Sometimes being declared “No. 1” is how athletes define success. Other times, it could be advancing to the next round in a competition. Most of the time, however, that feeling sets in after an athlete establishes a new personal best. Contemplating all that, it’s easy to imagine how Allan Hancock College track sophmore and rookie […]
Khalil Mondol
Posted inNews
Orcutt Academy robotics team heads for world championships
The Orcutt Academy High School varsity robotics team is heading to the 2015 FIRST Robotics world championship for the second time in five years. The last was in 2012, two years after the team was created. And this time, Ty Fredriks wants everyone on the team, known as No. 3512 in competition and Spartatroniks in […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The benchwarmer: Keep baseball the way it is
There are a few traditions that my family diligently observes: cinnamon rolls at Christmas, family breakfast on Sundays, and baseball season. Just like Christmas, baseball season comes around once a year. Crops are planted, backyard barbecues are ignited, and all eyes are trained on opening day. I love baseball season. This year, like every year, […]
Posted inOpinion
Public distrust of PG&E’s ‘Culture of Safety’
On a recent Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) levied a record $1.6 billion penalty on PG&E for the 2010 gas pipeline explosion that killed eight in the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno. Since the explosion, PG&E has been issued many safety citations by the CPUC. Not surprisingly the commission plans to launch […]
Posted inOpinion
Farmers–including almond growers–don’t take water for granted
This letter is being written with the hope of broadening the views of Karen Juran (“A ‘nut’ case,” April 9) and those who agree with her that the governor is being too soft on farmers. Please understand that this drought affects us all—some more than others. People who live in town may lose their lawns; […]
Posted inOpinion
The banned wagon
This is a bit early in the year for me to be making one of my semi-regular pushes to get people to not just read, but to read consciously and intentionally, since I usually reserve making such a case for Banned Books Week in the fall. The American Library Association, however, just released its list […]
Posted inNews
Spotlight on: Santa Maria Stereo
An orange-colored classic car, maybe a Chevy Impala, pulls into the parking lot of Santa Maria Stereo and a tan, middle-aged man wearing sunglasses gets out. Store manager Jon Blaies greets him and a short conversation ensues. A few laughs, a couple pats on the shoulder, and the man walks out with a satisfied look […]
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Political Watch 4/16/15
• A California bill that would take away a parent’s ability to opt out of vaccinating their children due to personal beliefs passed out of the Senate Health Committee, 6-2, on April 8. While medical expemtions would still remeain, if a parent chooses to not vaccinate their child because of personal beliefs, that child would […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 4/16/15 – 4/23/15
TUESDAY, APRIL 21 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Ste. 141, Santa Maria. Agendas are available at http://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Santa Maria City Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in […]
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Hobnobbing with Helen
Do you remember when an upscale art gallery on Clark Avenue in Old Orcutt had a wine and cheese reception once a month? It was sooo popular. Many people were saddened when the gallery closed and morphed into a pizza parlor that, no, doesn’t have the same monthly getting-together soirées. Robert and Heidi Gruetzemacher decided […]
Posted inNews
Hard sell: Lompoc talks body cameras for its police department
Police body cameras are so hot right now they made Lompoc City Manager Patrick Wiemiller’s State of the City speech on April 7. He said the cameras weren’t an easy sell for him, but noted that Police Chief Pat Walsh was somehow able to win him over on the issue. Although no one in the […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc police and fire officials discover alleged hash oil labs
Three people were arrested in Lompoc on April 7 after police and fire fighters searched two residences where alleged cannabis honey oil labs were discovered, according to the Lompoc Police Department. Police served warrants to search two homes on North L Street. Following the searches, Sterling Ranft, 26; Christian Wayne Attula, 25; and Edward Henderson, […]
