In a little more than three months, Santa Marians will be able to get four-year degrees at Allan Hancock College. Representatives of Hancock and the University of La Verne met at Hancock’s Santa Maria campus Oct. 8 to ratify a contract that will launch three bachelor’s degrees on Hancock’s campus. The degrees, in public administration, […]
Hancock partners with private university to offer bachelor’s degrees
Posted inNews
Spotlight on: Space VR
A new company in Solvang is offering potential customers a chance to step into an alternate reality. Jamie Baker, the owner and operator of Space VR, a virtual reality video arcade right across the street from the town’s motorcycle museum, told the Sun he got into the business because of his son. “He’s 12 years […]
Posted inNews
Measuring up: Local groups back county and city ballot measures
While internet ads, mailers, and radio commercials inundate voters with information about state propositions and national candidates, there’s still a number of local ballot measures vying for attention. With early voting open since Oct. 8, the Sun examined local measures that could change the landscape of supervisorial districts and others that will outline local cannabis […]
Posted inNews
Solvang shores up smoking ordinance
City administrators and council members tried to clear the air permanently in Solvang by tightening its smoking regulations. On Oct. 9, the Solvang City Council gave tacit approval to restrict smoking to streets and parking lots. The public’s response was largely positive. “It will be nice to not walk through a cloud of smoke or […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria high school district and Faculty Association declare impasse
After more than a year of negotiations, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District and its Faculty Association declared an official impasse on Oct. 3. The main sticking points? Salaries, of course, and the district’s voluntary transfer program. District officials said in a press release that while the district offered faculty members a 2 […]
Posted inNews
Vandenberg site of historic booster landing
It was a night for the history books. And it definitely wasn’t aliens. First, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully blasted out of Earth’s atmosphere from Vandenberg Air Force Base a little after 7 p.m. on Oct. 7. Conditions were relatively clear as the craft carrying an Argentine radar satellite arced across the Southern California […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Iliad-ict: PCPA delivers a haunting rendition of Homer’s epic poem
If the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the Iliad by Homer is the 2004 movie Troy starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom–well, for crying out loud, read a book or something because I don’t think I can help you. But a new performance at the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Lompoc hosts Art Hunt event
The Lompoc Valley Art Association is hosting Art Hunt, a free local art-themed event from Oct. 18 through 21. The event offers participants a chance to find free art work through a scavenger hunt. Clues to the hunt can be found on social media including Instagram and Facebook. On Instagram, a photo of a painting, […]
Posted inOpinion
Commentary 2: John Linn endorses the Lompoc City Council triad
John Linn, who was the object of two historic Lompoc election losses to his opponent, is endorsing a triad of Lompoc City Council members who have consistently supported his agenda. Following his last defeat, Linn promised to “remain active” in Lompoc politics; since then he told me that he “lives two weeks a month in […]
Posted inOpinion
Irresponsible reporting
My respect for your paper has quickly diminished based on your article about Father Timothy Lane published Oct. 4, 2018 (“Local priests named in California sexual abuse report”). The 18-year-old adult was in a consensual relationship with him and the “sexual assault” was not more than a French kiss. She still lives in our community […]
Posted inOpinion
Vote yes on Measure U
This is the first time in my life that I am willing to promote a tax. I like Measure U for four reasons: This is local money that stays here for local programs–Sacramento cannot get their greedy paws on it; it supports Santa Maria police and fire services; it attracts people to our city by […]
Posted inOpinion
Help the animals
When you see the long list of initiatives on your ballot, don’t overlook Proposition 12 at the end. A yes vote levels the playing field for California’s farmers and improves the lives of millions of chickens, veal calves, and pigs across the U.S. Ten years ago Santa Barbara County voters supported Proposition 2 by a […]