A vibrant image from 2016 shows the corner where West Stowell Road and South Depot Street meet. But instead of the strawberry field that exists there now, the design shows a bustling park with six regulation-sized soccer fields at its center, and another junior-sized field. Surrounding those vast grounds are six half-court basketball courts, two […]
Dreaming of fields: Locals fight for athletics to curb youth violence while Santa Maria’s soccer complex plans stall
Posted inOpinion
Back to reality
I really do appreciate it that when I flap my wings or run my beak people are actually listening. I love to hear from you, I really do, but why is it that so many of my admirers only write to me when I’ve pissed them off? And why do they usually write when I […]
Posted inOpinion
What health ‘care’?
Dear editor and fellow citizens of SLO County, please, please, please enlighten me as to how our health care system is better with our new administration. I am a middle class retiree who makes too much to qualify for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and too little to afford the astronomical rates I have to […]
Posted inOpinion
About walls
If Mexico were a prosperous, safe, and peaceful neighbor like Canada, the U.S. would not need to control the border with it. But Mexico and the Central American states are out of control; failed governments with drug cartels, human trafficking, and endless corruption which is undermining the security of the U.S. of A. Like residents […]
Posted inOpinion
Why Salud won’t take a stand
This is in answer to the Oct. 19 letter, “Why won’t Carbajal take a stand on sanctuary cities.” The reason is that even though all legitimate polls show illegal immigration to be a lopsided issue, with the vast majority of Americans opposed to never-ending illegal immigration, Rep. Salud Carbajal cannot anger his Hispanic base favoring […]
Posted inOpinion
No collusion, Canary
I’ve been a reader of the Sun for a number of years. Early on after reading your column I more or less dismissed it over the years. However, one column accusing President Trump of treason got my attention (“Where there’s smoke,” July 13). I intended to respond at the time but then didn’t. Before I […]
Posted inOpinion
Not too soon to talk gun control
After any of the mass gun killings, (pick from your favorite recent ones) the subject of any type of gun control gets brought up. The gun lobby-enabled conservatives always claim it is too soon to talk legislation because emotions are distorted and running too high. Don’t politicize the trauma of these poor victims. Of course, […]
Posted inOpinion
Is the war against the Chumash finally over?
For the past decade, I have been making the same speech, over and over again, having to do with the aspirations of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. For your information, these neighbors of ours, not so long ago, lived on their reservation in abject poverty for decades in the heart of the otherwise […]
Posted inOpinion
What is something new or different you’d like to see at the Santa Maria Town Center East mall?
Jim Fosdick retired “It would be great to see some more tenants. Maybe something sports related.” Ozzy Bravo food service “They could decorate more. It looks really nice when they do it up for Christmas. They do a good job.” India Fields student “It gets a little stuffy upstairs so maybe some better ventilation.” Taylor […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Central Coast high schools ready to launch new athletic leagues, depart Southern Section
The days of the Central Coast’s traditional prep sports leagues—the Los Padres League (LPL) and PAC-8—are numbered, as are many high schools’ long and notorious bus rides to far-flung areas of Southern California. Come next fall, 13 of the region’s 16 high schools will jump ship from the CIF Southern Section and begin competing in […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Vanessa Gomez
Injuries could have derailed Vanessa Gomez’s softball career several times. But she wouldn’t let them. First it was a broken ankle when she was 11. Then it was a bone spur that required surgery at 13. Last spring, it was a torn ACL and another surgery. Each time misfortune struck, Gomez stayed patient, rehabbed, and […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria high schools begin installing solar panels
The installation of solar panels at several Santa Maria high schools began on Oct. 23, and the new solar energy systems are expected to save the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District millions in utility fees. Parking lots at Pioneer Valley and Ernest Righetti high schools, and a grassy area at Delta High School, […]