The closures keep coming in Los Padres National Forest, where an increasing number of dead and dying trees poses safety hazards to visitors. The Santa Lucia Ranger District announced on Aug. 14 the closure of certain sites in the Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area In June, the district closed the Rockfront Off-Highway Vehicle area, also due […]
BRENNA SWANSTON
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Santa Maria brothers charged for allegedly manufacturing guns
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office last week filed a criminal complaint against a man for allegedly illegally manufacturing firearms in Santa Maria. The man, Terry Casares, was allegedly working with his brother, Larry Casares, to unlawfully modify firearms that would otherwise be legal, as well as assemble other firearms from parts, according to Sheriff’s […]
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Tacos, tapas, terrific: Los Alamos’ Valle Fresh packs a punch
Tapas.” The word evokes several memories. Tapas were the only meal option I could stomach on the red-eye from San Francisco to London—even though plane tapas, truth be told, totally suck. Tapas were the precursor to my nights out in Barcelona last winter, and the key to my recovery from those nights the next day. […]
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California voters to face fullest ballot in 16 years
I don’t know how to put this, but November’s election is kind of a big deal. And, believe it or not, it’s about much more than Hillary versus The Donald—especially here in California. Our voters will face a jam-packed ballot come Nov. 8, featuring the most initiatives (17 to be exact) we’ve seen since 2000. […]
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Nipomo declares more severe water shortage
The Nipomo Community Services District Board of Directors declared a “Stage IV” water shortage on July 27, upping its water shortage response from “Stage III.” Nipomo’s Water Shortage Response and Management Plan comprises five stages of drought, each of which calls for a set of targeted reductions in water use designed to protect long-term groundwater […]
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Race is on for Santa Maria mayor
Will Smith, former board member for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, has filed papers to run for mayor of Santa Maria. So far, Smith is the only candidate to challenge incumbent Alice Patino. Smith holds a controversial track record with the school district’s board. He was elected to the board in 2010 after resigning from […]
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Keepin’ it beered: Santa Maria Brewing Company hops the county line with Atascadero location
Beer’s pretty great. I like it a lot. I drink it all the time! It’s the best. Are you nodding enthusiastically? Yeah, I thought so. You and I are two of the many who have driven the explosion in craft beer popularity over the past few years. Breweries of all shapes and sizes have popped […]
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A new chapter
The Chumash look ahead to new leadership, a revamped casino, and a bigger reservation
They were here before. Before there was Santa Ynez or Santa Barbara County or the United States, before there were casinos or environmental impact reports or legal restrictions on water usage, before there was Christianity or even monotheism, there were the Chumash. Tens of thousands of them once spread across 7,000 square miles in present-day […]
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CAUSE launches its biggest ever voter registration campaign in Santa Maria
The Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) is on a mission to register 1,000 voters in Santa Maria for the November election in an attempt to boost the city’s lackluster voter registration rates. The organization launched a six-week voter registration drive on July 27, according to CAUSE Community Organizing Director Hazel Davalos. […]
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Santa Ynez ziplines course project moves forward
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors last week gave the green light to a Santa Ynez ziplines course after months of back-and-forth between the county and its residents. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the project, called the Sierra Grande Rural Recreation Project, in January, but the vote was appealed by neighbor Rick Oas. Oas […]
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Man’s best friend, pest’s worst enemy: Agricultural commissioner demonstrates Santa Barbara County’s new pest detection dog
Watch a video of Doomis in action! There’s a new detective on the scene in Santa Barbara County, and he’s the real deal: efficient, effective, loyal, hard-working—and adorable to boot. The detective’s name is Doomis. He’s 2 1/2 years old, and he’s a dog. Doomis is the latest installment in California’s statewide pest detection dog […]
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Santa Maria City Council race fills out
Santa Maria’s City Council has three seats up for grabs—the mayor’s spot, and two councilmembers’—and the race to grab them is continuing to take shape. Last week, Councilmember Bob Orach confirmed in an email to the Sun that after three decades of service, he will not be running for re-election. Meanwhile, political newbie Hector Sanchez […]