Pioneer Valley High School senior Rigoberto Maldonado is a man of few words. He lets his play on the soccer field do the talking. The soft-spoken striker has compiled five goals during the Panthers’ blazing-hot 4-1 start to the winter season, including a two-goal effort on Dec. 8 against crosstown rival Santa Maria High School […]
Rigoberto Maldonado
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
BENCHWARMER: The woman’s war: Sexual misconduct is a problem in sports and beyond
I have yet to reach the point in my life where I feel ready and willing to have children. But given the recent events of rampant sexual misconduct in Hollywood, politics, and professional sports, I have two options for children: Don’t have any. Or find some way to genetically ensure that I give birth to sons. […]
Posted inOpinion
Burning green
Man, who thought setting fire to a green plant would be so controversial? But wait a sec, I’m not talking recreational cannabis, which is legal first thing on Jan. 1, 2018. No, I’m talking about Steve Minami, the 23-year-old Guadalupe resident who allegedly torched the Santa Maria Police Department’s (SMPD) Christmas tree in the department’s […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing with Helen: The Women’s Network raises funds at holiday party
Decorated trees, wreaths, and poinsettias set the stage for a festive and fun holiday luncheon meeting (Christmas Extravaganza) of the Women’s Network on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Santa Maria Country Club. Spirits were high—not a “bah humbug!” in the room—as guests bought raffle tickets for the 25 cellophane-wrapped and bow-tied raffle baskets (with a […]
Posted inNews
Crews make gains against historic Thomas Fire
After two brutal, blistering weeks of burning, the Thomas Fire is finally slowing down. On Dec. 19, the incident’s command team released an update reporting crews were able to strengthen containment lines due to minimal fire activity the night before. As of the Sun’s press time, the fire’s size was 271,750 acres, or more than […]
Posted inOpinion
Tax nightmare
To all Republicans, Democrats, and voters, this administration is trying to sneak through the largest giveaway to the rich ever, the Trump tax plan. Let me just show you some of the giveaways the media aren’t reporting on. 1. Well, let’s try to get the college students involved under this new absolutely, wonderful, totally awesome […]
Posted inOpinion
ITN2
Yes, ITN-squared: “It’s The New Normal.” I love these guys! The “Great California Drought,” ITN2. Had nothing to do with the abandonment of Gov. Pat Brown’s plans for a growing California with more reservoirs and infrastructure programs. Nooo! Global warming is the villain. Historic forest fires destroying homes, closing freeways and rail lines, shutting down […]
Posted inOpinion
God is not an excuse
What a heart of stone you have Mr. Castellanos (“Stop using God as an excuse,” Dec. 14). Attacking evangelicals must be what gives you peace. We evangelicals are built on strong family values and morals that God gives through his word. This does not make us perfect, it shows our boundaries, all the while being […]
Posted inOpinion
Special thanks
Special thanks to Caleb Wiseblood, calendar editor for the New Times and Sun for highlighting our annual Angel of Hope Memorial Service on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Santa Maria Cemetery. Those in attendance had memorial bricks there in remembrance of their children. Some came because they had read about our service and never knew […]
Posted inOpinion
A Cheech and Chong economy
I’ve heard some of my critics; I’m “obsessed with economics” and economic development, and that I would support any business or any industry and at any cost to our quality of life or social fabric. It turns out this isn’t true. Indeed, it turns out I’m less than enthusiastic about the proposition of Santa Barbara […]
Posted inNews
Honey oil lab found in path of Thomas Fire
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office raided a Montecito home on Dec. 13 in the Thomas Fire mandatory evacuation zone after fire crews noticed signs of a marijuana “butane honey oil” extraction lab. After obtaining a search warrant, deputies seized more than 300 to 500 pounds of cut marijuana, numerous cans of unopened butane fuel, […]
Posted inNews
Local homelessness support organizations merge
The Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness (C3H) Policy Council voted on Dec. 14 to consolidate its services with Home For Good Santa Barbara County, a community-led action plan aimed at ending homelessness that will effectively replace C3H. The vote signals an effort to improve the core functions of C3H, an alliance of government agencies and […]
