According to the 2017 Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 report conducted by the Americans for the Arts, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $198.6 million in annual economic activity in Santa Barbara County. The report, released on June 17, showed that the spending supports 5,857 full-time jobs and delivers $19.1 million in local and […]
Art generates millions in local revenue
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Temple Beth El features Amaya Rose and friends at July 4 concert
Temple Beth El hosts an Independence Day event each year with live music and food, and for several years, the featured performer has been local fiddle champion and country singer Amaya Rose. Known as a child prodigy with virtuosic ability on the fiddle, and a clear, bright singing voice, it’s been a few years since […]
Posted inNews
Pushing city limits: Santa Maria mayor starts collaborative effort toward at-risk youth prevention program
In the past 20 years, the city of Santa Maria averaged between one and three murders per year until a wave of violence between December 2014 and January 2016 that included 21 homicides—most of which were gang related. To begin addressing the issue, Mayor Alice Patino started to collaborate with 5th District Santa Barbara County […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Horsing around: Early Californios Skills of the Rancho showcases traditional Vaquero horse skills
More than 150 horsemen and women from across the state will convene at the Elks Unocal Event Center arena in Santa Maria for the fifth annual Early Californios Skills of the Rancho event, hosted by the Californio Bridlehorse Association (CBA). The free event runs July 6 through 9 and showcases the horsemanship and stockmanship techniques […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Preston Motta
Preston Motta of Santa Maria is only 9 years old, but he already has three gold medals under his belt—his gray belt to be specific. Preston won first place in all three jiu-jitsu competitions he’s entered since joining Paragon Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in 2015, and he intends to remain undefeated for as long as he can […]
Posted inOpinion
I hope to help
Even though I live in Westlake Village, I regularly read the Sun as my daughter and her family live in Lompoc and she picks it up for me. Since I am in the business of consulting for nonprofits (more than 2,500 events throughout the United States and in seven foreign countries) I have been able […]
Posted inOpinion
Canet-Romero family looking for descendants
Our family has been longtime residents of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, dating back to the 1800s. We are descendants of the Francisco C. Romero and Ramona V. Canet family, which maintains the last remaining private cemetery in California. We are holding a family reunion on July 22, 2017. The last one was […]
Posted inOpinion
Lompoc needs expert advice
This is regarding the ongoing Lompoc city budget review to the $70 milion CalPERs financial dilemma imposed on the city by that organization. The three letters from Misters Grill, Gallanders, and Dettamanti in the Lompoc Record are the typical armchair experts offering their misdirected advice for a solution. None of them know anything about city […]
Posted inOpinion
Let’s work together
The response to the recent attack on the Republicans practicing for a baseball fundraiser is a great example of Democrats and Republicans coming together, if only for a short time. The Democrats lost the last presidential election. It is past due for both parties to come together and support the office of the president of […]
Posted inOpinion
Thank you and farewell
My time in office is short, and the list of thanks I owe is long, very long. As the nation prepares to celebrate July 4, I want to first and foremost thank the Santa Barbara County community for the privilege and honor it has been to work as your elected representative in a system of […]
Posted inNews
SMHS baseball team honored at Downtown Fridays
The Santa Maria High School baseball team was honored June 23 at the Downtown Fridays event for its successful season. The team won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division 6 baseball title, making it the first Santa Maria High School team to win since 1957. With their outstanding pitching and strong offense, the […]
Posted inNews
Seventh graders awarded scholarships to attend Tech Trek
The American Association of University Women-Santa Maria Branch (AAUW-SM) awarded seven local seventh-grade girls full scholarships to attend Tech Trek at UC Santa Barbara. Tech Trek, a weeklong science and math camp, is designed to help young women entering eighth grade in the fall. The camp offers hands-on activities in math, science, and related fields. […]