The sounds of shrieking roller coaster riders clashed with protesters’ drums, tambourines, and chants at this year’s Santa Maria Strawberry Festival. On April 27, community members of various ages gathered outside of Santa Maria Fairpark to rally for a Santa Barbara countywide $26 per hour minimum wage for farmworkers. Alianza Campesina de la Costa Central, […]
Caleb Wiseblood
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Law enforcement targets drug sales to minors via social media
Local cannabis compliance detectives flag flame, cloud, and maple leaf emojis when browsing social media platforms. Keeping up with coded references to cannabis was a crucial component of a six-week investigation that led the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office to arrest Santa Maria resident Alexis Silviano Vazquez Guzman on April 22 on suspicion of selling […]
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Avoiding disaster: Santa Maria aims for de facto moratorium on new battery energy storage facilities
Santa Maria aims to keep battery energy storage system (BESS) projects out of the city with a new set of rules still waiting for final approval. The overlap between specific industrial areas where BESS facilities are allowed and spaces near residential or agricultural uses where they will be banned will make the city’s sign-off impossible, […]
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Santa Maria Planning Commission approves Sears remodel for incoming grocery store
Boarded up since early 2020, the shuttered, former home of Sears in Santa Maria is due for a makeover in the eyes of its owner and some city officials. During its April 16 meeting, the Santa Maria Planning Commission approved a permit for a proposed remodel of the empty two-story building attached to the Santa […]
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Two gas station projects pivot to meet Buellton’s art deco standards
Under the same ownership for about 30 years, Buellton’s Shell station on Highway 246 is gearing up for an expansion to allow more pumps. But not without a new look mandated by the city. Owner Peter Hong, founder of the Conico Oil Company, is seeking to demolish the station’s convenience store and other structures on […]
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Political Watch: April 24, 2025
• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) recently announced the reintroduction of the Housing for All Act, described as “a comprehensive approach to address the homelessness and affordable housing crises in California and across the nation,” in an April 21 statement from Padilla’s office. The […]
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Choreographer and ‘dance doctor’ Suzy Miller lends youth theaters a hand
The best dance moves occasionally come to light when someone falls out of sync with the rest. “I’m big on mistakes,” choreographer Suzy Miller told the Sun. “There’s no mistakes [really], only unexpected solos. … A lot of my stuff is: ‘You know what you did right there? Keep that.’” This approach is especially helpful […]
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Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approves road widening attached to Rancho Luis development
Widening a road as part of a proposed Santa Ynez Valley ranch expansion is a focal point for neighbors of the rural site. To move forward with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s approval, the development plan for Rancho Luis—an existing ranch on track to become a certified animal boarding and equestrian training facility—includes […]
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Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office pins increase in liquor law violations on Isla Vista
The number of liquor law violations reported in the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office’s coverage areas nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, according to newly released statistics. Chief Deputy Brad Welch, who helped compile the report, said the 89.7 percent increase—from 573 violations in 2023 to 1,087 in 2024—correlates with an increase in enforcement, specifically […]
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Local gongfu practitioner and tea sommelier leads ceremonial meditations
Tea parties are given a whole new meaning for hosts who take a leaf or two from Jennifer de Tréglodé’s book. Through her company, Inari Tea & Art Experiences, the San Luis Obispo local is frequently hired to lead ceremonial tea meditations at public and private events alike, including bridal showers, birthday parties, mindfulness workshops, […]
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Diverted from jail: Judge grants convicted arsonist mental health help instead of sending him to trial
Exiting his Orcutt garage, Rockie Daren Ginter already had his hands raised as he approached Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies on the morning of his arrest. Owned by Ginter’s parents, the house on Genoa Way was emitting flames and black smoke, according to court documents. Ginter allegedly told deputies about the voices in his head […]
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Santa Maria’s Betteravia Gallery presents New Muralism: Valley Visions
In collaboration with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, Betteravia Gallery is showcasing a collection of expansive textile panels that “reflect the vibrant landscapes, cultures, and commercial hubs of the Santa Maria Valley,” according to press materials. The opening reception for the new exhibit, titled New Muralism: Valley Visions, will be held […]
