, a drunken driver hit me. I had a four-month coma, broken bones, paralysis, and brain injuries. My gait and speech are affected, and […]
Avoid a holiday tragedy for you and those around you
Posted inOpinion
Beyond optics
Pop quiz, readers. When you read the statement: “The public figure did not respond before press time,” what do you perceive? How does that sound to you? Do you: a) shrug—public figures are busy and deadlines are tight. b) roll your eyes—it takes just a second to respond. c) lose faith—public figures should stop hiding. […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: November 24, 2022
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) joined several other representatives to introduce bipartisan legislation to address pervasive understaffing in federal prisons, according to a Nov. 14 statement from the congressman’s office. The Prison Staffing Reform Act would direct the Bureau of Prisons to conduct a review of understaffing, devise a three-year plan to fill […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ fills PCPA’s stage with majesty
The glass slippers. The fairy godmother. The pumpkin that turns into a carriage. Few retellings of the Cinderella story exclude these magic motifs, and the best ones manage to still feel fresh while doing so. The Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) new take on the classic rags-to-riches fantasy is one such case. Now playing through Dec. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Jim Summers headlines stand-up comedy show in Santa Ynez
The Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez presents its next Laugh Therapy event on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 8 to 10 p.m. The show includes sets from a handful of stand-up comedians, including headliner Jim Summers (pictured), a prolific comic and former prison guard. Throughout his comedy career, Summers has opened for Robin Williams, Paul Rodriguez, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Ann Foxworthy Gallery holds mixer event with the Santa Maria Arts Council
The Santa Maria Arts Council will host its Community Arts Mixer at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery in Santa Maria on Friday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. Local artists, art teachers, art students, and supporters of the arts are encouraged to attend the event, which will include entertainment, light refreshments, and free parking for […]
Posted inNews
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ fills PCPA’s stage with majesty
The glass slippers. The fairy godmother. The pumpkin that turns into a carriage. Few retellings of the Cinderella story exclude these magic motifs, and the best ones manage to still feel fresh while doing so. The Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) new take on the classic rags-to-riches fantasy is one such case. Now playing through Dec. […]
Posted inNews
Soto pulls ahead of Funkhouser in Santa Maria’s 3rd District
Editor’s note: This online version of the Santa Maria City Council races story was updated to reflect the most recent election results, which were released on Nov. 15. Incumbent Gloria Soto squeaked by challenger Steven Funkhouser in Santa Maria City Council’s 3rd District race, according to the Nov. 15 vote count update. Until then, Funkhouser […]
Posted inNews
HOLIDAY GUIDE 2022
It’s hard to believe that 2022 is in the home stretch, but the holiday season is here, which means food, festivities, friends, family, and fringe benefits—like gifts! As Thanksgiving bears down on us, the Sun is here to get you prepared to tackle the bedecked, glittery world through New Year’s Eve. In this year’s annual […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Sasha Vujacic, winemaker and former Laker, hosts an intimate dinner in Los Olivos
Before playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, Sasha Vujacic spent the early years of his professional basketball career in northern Italy, where he enjoyed bonding over regional wines with his father. “At that time, my dad was exploring the local wines in the area and learning about the diverse practices, approaches, and traditions that determine […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Lifelong local Mark H. Parsons debuts new novel, ‘The 9:09 Project’
Santa Maria was author Mark H. Parsons’ stomping grounds from age 3 until his 30s. About 20 years ago, Parsons and his wife—a notable author in her own right, Wendelin Van Draanen—bought a parcel of land in Pismo Beach, where they built their current home. “I’ve always lived on the Central Coast. Who wouldn’t want […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Two Santa Maria studios team up for Diane Rose Zink’s ‘The Nutcracker’ in Arroyo Grande
Everybody Can DANCE and the Santa Maria Civic Ballet present their annual collaborative production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Diane Rose Zink, at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m. Zink has helmed this unique iteration of Tchaikovsky’s […]
