Cover Story
Health officials say restrictions are still necessary to maintain public health, despite major improvement in hospitalization rates
In both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, COVID-19 hospitalization numbers are at their lowest since early in the pandemic. But this metric, widely regarded as one of the most accurate for measuring COVID-19 impact in a community, is no longer considered in the state’s reopening system. Some public officials, such as Santa Barbara…
The 101 Grill offers a different take on a typical burgers and sandwiches menu
Annie Greene saw what she figured was a culinary need in Santa Maria. So she decided to fill it. “There isn’t much upscale fast food here, and most of what there is is pretty expensive,” she said. So she and friends Michael Xu and Claire Reyes decided to open a new restaurant that features what…
Acrylic artist Emil Morhardt presents Portraits of Santa Barbara Birds at Gallery Los Olivos
Probably best known locally for painting pelicans, seagulls, and other coastal birds, acrylic artist Emil Morhardt embraced a new approach for his latest exhibit at Gallery Los Olivos, which is scheduled to run through November. “Most of my previous work was painted on white backgrounds. But in this show, I have many images on black…
Artist and photographer Marcos Dorado headlines the Ann Foxworthy Gallery’s first virtual exhibition
When the Ann Foxworthy Gallery in Santa Maria originally penciled in artist and photographer Marcos Dorado for a solo exhibit, it was a year in advance of its opening, gallery director Laura-Susan Thomas told the Sun. “We try to plan a year or so out, so Marcos Dorado was scheduled to be our first exhibiting…
Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery’s new Zoom series features Hancock and Cuesta graduates
In collaboration with the Cuesta College Student Art Circle, the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery is launching its Alumni Series, a new bi-monthly Zoom webinar series that will feature graduates of both Allan Hancock College’s and Cuesta College’s art programs. The first entry of the series, slated to take place over Zoom on Thursday, Nov.…
Santa Maria Public Library’s virtual cookbook club highlights ‘The Nightmare Before Dinner’
The Santa Maria Public Library holds its next virtual cookbook meeting, What’s Cookin’ Santa Maria?, on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 3 to 4 p.m. Participants will discuss author Zach Neil’s The Nightmare Before Dinner: Recipes to Die For. This book includes more than 60 recipes from Beetle House, a restaurant and bar inspired by the…
What the what?
How mainstream are internet conspiracy theories, you ask? Well, OK, you didn’t ask, but if you’re a member of the Solvang City Council, one such conspiracy theory was an agendized part of your Oct. 27 meeting. A 36-page presentation put together by Solvang resident, avid internet researcher, and anti-5G activist Michael Mendizza was included in…
Richard Fulton brings experience to county board of education
In the midst of a year that has brought challenges to all of us, one bright spot is our ability to make our voices heard this election on a topic valued by everyone—quality education. Dr. Richard Fulton, who is running for reelection to represent District 3 on the Santa Barbara County Education Board of Trustees,…
Stop fueling the fires
Late the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 16, the Newsom administration quietly issued six new fracking permits to Aera Energy (owned by Shell and Exxon), bringing the total of approvals since April to 54. As a candidate, Gov. Gavin Newsom promised to oppose fracking. During our recent wildfires, he took to the national stage to declare…
Look at short- and long-term health
More than 5,500 medical and public health scientists and 11,000 medical practitioners have signed the Barrington Declaration. According to the declaration, “current lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short- and long-term public health.” It concludes that “keeping these measures in place until a vaccine is available will cause irreparable damage, with the underprivileged disproportionately…
Lompoc rejects Vintners’ BID
At its Tuesday, Oct. 20, meeting, the Lompoc City Council passed a resolution stating: “The City Council does not consent to the inclusion of the city of Lompoc in the BID.” This was in response to a petition from 32 Lompoc wineries opposing the Santa Barbara Vintners’ Wine Business Improvement District (BID). The petition signers…
Political Watch: October 29, 2020
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced Oct. 22 that he and U.S. Reps. Harley Rouda (D-Laguna Beach), Richard Neal (D-Mass.), and Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano), introduced the Securing America’s Nuclear Waste Act, a bill that “seeks to address the large quantities of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste currently stored on-site…
Coalition launches COVID-19 education campaign
A coalition of Santa Barbara County education and health care leaders recently announced a campaign to “save lives, reduce the transmission of COVID-19, reopen more businesses and schools, and maintain access to vital health care.” County Deputy Health Officer and Masked and Mighty coalition leader Dr. Peggy Dodds said the group is made up of…
Unemployment rates stagnate after months of improvement
Since joblessness spiked in April, the unemployment rate has seen month-to-month improvements. But September’s numbers indicate that those gains may be stagnating. Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Glenn Morris said that unemployment rates could be tied to what reopening tier on the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy that a county…
Solvang considers 5G conspiracy theories
A local business owner urged the Solvang City Council to place a moratorium on telecommunications companies during its Oct. 26 meeting, due to concerns associated with 5G cell towers. Michael Mendizza, a writer and owner of Zfolio and Solvang Olive Press, spoke to the council for more than 30 minutes during an agendized “informational discussion”…
Citizens’ Independent Redistricting Commission meets for the first time
The first five members of Santa Barbara County’s Citizens’ Independent Redistricting Commission had their first meeting on Oct. 22, where they briefly introduced themselves to the public and set dates for several upcoming meetings where they’ll choose the commission’s remaining six members. At the meeting, all commissioners expressed their dedication to creating a group that…
The Delta High School Garden is getting a major upgrade thanks to a partnership with Armando’s Autobody
The Delta High School garden has been teaching students how to grow their own nutritious produce since it was first constructed in 2017, but thanks to a recent community partnership, the high school is now taking its agricultural endeavors up a notch. “Over the last year or so, I had just been wishing that we…
