A new smartphone app with local ties invites those who download it to make Solvang their own personal “playground.” Created by Mayor David Brown, Solvang Passport highlights dozens of businesses across the city while promoting “stamps” (QR codes) at each location for app users to seek out and scan. The more stamps users collect through […]
Caleb Wiseblood
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Santa Maria City Council seeks applicants after Carlos Escobedo resigns
With two years left on his Santa Maria City Council term, Carlos Escobedo resigned from his role as the 1st District’s representative in early March. Eleven minutes into the council’s March 3 meeting, Escobedo announced his decision from the dais during the public comment period. “Due to my upcoming move outside District 1, I will […]
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Political Watch: March 12, 2026
•On March 9, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced that he secured new federal funding for two infrastructure projects in San Luis Obispo County. These two projects are related to improving the Shell Beach Road shared use path and Morro Bay’s city stormwater system, respectively. In order to extend the local shared use path, […]
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You can stay here: Solvang may stop new short-term rentals in suburban neighborhoods
From a zebra-themed bed and breakfast to a permitted treehouse in someone’s backyard, Solvang resident Max Hanberg has booked some pretty wild vacation getaways in his lifetime. He and his wife were already frequent users of Airbnb and Vrbo by the time they began using both platforms to list a short-term rental of their own […]
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Santa Barbara County supervisors approve overtime, equipment to deal with unlawful food pop-ups
One freezer. Two steel storage containers. Six months of designated overtime. To improve and increase its enforcement efforts against unlawful food pop-ups across Santa Barbara County, Environmental and Health Services (EHS) recently asked the county Board of Supervisors for an extra $42,000. More than 75 percent of the sum will fund overtime hours for up […]
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Guadalupe abandons Brown Act route for Royal Theater committee
Over the past six months, the Guadalupe City Council has discussed its intention to form a Brown Act advisory committee to oversee the Royal Theater revival project multiple times. In September 2025, the council voted 4-1 (Councilmember Christina Hernandez dissented) to appoint a five-member board. On Feb. 24, Councilmember Whitney Furness motioned to uphold that […]
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Political Watch: March 5, 2026
• On Feb. 28, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) issued a statement in response to the Trump administration’s military strikes in Iran. “Congress was not given any information that would indicate there was an imminent threat coming from Iran. Without such credible evidence, there’s no justification in sending our servicemembers into this conflict,” stated […]
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Solvang-based SB Limo shuttles wedding parties across the Central Coast
Roadside assistanceTo find out more about SB Limo, call (805) 965-4900 or visit sblimos.com. The company’s headquarters is located at 803 Kolding Ave., Solvang. Cueing up tunes worth cutting a rug to was always integral to Solvang business owner James Hooshman‘s transportation company, long before brides- and grooms-to-be became some of his most frequent clients. […]
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Santa Maria agendizes hearing to discuss forming immigration ad hoc committee
For local high school student Lorena Martinez, real-time events have shown that the Santa Maria City Council’s pace in deciding whether to form an immigration ad hoc committee is too slow. “Real families are being torn apart. Children are living with fear and uncertainty. Parents are afraid to go to work. This is happening here […]
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Buellton developer preps to demolish Parks Plaza theater
Idle and shuttered since 2020, Buellton’s former movie theater—Parks Plaza on McMurray Road—will be demolished to make way for a new three-story Cottage Health medical office thanks to a recent Planning Commission vote. The 20-day period for the public to formally appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council kicked off on Feb. 19. At […]
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Political Watch: February 26, 2026
• On Feb. 17, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) visited Guadalupe, where he toured the Guadalupe Senior Center and Guadalupe Union School District’s Early Learning Center. Both facilities are undergoing upgrades with federal dollars that Schiff, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California), and U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) jointly helped secure, according to Schiff’s office. […]
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Divorce Party Handbook tackles touchy topics with levity, introspection
Every divorce involves two people, both of whom can often feel quite isolated throughout their respective ordeals. But not just from each other, local author Christine Gallagher told the Sun. “I’ve been divorced myself. It’s a very big deal, and the whole point of this,” she said while holding up a paperback copy of The […]
